Rangeland dynamics in southern Ethiopia: (1) Botanical composition of grasses and soil characteristics in relation to land-use and distance from water in semi-arid Borana rangelands

Analysis of Vegetation Phytosociological Characteristics and Soil Physico-Chemical Conditions in Harishin Rangelands of Eastern Ethiopia

“…This happens due to an increase in above ground plant litter and annual forbs and grasses that enhance the formation and accumulation of SOM [59]. Among the soil properties, the total organic C is a sensitive soil quality indicator [60]. This means that within a narrow range of soil the organic C may serve as a suitable indicator of soil fertility [61].…”

“…Complex spatial patterns of soil nutrients have been commonly presumed to develop over time as a result of the interactions of climate, parental material, vegetation type and topography [64]. In connection to this, Tefera et al [60] reported that the rangelands of east Africa generally have a low level of soil fertility.…”

Effects of holistic grazing management on milk production, weight gain, and visitation to grazing areas by livestock and wildlife in Laikipia County, Kenya

“…Overgrazing, mainly attributed to restricted herd mobility due to conversion of rangelands to other land uses, leads to reduction of palatable herbaceous plant species and increase of the unpalatable ones (Smet and Ward 2006) that constitutes a form of range degradation. It also affects the soil quality (Snyman and Du Preez 2005;Elmore and Asner 2006), herbaceous plant species composition (Tefera et al 2007), and woody vegetation cover. Palatable species decline as grazing pressure increases and are replaced by shrubs or other vegetation which are less preferred by livestock and more resistant to grazing Dyksterhuis 1949).…”

Distribution, abundance and habitat preferences of White-tailed Swallow Hirundo megaensis and Ethiopian Bush-crow Zavattariornis stresemanni, two southern Ethiopian endemics

“…In addition, small patches of juniper Juniperus procera forest can be found in upland areas just outside the boundaries of the sanctuary, although grazing and logging threaten its persistence (Borghesio et al 2004). The dominant land use is pastoralism by the Borana people, although settled agriculture (both commercial and subsistence) has increased in recent years (EWNHS 2001, Bassi 2002, Borghesio and Giannetti 2005, Solomon Tefera et al 2007). Additionally, we searched for both study species farther afield along the roads to Moyale (southeast), Konso (west), Agere Mariam (north) and Arero (east) in a qualitative attempt to define their current geographical range limits.…”

“…Specifically, they seem to be attracted to Borana pastoralist villages owing to the presence of tall Acacia trees and livestock, and actively feed in adjacent ploughed fields. However, this gives no grounds for optimism concerning their prospects in the face of human population increase around Yabelo, as the expansion of crop-planting (already noted to be unsustainable in this region owing to soil deterioration: Solomon Tefera et al 2007) involves the clearance of tall trees, which is currently occurring on a substantial scale (Bassi 2002, Gedeon 2006. Concomitantly, it seems probable that the dense bushlands avoided by this species will continue to increase at the expense of more open savannas, given the lack of native browsers, perturbation of historical fire regions, and intensity of cattle grazing both inside and outside the Yabelo Sanctuary.…”