Watershed is not only a hydrological unit for hydrologist but also a
socio-political-ecological entity for rural community. Ethiopian highlands
hailing as the cradle of humanity and home to about 80% of the population helped shelter from
foreign conquest and making a strong base of rural community. The area is threatened
with erosion and loss of agricultural productivity. The soil and water
conservation program initiated in 1970 achieved only limited success due to its
failure in addressing to the problems of local people. The prominent reasons assigned
were lack of community participation, ignoring indigenous knowledge, adopting
top down approach and poor institutional collaboration. The present government
taking lessons from the past, started community based integrated watershed
management program removing all the shortcomings through the instrument of new
policies for improved livelihood and living conditions of rural communities.
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