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American Journal of  
Chemistry and Pharmacy (AJCP)

Cause of  Land Degradation and Rehabilitation Practices in Case of  
Amba Sidist Western Ethiopia

Dessalew Shitu1*

Volume 1 Issue 1, Year 2022
ISSN: 2834-0116 (Online)

DOI: https://doi.org/10.54536/ajcp.v1i1.419
https://journals.e-palli.com/home/index.php/ajcp

Article Information ABSTRACT

Received: July 25, 2022

Accepted: August 20, 2022

Published: August 23, 2022

In Ethiopia, land degradation has become a serious problem affecting all spheres of  social, 
economic and political life of  the population. It is one of  the major challenges to agricultural 
development and food security of  the country. In order to solve the problem of  land deg-
radation, a lot of  efforts have been made since 1970s. However, at the end the intervention 
couldn’t be sustainable and able to bring the intended impact. Thus, identification of  chal-
lenges in relation to land rehabilitation practices is of  paramount importance. The study was 
undertaken in Amba 6 kebele. In order to achieve the objective of  the study, both primary 
and secondary data were generated by employing qualitative and quantitative data. Stratified 
sampling technique was used to select 76 household heads were selected from on Amba 6 by 
using stratified random sampling as it is believed that the households are similar with respect 
to the characteristics that influence the research output.  The process of  analysis of  the study 
was carried out using qualitative description and quantitative analysis. The quantitative data 
was analyzed using frequency, percentage and mean when appropriate. The qualitative data 
was discussed to substantiate the study. The findings of  the study indicated that decrease 
in productivity of  farm land, involvement in off-farm activities, increase in size of  human 
population, lack of  full cooperation of  family members to involve in land rehabilitation 
practices, low assistance gained from neighbor-hoods, less access to extension service and 
inadequate attention from woreda Agriculture and Rural Development office are the major 
challenges encountering the implementation of  land rehabilitation practices in effective way.

Keywords
Land Degradation, 
Rehabilitation, Amba Sidist

1 College of  Agriculture and Natural Resource Management, Ethiopia.
* Corresponding author’s e-mail: dessugold@gmail.com

INTRODUCTON 
The twenty-first century is a time by which the world is 
getting seriously confronted by issues of  sustainable use 
of  natural resources. Despite the emerging recognition 
of  their decisiveness for the survival of  humanity on the 
planet, these days, water and land ecosystems are being 
degraded at an alarming rate (Hannam, 2003 cited in 
Teketel, 2009)  The case is worse in developing regions, 
where the majority of  the population depends on these 
resources for its livelihould Hence, the conservation 
and management of  land and water resources for 
sustainable intensification and agriculture and poverty 
reduction in developing regions has remained one 
of  the most challenging policy issues for a long time 
(Bekele et al., 2007). The three inherently interrelated 
and interdependent land resources, namely, soil, water, 
and vegetation are in the immediate focus of  most local, 
regional, and international policies, programs, initiatives, 
covenants, protocols, and conferences that are meant to 
pave the way to sustainable development. Land is the 
most important natural resource all over the world. It is a 
place from which human beings are exploiting a number 
of  resources (Taffa, 2002). Almost all food production 
for the world population is derived from land, and the 
need to produce more is increasing from time to time due 
to an increase in population. For increasing production, 
either area under cultivation must be expanded or its 
productivity needs to be increased. Thus, fertility of  land 
is decisive factor in addition to other technological input. 
However, land is losing its productivity due to a rising 

trend of  land degradation (Woldeamlak, 2003). Land 
resources degradation, resulting from different causes, 
is threatening long-term productivity. Nowadays, land 
degradation is reducing yield significantly and it is more 
acute in some parts of  the world than the others. For 
example in Central America, 75% of  cropland is seriously 
degraded while in Africa, 20% of  the total land area is 
at risk of  Unrecovered (Sida, 2007). In Ethiopia, land 
degradation has become a serious problem affecting 
all spheres of  social, economic and political life of  the 
population. It is one of  the major challenges to agricultural 
development and food security of  the country. The rate 
of  the country’s land degradation is very high 
On the other hand, like many other developing countries, 
Ethiopia is characterized by agrarian economy and about 
84 % of  its total population derives means of  survival 
from agricultural activities. Moreover, the role of  
agriculture in the overall economy is quite significant. It 
contributes 50% of  the total GDP and 85% of  foreign 
exchange earnings. Thus, land productivity is one of  the 
key elements for enhancing economic development of  
the country. In contrast, the level of  land degradation 
has already reached an alarming stage (MoARD/WB, 
2007 cited in Desta, 2009:2). This land degradation has 
been recognized to be one of  the chronic problems in 
Ethiopia and many efforts have been made against it. 
However, the problem of  land degradation is continuing 
and natural resource base is deteriorating at alarming 
rate (Yohannes, 1999; Genene, 2006).   The major causes 
of  land degradation in Ethiopian highlands include 

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cultivation on steep slopes, deforestation, and erosive 
rainfall pattern, lack of  fallowing, overgrazing and lack 
of  proper conservation measures. The underlying factor 
for the degradation of  land is population pressure (Lakew 
et al., 2000). In response to heavy land degradation in 
the country, large-scale efforts for implementing natural 
resources conservation programs had taken place starting 
from the recent past.

Statement of  the problem  
In Ethiopia, the heavy dependence of  people’s livelihoods 
on agriculture and inappropriate use of  natural resources 
resulted in fast and vast land degradation (Genene, 
2006). On the other hand, development of  agricultural 
sector partly depends on land productivity. However, 
this resource is seriously threatened by land degradation 
and aggravates the food insecurity problems in the 
country through its adverse impact on crop yield. The 
country could not feed its population at present and it 
will have difficulties doing in the near future partly due 
to serious land degradation (Kruger et al., 1997; Genene, 
2006). To solve the problems of  land degradation in 
the country, many efforts have been made since 1970s 
A large number of  soil and water conservation activities 
were implemented in different parts of  the Ethiopian 
highlands in the 1970s and 1980 with a huge resource 
obtained from international community, particularly 
World Food Program (WFP).

Objective of  the study 
The general objective of  the study 

To assess the major cause and effect of  land 
degradation and rehabilitation practices in case of  Amba 
6 kebele.
 
The specific objectives

To identify major causes of  land degradation in the 
study area 

To identify the social, economic and institutional 
factors that determines the practice of  land rehabilitation

To assess major challenges and shortcomings in 
undertaking different land rehabilitation practices 

Research Questions 
Based on the above specific objectives, the research 
attempted to answer the following question: 

1. What are the main causes of  land degradation in the 
study area?  

2. What are the ongoing practices of  land rehabilitation? 
3. What are the main socio-economic and institutional 

factors that affect the practice of  land rehabilitation? 

MATERIALS AND METHODS 
Sampling design
The researcher was adopted stratified random sampling 
methods to select the household this stratification method 
would be selected based on wealth status. The users of  
farming land were stratified into rich, poor and medium 

household head. This is because rich, poor and medium 
could have different attitude and perception towards 
effect of  economic and environmental degradation this 
is to give equal chance for the whole target population to 
be selected as a respondent.

Sampling techniques
The study area will be selected because of  the existence 
of  land degradation caused by high population growth. 
From the total of  319 households in the study area, 76 
(7%) will be selected from the total. But, due to deficit of  
resources the interview HH number is declined to 10 HH. 
This extent of  households was selected using stratified 
random sampling techniques. Therefore, to find out 
representative sample for this study the researcher used 
the following Yamane simple determination formula.
n=N/1+N (e)2  (Yamane, 1967)
Where n=sample required as a representative, N=sum of  
households of, e=precision level assumed to be (0.1 or 
10%), n=319/1+319(0.1)2, n= 76 HH         
                                                              
Source and types of  data 
Both primary and secondary data were used in the 
study. The primary data were collected from the selected 
respondents and secondary data were collected from 
different written materials such as previous research, 
published and unpublished documents in the library. 
Also, quantitative and qualitative data are will be used in 
this research this data were collected from respondents. 

Method of  data collection 
Both primary and secondary data collected were used. 
Primary data was collected by using: Questionnaire; 
These questionnaires will prepare for 10 respondents. 
Observation in this case structured and unstructured 
were used as different techniques of  observation. We 
conducted interview to identify people’s experience, 
perception, value and opinion about the cause of  
deforestation, contribution and significance of  forest for 
their living. 

Data analysis
The collected data was by analyzed using descriptive 
statistics technique with Statically Package for Social 
Scientists (SPSS) software to analysis data drawn house 
hold survey, descriptive statics like percentage, frequency, 
distribution was used to analyzed the data. This technique 
of  data analysis was applied to show the number of  
respondents that involves in questionnaires; interview 
and percentage was also be used to depict responses of  
the sample respondent and to place them per hundred 
portions respectively.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Sample Household Characteristics
A total of  30 respondents were used for this study.  The 
Households were taken purposely for data collection. 
Out of  the total of  30 respondents, 60% (n=18) of  them 

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were males and the remaining 40% (n=12) were females. 
With regards to educational status, out of  the total of  
20 respondents, 36.67% (n=11) of  them were illiterate, 
20% (n=9) were they can read and write, 23.3% (n=7) 
were primary school and 10% (n=3) were secondary 
school. As indicated in table 1; 56.67% (n=17) of  the 
respondents were married, 23.33% (n=7) were divorced, 
the remaining 13.33% (n=4) of  them widowed, and 
6.67% (n=2) of  the respondents were single.
As indicated in table 2, 43.34% (n=13) were in the age 
group of  60 and above year followed by those in the age 
of  group of  31 45 year 33.33% (n=10). The remaining 
23.33% (n=7) of  the respondents were found in the age 
group of  15 30 year.

than, it was a question of  survival. 
Major Cause of  land degradation in the Study Area 
According to local community, the major cause’s land 
degradation in the study area overgrazing, deforestation, 
population growth, mismanagement of  resources
Out of  the total 30 respondents, 56.67% (n=17) of  them 
agreed that deforestation as the major causes of  land 
degradation, the remaining was for other rezones 23.33% 
(n=7), overgrazing 13.33% (n=4), and 6.67% (n=2) other 
services.  

Overgrazing
Out of  the total respondents, 56.67% (n=17) of  them 
agreed that overgrazing as a cause of  land degradation. 
Like; teff, maize, etc were some of  cereals important 
to generate income for local communities.The majority 
of  local community in the study area mainly dependent 
on agriculture.  Farmers in the study area pursue mixed 
agriculture. Both crop farming and rearing of  livestock.  
One of  the key farmer said that the reason why 
expansion of  agriculture is due to immediate solution 
rather long term that means, products being obtained 
from agriculture takes short period of  time and also it is 
possible to generate income in short period of  time than 
forests which takes long period to get its outputs and also 
it takes long period of  time to get income from it. 

Deforestation
Out of  the total respondents, 23.33% (n=7) of  them 
showed that fuel deforestation as the major factor of  
land degradation in the study area. According to the 
respondents, in the study area forest was the common 
and major household energy source for home based 
activities (food cooking, water heating, etc). Because of  
the lack of  modern electric energy supply, the majority 
of  the households are depending on fuel wood. As 
information obtained from the sampled households, fuel 
wood consumption was very exhaustive, time consuming, 
however, they use it as main energy source because of  
lack of  options to use another improved energy sources 

Table 1: Marital status of  sample Household.
Marital  status Frequency Percent
Married 17 56.67
Divorcees 7 23.33
Widows 4 13.33
Single 2 6.67

Source: Field Survey 2008

Table 2: Age  Distribution of  the sample  Household
Age  of  the Household head Frequency  Percent
15-30 7 23.33
31-45 10 33.33
46-60 13 43.34

Source: Field Survey 2008

Communities Perceptions about land degradation in 
the Study Area
According to local source, forest used to support the 
livelihood of  most rural communities the farmers used 
to get different functions and services from the forest; 
Such as fire wood, herbal medicine, bee keeping, house 
construction materials, food, etc. However, increase land 
degradation in the study area was indicated as indicators 
of  decrease in functions and services of  lands. One of  
the community leaders said that the last few decades’ 
forests were depleted and evens currently the local 
communities supplying forest products in the market as 
income generation.  
According to the interviewee, in the study area, the local 
communities had no access being gained awareness 
creation regarding how land degradation rehabilitation 
mechanisms on sustainable manner. The local 
communities were being applied only their traditional 
knowledge for forests resource conservation rather than 
integrating their knowledge with scientific way which was 
being important to ensure environmental sustainability. 
From that local community one of  the farmers  also 
said that expanding of  infrastructures for the sake of  
attaining erosion was being created key roles for easily 
occurrence of  land degradation in the study area. Issues 
which were noted earlier were some of  the key factors 
which aggravated land degradation. 
According to the interviews, before two decades, land 
degradation was not a serious issue in the study area, but 
currently the problem was not only a serious issue rather 

 Table 3: Current Land Status in the Study Area. 
Current Land Condition Frequency Percent
Excellent 2 6
Good 6 20
Moderate 9 30
Degraded 8 33
Very much degraded 3 7
Total 3 6

Source: Field Survey, 2008

Table 4: Major causes of  land degradation in the study 
area 
Causes of  land degradation Frequency Percentage
Overgrazing 17 56.67
Deforestation   7 23.33
Mismanagement of  resources 4 13.33
Population growth 2 6.67
Total. 30 100

Source own survey 2008

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Mismanagement of  resources
Out of  the total of  30 respondents, 13.33% (n=4) of  
them agreed on urban development’s as major cause of  
land degradation. According to their opinions, various 
activates took place on the area, which replaced the 
area the resource was depleted. As a result, various 
constructions and infrastructures were built. Like 
expansions of  different building of  schools, clinic, 
cultural offices, etc, were some of  the infrastructures built 
on the area to expand urbanization. 
In the study area mismanagement of  resources was being 
played major cause for contribution of  land degradation. 
and to expand infrastructures huge hectares of  land was 
being depleted in the study area

Population Growth 
According to the local community due to population 
growth in the study area increased demand for more 
agricultural land, timber production, fuel wood 
consumption and other uses, at his time the tree cover 
was reduced, so the stock of  tress diminishes as the forest 
resource was overly exploited rather than being managed 
on a sustainable basis. The local farmers, also perceived 
that over exploitation of  forests resource in the study area 
led to land degradation  and the diversion of  animal dung 
from its traditional role as soil nutrient to direct burning 
for fuel, while the reduced dunging of  the land and soil 
erosion caused by trees cover clearance or succeeded 
deforestation, further impairs soil fertility, this in turn, 
promote water runoff   which takes soil from the land 
to produce sediment in rivers, polluting drinking water 
supplies, loss of  productivity and aggravate formation of  
gullies, soil erosion and floods. 

Major Consequences of  land degradation in the 
Study Area 
The causes and consequences of  land degradation were 
interlinked with each other’s, that means if  there was 
causes it also consequences and vice versa. According 
to most respondents the major consequences of  land 
degradation in the area are poverty, climate change, and 
gully expansion, 
In the table 6, 63.33% (n=19) of  the respondents agreed 
that poverty as consequences of  land degradation, 
26.67% (n=8) as climate change, and 10% (n=3) of  the 
respondents said gully expansion also as a consequence 
of  land degradation in the study area 

Poverty
Poverty was the major consequences of  land degradation 
in the study area.s to be degraded; as a result reduction 
in productivity was being employed for their livelihood. 
the majority of  the community in the study area was 
being highly depended on Agriculture. This was because, 
sustaining of  their life as well as income generating 
strategy was being used mainly from mixed agriculture. 
As it was described earlier, one can possible to say that 
highly dependency of  the communities on agriculture 

Table 5: Major consequences of  land degradation in the 
study area 
Consequences of  land 
degradation

Frequency Percentage

Poverty 20 63.33
Climate change 7 26.26
Gully expansion 3 10
Total 30 100

Source own survey 2008
was being aggravated the Land in the area was happened. 
Climate Change 
Deforestation stimulates higher accumulation of  
CO2(carbon dioxide) on the atmosphere, these would 
continue depleting the ozone layers, which caused an 
increase of  temperature on the atmosphere. The current 
serious issue in the study area was higher increase of  
temperature and climate changes, which affect the day to 
day activities and continued its impact on social, economic 
and environments. During interviews , they perceived 
that climate change was being taken place due to, higher 
increase of  populations, frequent use of  forests resource, 
urbanization, and resettlements programs which were 
some of  the major factors highly accelerated temperature 
to be raised and as a result climate change in the study 
area. 

Gully expansion
Gully expansion is the major consequence in the study 
area by applying high amount of  water in the form of  
erosion to erode or deplete agricultural productivity. As a 
result of  this people leave in the study area highly affected 
by gully expansion and to affect different agro forestry 
systems.
Regarding wild animals some the of  the community 
leaders argued that nearly about 20 years ago there were a 
lot of  wild animals, but today only few can be seen near 
forest fragments. The decreasing of  their number was 
due to depletion of  forests, which obligated them to go 
others, area having forest covers. 
One of  the interviews of  the farmer, said that the only 
option to mitigate loss of  soil and biodiversity was that 
encourage the habit of  protecting the environment by 
practicing planting of  trees on a sustainable manner, 
practice of  a forestation program, area closure and 
etc. According to the community whatever the case, 
forests land area should be increased and even should 
be encouraged the programs which was being described 
earlier, this was, because practicing of  a forestation 
program, was being played important roles which 
contributed not only for environmental sustainability, but 
also social, and economical sustainability. 

Soil Fertility Improvement Practices 
Farmers at individual level practice different land 
management activities mainly to increase agricultural 
yields and to conserve the natural environment on their 
plot of  land. They practice a short-term benefit oriented 
soil fertility management and long-term benefit oriented 

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land resource management activities.  
For short-term effect, farmers apply chemical fertilizers 
to obtain high agricultural yield. Inorganic chemical 
fertilizer application is a prerequisite in the study area as 
many parts of  the country experience due to loss of  soil 
fertility which is caused by erosion (See Table 5.1). 
According to survey results, crop rotation (76.1% and 
69.7% of  the respondents in Amba 6 kebele respectively) 
is one of  the most important methods of  improving soil 
fertility as well as conserving soils on cultivated fields. It 
is a method through which the nutrient content of  the 
soil is improved by cultivating different crops on the same 
plot of  land interchangeably. 
This method again becomes more important when 
leguminous crops are part of  the rotation system to 
improve the nitrate content of  the soil. According to the 
information obtained from Amba 6 kebele and woreda 
experts, this system is one of  the widely practiced system 
of  soil fertility improvement in the study area which 
helps to obtain more outputs from the cultivated land. 
The rotation system mostly consists of  cereals, legumes 
(mainly bean) and root crops like potatoes in the farm 
land in different seasons and years of  cultivation. 
Manure is used to be important input for promoting the 
fertility status of  the soil. Its application to farmland raises 
the nutrient level of  the soil, increases infiltration and 
reduces soil erosion. About 53.7% of  the respondent in 
Amba 6 . Currently, application of  manure on farm lands 
has been decreasing from time to time as the number of  
livestock per household has been decreasing significantly 
for various reasons. Participants of  community indicated 
that fragmentation of  farm plots confine the use of  
manure only for homestead area rather than far away 
from their home. 
In addition, the use of  cattle dung as source of  fuel for 
cooking instead of  using it as organic fertilizer is another 
contributing factor for low application of  manure for soil 
fertility improvement practice in the study area. 
Regarding fallowing to improve soil fertility, the survey 
result indicates small contribution. Only 6% and 3% of  
the respondents in Amba 6 used fallowing to improve 
soil fertility respectively.  Participants, no fallowing that 
can contribute to soil fertility improvement in the study 
area. Because of  high population density, farmers have no 
chance to leave the land uncultivated.

Soil and Water Conservation Practices 
In the study area, as many parts of  Ethiopian highlands, 
farmers have a pool of  indigenous knowledge with which 
they use and manage their land resources. They make 

efforts to conserve their soils against erosion by applying 
a range of  conservation techniques 
Among soil and water conservation measures, which is 
widely used by farmers in the study area, in almost all 
villages, is contour ploughing. Ninety-four percent and 
ninety-seven percent of  the respondents in Amba 6 
confirmed that they protect soil from erosion through 
contour ploughing respectively. To establish the structure, 
the farm plots are ploughed horizontally; following 
contours so that those contour furrows are created with 
the help of  iron plough.  the furrows that are formed 
along contours help to hold the water until it infiltrates 
into the ground and hence reduces the damaging or 
erosive effect of  surface runoff  on plots of  land. 
Traditional ditches are the most extensively practiced 
measures used to conserve soil and water in the study 
area.  The structures are established with the help of  oxen-
plough deep into the ground. This kind of  practice has 
been used by farmers since longer times.  When the land 
is being prepared for sowing to minimize the problem of  
seed loss after sowing. In addition, it also minimizes water 
logging problems as well as soil erosion.  
According to information obtained from Amba 6, a 
group of  two or more farmers who possess neighbor 
farm plots prepare water ways at the top of  the slope. 
This is a common practice in the study area as this area is 
found at the base of  Mount. . It helps protect crop fields 
from being damaged by powerful run-offs that come in 
such steep sloppy area. 
Findings from   the survey respondents indicated that, 
hillside terracing and check-dams were among the most 
frequently used physical structures used for soil and water 
conservation in the study area.  However, it was noted 
from the Amba 6 kebele information that the terracing 
and check-dams were of  poor quality that stay only for 
a short period of  time, in fact until they face a repeated 
heavy rainfall. Moreover, the potential positive impacts of  
the conservation attempts had also been reversed by the 
simultaneous devastating act of  the farmers themselves 
for cultivation,  free grazing. 
Forage strip and stone bounds (in some cases) are used 
as another technique for soil and water conservation 
practices.  biological treatment of  soil and water 
conservation activities are being practiced in combination 
with the physical soil and water conservation structures. 
The treatment of  the land takes place in comprehensive 
way in all land use types such as in cultivated lands, grazing 
lands, forest areas and marginal lands of  the study area. 

Gully Rehabilitation Practices
Gullies which are intermittent stream channels longer 
than rills are created by concentrated rainfall runoff  
from the surrounding sloping land. Usually, gullies 
follow sheet erosion or result from neglect of  rills. 
Most of  the reasons behind gully formation in the study 
area include deforestation, cultivation of  steep slopes, 
lack of  fallow, less vegetative cover, overgrazing and 
insufficient soil conservation measures. According to 

Table 6: Mechanisms of  land rehabilitation practice in 
the study area
Mechanisms of  land 
rehabilitation practices 

Frequency Percentage

Fertility management 19 63.33
Soil and water conservation 8 26.67
Gully rehabilitation 4 12
Total 30 100

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the survey respondents, most of  the aforementioned 
factors behind gully formation are testified to be existent 
and to be the major causes of  land degradation in the 
study sites. In order to curb gullies, check-dam was widely 
constructed along water ways from tree shrubs or stones. 
This eventually helps raise the floor up to the level of  
surrounding and original ground. Cut off  drains and 
planting trees and grasses along water ways are additional 
gully rehabilitation practices in the study  

CONCLUSION
This study has attempted to investigate the challenges 
and prospects of  land rehabilitation practices in Amba 
6. The findings of  the study indicated that the livelihood 
of  the farmers in the study area depends on subsistence 
agriculture. The major economic activity for all sampled 
households is based on farming (about 92%). The 
average size of  farm land owned by farmers is less than 
one hectare which limits the amount of  production in the 
study area.  
On the other hand, the findings indicate has serious 
land degradation problems as observed in other part on 
highland Ethiopia. This problem appeared to be one of  
the major challenges for crop production. Sheet and rill 
erosion are commonly observed in farmland whereas 
gullies are common in communal lands and edges of  
farmlands. Limited use of  conservation structures, lack 
of  fallowing, cutting trees for fuel and construction 
purposes, ploughing steep slopes and overstocking are the 
major immediate root causes of  land degradation. The 
underlying causes of  land degradation as identified by the 
study are population pressure, steep slope nature of  the 
area and erratic rain fall pattern. More than half  of  the 
farmers in the study area are practicing crop production 
in erosion prone areas and still there is an expansion 
of  cultivation in to marginal lands due to population 
pressure. This expansion of  farming towards marginal 
area resulted in shortage of  grazing land, deforestation 
and increasing trend in land degradation.  
The livelihood of  the community in the study area 
is affected by these land degradation problems. The 
productive lands become less productive and subsequently 
left uncultivated. About 76% of  the sampled households 
recognized that there is land degradation in their locality 
and about 30% of  the sampled households agreed that 
leaving lands due to loss of  quality is the main cause of  
decreasing trend in land holding in the study area. 
Regarding response to land degradation problem, 
there have been a range of  land rehabilitation practices 
underway in the study area by local communities, 

government and non-government organizations. The 
activities practiced in the study area include soil fertility 
improvement activities, soil and water conservation 
structures and rehabilitating degraded lands by agro- 
forestry, afforestation and area closure system.  However 
as compared to the magnitude of  the problem, these 
land management and rehabilitation practices are not 
enough to curb land degradation problem. There are also 
challenges that affect land rehabilitation practices in the 
study area. 
The study revealed that different socio-economic and 
institutional factors determine land rehabilitation practices 
in the study area. Among the socioeconomic factors 
increase in human population is the major challenge. With 
the increased population, there is subsequent increase 
in the size of  cultivated area which in turn resulted in 
the shrinking of  grazing lands and expansion of  the 
cultivation into areas formerly considered as marginal and 
extremely fragile. Continuous search for new cultivable 
land also challenges the construction and maintenance 
of  soil and water conservation practices and closing 
extremely degraded area for rehabilitation.  
Regarding to the involvement of  family members and 
neighborhood in land rehabilitation practices, the finding 
of  the study revealed that slightly more than half  percent 
of  the population have willingness and cooperation to 
involve in land rehabilitation practices. This indicates 
the increase of  awareness of  the community about the 
negative impact of  land degradation. But the population 
which accounts nearly half  percent did not show any 
willing to involve inland management and rehabilitation 
works. The reasons identified during the survey, exhaustion 
of  the fertility of  land and subsequent reduction in farm 
yields, deterioration of  social values of  helping each other 
and subsequent focus on personal gains, and decrease 
in productivity of  land which discourage the need for 
additional labor from outside are the major one. 
Economically, the decreased productivity of  farm land 
and involvement in off- farm activities pushes away 
people from participating in land rehabilitation practices. 
In addition, people who engaged in off-farm activities 
cannot contribute labor supply for any land rehabilitation 
practices as these activities require large number of  labor. 
Thus, from this, it can be concluded that the economic 
factors have played their own role in land rehabilitation 
practices. 
Regarding the institutional support related factors, though 
efforts being made were reported by the government 
and non-government officials in the study area, none 
of  the activities are enough to halt the problem of  land 
degradation. From this, it is possible to conclude that 
inadequate integration of  the government officials with 
local communities during planning and introduction of  
different soil and water conservation activities and the 
intention of  government to fulfill the immediate need 
of  the people are some of  the problems observed in the 
study area.   
In general, among the considered socio-economic and 

Table 7:  The Extent of  land degradation in the study 
area                     
Extent of    land 
Degradation

frequency Percentage

Very high 20 66.6
Medium 7 23.33
Low 3 10
No Land Degradation --- ----

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institutional factors that influence land rehabilitation 
practices, the increasing number of  population, 
involvement in off  farm activities, decline in farm 
productivity, and inadequate attention paid by government 
toward securing alternate means of  livelihood to ease 
pressure on land, the need to obtain short term benefits 
rather than long-term from land are the very important 
ones in the study area. 

RECOMMENDATIONS 
The findings of  the research indicate that there is 
increasing trend in land degradation problem in the 
study area. Different land management activities are 
being practiced in order to conserve resource base and 
NGOs, none of  the interventions can efficiently curb the 
problem. Therefore, based on the finding of  the research, 
the following actions that are believed to play significant 
role in improving land rehabilitation practices and 
solving, at least minimizing problems of  land degradation 
are recommended. 
In association with the increased population pressure 
a number of  adverse effects on the environmental 
conservation of  the study area and land rehabilitation 
practices have been identified. Easing population 
pressure on natural resource dependence needs due 
attention. This can be achieved by resettlement program, 
continuous training and awareness creation on family 
planning, technological improvements in agriculture 
and development of  other sectors of  the economy to 
minimize burdens on natural resource. 
In making intervention in land management practices, 
there should be active participation of  local people 
primarily farmers. This helps to integrate indigenous land 
management practices with the new ones and enhance 
easy adoption and sustainable use of  effective introduced 
practices. In addition, it is also essential to provide 
benefits to the local communities from enclosed area in 
sustainable manner which, in turn, increased the sense of  
one’s resource

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