Impact of road building on gully erosion risk: a case study from the Northern Ethiopian Highlands

Nyssen, Jan; Poesen, Jean; Moeyersons, J; Luyten, Edith; Veyret-Picot, Maude; Deckers, Jozef; Haile, Mitiku; Govers, Gérard

doi:10.1002/esp.404

Cited by 207 publications

(172 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Farmers' perception is supported by previous study that states irrespective of the increase in population size, soil and water conservation and land rehabilitation efforts such as enclosures resulted in decreased sheet and rill erosion [27] Besides, studies concluded that increased vegetation density in enclosures result in increased infiltration, that in turn triggers vegetation rehabilitation through superior biomass production thereby improved land productivity including spring discharge [28], [34]. The majorities of respondents are optimistic to the performance of enclosures and reported that enclosures are effective in rehabilitating degraded lands; hence they support vegetation growth on degraded lands.…”

Section: Local Communities' Perception Of Enclosuresmentioning

confidence: 89%

Assessing Farmers’ Perception of Enclosures, Kewot District, Northeastern Ethiopia

Mengesha¹,

Denoboba²

2015

IJEPP

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Abstract:The environmental and socioeconomic effects of land resources degradation are severe, especially in developing nations, where inappropriate land use and farming systems are practiced. Consequently, management options like enclosures are among rehabilitation strategies practiced in the degraded areas of Ethiopia. This study was conducted to assess the farmers' perception of enclosures in Kewot District, North Shoa, Ethiopia. Observation and questionnaire were used to collect data in the study sites. A total of 168 households were selected from two peasant associations using systematic sampling technique. Data were presented in descriptive statistics. The results indicated that the local farmers had perceived the existence of land degradation and its possible causes. Local farmers perceived enclosures positively and are optimistic to the performance of enclosures. However, the benefit sharing has satisfied the community moderately. As a result, participatory resource management strategy is recommended to ensure the sustainability of the enclosures.

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Section: Local Communities' Perception Of Enclosuresmentioning

confidence: 89%

Assessing Farmers’ Perception of Enclosures, Kewot District, Northeastern Ethiopia

Mengesha¹,

Denoboba²

2015

IJEPP

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“…With respect to sediment deposition, the volume of a 6-y-old debris fan reached half of the volume of the upslope gully (Nyssen et al, 2002b). Given the presence of an important debris fan in the upper part of the gully system, we estimated that 30% (the coarsest part) of soil lost by gully erosion was trapped in debris fans (239 t y −1 ).…”

Section: Soil Loss and Sediment Movement -The Horizontal View Measurmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Gully erosion was analysed by the AGERTIM (Assessment of Gully Erosion Rates Through Interviews and Monitoring) method involving measurements and monitoring of gully volumes and detailed interviews on their evolution (Nyssen et al, 2006c), and by use of thresholds for gully initiation, involving slope gradient and drainage area at the position of the gully head (Nyssen et al, 2002b).…”

Section: Measurement and Analysis Of Sediment Redistribution Rates Anmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to human induced environmental changes, the dry years 1978-1989 also had an important impact on gully development rate ( Figure 5). It should however be noted that the environment was already more sensitive to soil erosion due to human intervention, magnifying the impact of such environmental fluctuations (Nyssen et al, 2000a(Nyssen et al, , 2002b(Nyssen et al, , 2006c. Figure 5 represents the medium-term evolution of gully erosion volume in the study area.…”

Section: Natural Versus Anthropogenic Processesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Dynamics of soil erosion rates and controlling factors in the Northern Ethiopian Highlands – towards a sediment budget

Nyssen

Poesen

Moeyersons

et al. 2007

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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132

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This paper analyses the factors that control rates and extent of soil erosion processes in the 199 ha May Zegzeg catchment near Hagere Selam in the Tigray Highlands (Northern Ethiopia). This catchment, characterized by high elevations (2100–2650 m a.s.l.) and a subhorizontal structural relief, is typical for the Northern Ethiopian Highlands. Soil loss rates due to various erosion processes, as well as sediment yield rates and rates of sediment deposition within the catchment (essentially induced by recent soil conservation activities), were measured using a range of geomorphological methods. The area‐weighted average rate of soil erosion by water in the catchment, measured over four years (1998–2001), is 14·8 t ha−1 y−1, which accounts for 98% of the change in potential energy of the landscape. Considering these soil loss rates by water, 28% is due to gully erosion. Other geomorphic processes, such as tillage erosion and rock fragment displacement by gravity and livestock trampling, are also important, either within certain land units, or for their impact on agricultural productivity. Estimated mean sediment deposition rate within the catchment equals 9·2 t ha−1 y−1. Calculated sediment yield (5·6 t ha−1 y−1) is similar to sediment yield measured in nearby catchments. Seventy‐four percent of total soil loss by sheet and rill erosion is trapped in exclosures and behind stone bunds. The anthropogenic factor is dominant in controlling present‐day erosion processes in the Northern Ethiopian Highlands. Human activities have led to an overall increase in erosion process intensities, but, through targeted interventions, rural society is now well on the way to control and reverse the degradation processes, as can be demonstrated through the sediment budget. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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“…Nyssen et al (2002) studied gully development associated with roads in Tigray, Ethiopia by investigating drainage areas, slope, and topographic thresholds similar to Anderson and MacDonald's (1998) work in the Caribbean simulating road erosion contributions. In the wetter, (sub) humid, Amhara region, more discussion is needed concerning the impact of new roads on hydrology.…”

Section: Unpaved Road Contributions In Watershedsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modeling sediment concentration and discharge variations in a small Ethiopian watershed with contributions from an unpaved road

Guzmán

Tilahun

Dagnew

et al. 2016

Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics

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Drainage of paved and unpaved roads has been implicated as a major contributor of overland flow and erosion in mountainous landscapes. Despite this, few watershed models include or have tested for the effect roads have on discharge and sediment loads. Though having a model is an important step, its proper application and attention to distinct landscape features is even more important. This study focuses on developing a module for drainage from a road and tests it on a nested watershed (Shanko Bahir) within a larger previously studied site (Debre Mawi) that receives overland flow contributions from a highly compacted layer of soil on an unpaved road surface. Shanko Bahir experiences a sub-humid monsoonal climate and was assessed for the rainy seasons of 2010, 2011, and 2012. The model chosen is the Parameter Efficient Distributed (PED) model, previously used where saturation-excess overland flow heavily influences discharge and sediment concentration variation, though infiltration-excess occasionally occurs. Since overland flow on unpaved surfaces emulates Hortonian flow, an adjustment to the PED model (the developed module) advances possible incorporation of both flow regimes. The modification resulted in similar modeling performance as previous studies in the Blue Nile Basin on a daily basis (NSE = 0.67 for discharge and 0.71 for sediment concentrations). Furthermore, the road while occupying a small proportion of the sub-watershed (11%) contributed importantly to the early discharge and sediment transport events demonstrating the effect of roads especially on sediment concentrations. Considerations for the dynamic erodibility of the road improved sediment concentration simulation further (NSE = 0.75). The results show that this PED modeling framework can be adjusted to include unpaved compacted surfaces to give reasonable results, but more work is needed to account for contributions from gullies, which can cause high influxes of sediment.

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Impact of road building on gully erosion risk: a case study from the Northern Ethiopian Highlands

Cited by 207 publications

References 21 publications

Assessing Farmers’ Perception of Enclosures, Kewot District, Northeastern Ethiopia

Assessing Farmers’ Perception of Enclosures, Kewot District, Northeastern Ethiopia

Dynamics of soil erosion rates and controlling factors in the Northern Ethiopian Highlands – towards a sediment budget

Modeling sediment concentration and discharge variations in a small Ethiopian watershed with contributions from an unpaved road

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