Journal of Environment and Earth Science www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3216 (Paper) ISSN 2225-0948 (Online) Vol.4, No.9, 2014 98 Land Degradation in Ethiopia: Causes, Impacts and Rehabilitation Techniques Temesgen Gashaw 1* , Amare Bantider 2 and Hagos G/Silassie 1 1.Department of Natural Resource Management, Adigrat University, Ethiopia 2.Center for Food Security Studies, College of Development Studies, Addis Abeba University, Ethiopia *Corresponding Author: gtemesgen114@gmail.com Abstract Land degradation is the common environmental problem in Ethiopia. It is one of the major causes of low and declining agricultural productivity and continuing food insecurity and rural poverty. In addition, land degradation directly affected the type of plant grown on the area, reduced availability of potable water, lessened volumes of surface water, depletion of aquifers and biodiversity loss. The major causes are rapid population increase, severe soil loss, deforestation, low vegetative cover and unbalanced crop and livestock production. Topography, soil types and agro-ecological parameters are also additional factors affecting the land degradation processes in Ethiopia influenced by man. Throughout history, efforts to combat land degradation is focused on physical conservation structures. However, use of vegetative measures is very much limited. Key words: land degradation, rehabilitation 1. Introduction Land degradation is a major global issue for the 20th century and will remain high on the international agenda even for the 21st century (Working Group on Land Degradation and Desertification of the International Union of Soil Sciences 1999). Various sources suggest that 5 to 10 million hectares worldwide are being lost annually to severe degradation. If this trend continues, 1.4 to 2.8 percent of total agricultural, pasture, and forestland will have been lost by 2020 (Scherr and Yadav 1996). Land degradation includes all process that diminishes the capacity of land resources to perform essential functions and services in ecosystems (Hurni et al. 2010) are caused by two interlocking complex systems: the natural ecosystem and the human social system. Interactions between the two systems determine the success or failure of resource management (Berry 2003). Principal processes of land degradation include erosion by water and wind, chemical degradation (comprising acidification, salinization, fertility depletion, and decrease in cation retention capacity), physical degradation (comprising crusting, compaction, hard-setting, etc.) and biological degradation (reduction in total and biomass carbon, and decline in land biodiversity) (WMO 2005). It is a continuous process and has become, however, an important concern affecting food security and the wealth of nations, and has an impact on the livelihood of almost every person on this earth (Bezuayehu et al. 2002). Ethiopia is one of the most well endowed countries in Sub-Saharan Africa in terms of natural resources (Gete et al. 2006). However, natural resource degradation in Ethiopia has been going on for centuries (Hurni et al. 2010). Similarly, Berry (2003) also stated that loss of land resource productivity is an important problem in Ethiopia and that with continued population growth the problem is likely to be even more important in the future. The major causes of land degradation in Ethiopia are rapid population increase, severe soil loss, deforestation, low vegetative cover and unbalanced crop and livestock production (Girma 2001). Topography, soil types and agro- ecological parameters are also additional factors playing significant role in the degradation processes influenced by man (Paulos 2001). To combat land degradation, the Ethiopian government launched a massive soil conservation programme in the middle of 1970’s (Hawando 1997). A slogan of environmental movement in 1980s and 1990s i.e. “think globally- act locally” face failures. Thus, a new slogan namely “think locally- act globally” have to be created (Hurni 2002). In addition, afforestation and conservation programs have been made in the last three decades (Badege 2001). However, success to date has been limited (Badege 2001; Paulos 2001). Thus, the purpose of this paper is to give an overview on the causes and impacts of land degradation in Ethiopia, and to present rehabilitative measures to restore degraded lands. 2. Land degradation: Causes, impacts and rehabilitation techniques 2.1 Causes of land degradation Scholars identified different causes of land degradation. For example, according to Berry (2003), the cause of land degradation involves two interlocking complex systems: the natural ecosystem and the human social system. Interactions between the two systems determine the success or failure of resource management. While, WMO (2005) classified the causes of land degradation into biophysical factors such as unsuitable land use (land use for the purpose for which environmentally unsuited for sustainable use), socioeconomic factors such as poor land management practices, land tenure, marketing, institutional support, income and human health, and political factors such as lack of incentives and political instability. In parallel, Mulugeta (2004) argued that land