Reply to “Comment on modelling the effect of soil and water conservation practices in Tigray, Ethiopia” [Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 114 (2006) 407–411]

Developing Soil Conservation Strategies with Technical and Community Knowledge in a Degrading Sub‐Humid Mountainous Landscape

“…Since the 1970s, increased governmental interest in developing agriculture for the national economy has stimulated investment in soil conservation strategies (Holt, ; Hurni, ; Osman & Sauerborn, ; Amsalu et al, ). But such strategies (mostly physical structures) have failed to improve local livelihoods (Hengsdijk et al, ), and rates of erosion have yet to be controlled because of complications of maintenance (Pretty & Shah, ; Hurni, ; Haile et al, ; Zegeye et al, ; Adimassu et al, ) or by improper placement of conservation structures (soil bunds, stone bunds, and terraces) (Dagnew et al, ). Although sustainability and conservation strategies may be put forth on an international level (e.g., resilience, sustainability, sustainable land management, sustainable development, sustainable (inclusive) agriculture, conservation agriculture, and climate‐smart agriculture) and are often promoted by the UN (Weigelt et al, ; Wolfgramm et al, ), World Food Program (O'Connor et al, ), or FAO (Baudron et al, ; FAO, ), more detailed analysis is needed concerning how to effectively operationalize these concepts in degrading sub‐humid mountainous landscapes.…”