The declining pastoral environment, vulnerability status and adaptation strategy
2003
Bruke Yemane(Oxfam GB, Addis Abeba (Ethiopia). National Pastoral Programme Coordinator)
The lowland (rangelands) of Ethiopia are found below 1500 m elevation and cover about 61-65% of the total area. They are home for about 12% of the human and 26% of the livestock population. They also provide livelihood, employment and investment opportunities for over 5 million people and residents of approximately 24 major towns and cities. They are also rich in natural resources, including flora and fauna biodiversity. Other forms of natural resources in the area include, aquatic (rivers and lakes), minerals (metallic and non-metallic) as well as energy (solarwind and natural gas). Further more, the presence of cultural heritage has made the low land areas more valuable and attractive. How ever, there are constraints affecting the people and the resources. Major constraints are associated to socio-economic, environment, structural and policy. Lack of policy support and little or no attention given to the indigenous knowledge and resource management has aggravated the situation. The purpose of this paper is by way of highlighting the resource potential of the pastoral areas and vulnerability status, focus more on the adaptation strategy employed pastoralists to cope up with the situation.
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