The Impact of Wetland Degradation and Conversion on Socioeconomic Values: The Case of Amhara National Regional State Tekuma Wetland, Lake Tana Sub-Basin, Ethiopia

Abstract

Wetlands provide flood and erosion control, providing economic and social benefits to communities living around the wetlands (Yilma Delelegn and Geheb, 2003). Although wetlands have many known characteristics that are important to the livelihoods of local inhabitants, they are degraded and lost due to a lot of triggering factors. Similar to other wetlands in the country, Tekuma wetland has been affected by different factors. Wetlands and their value remain little understood and their loss is increasingly becoming an environmental disaster (Yilma Delelegn and Geheb, 2003). Thus, a study was conducted in Tekuma wetland, south western part of Lake Tana in Ethiopia to investigate the impacts of the loss of wetland on socioeconomic values. In order to select the research site and respondents, purposive and simple random sampling techniques were applied. Socioeconomic data, collected using structured questionnaire, were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired and one sample t-test techniques. The analysis of the result showed that major land use change has occurred from 1999 to 2008 followed by 1989 to 1998. Among the triggering factors for the loss of wetland direct conversion of wetlands to cultivated land was considered to be extremely high followed by overgrazing and vegetation clearance. Although Tekuma wetland has been providing different socioeconomic and ecosystem benefits to the society, the benefits of Tekuma wetland as a source of water was considered great, which has significantly improved the livelihood of the community. As the level of wetland degradation increases their benefit is reduced. As to the local people, if Tekuma wetland is lost the whole benefits that have improved their livelihood through irrigated agriculture will be lost. Hence, government has to provide special attention to minimize the loss/conversion of wetlands and maximize their socioeconomic and ecosystem benefits.