Impact of Land Use Conflict on Livelihood and Range Condition in the Awash Valley of Ethiopia

Since 1960 rangelands in the Awash Valley of Ethiopia have been subject to competing claims: wildlife conservation, development to generate revenue for the state, and the use of the valley by pastoralists. This conflict, aggravated by drought, is a frequent occurrence between Afar and Kereyu pastoralists, the conservation, park and state plantations and hits threatened the co-existence of the communities and the park, resulting in range deterioration. Studies were undertaken to examine options for livelihood diversification and to identify entry points for range improvement through consultation with key stakeholders, reviews of documents, and field data collection. Though livestock production is the major source of livelihood, local communities have undergone changes in terms of their livelihood. The percentage of bare ground varied between 4% and 25%, with many spots without any vegetation and the proportion of forbs ranging between 3% and 44%. The area is bush encroached and the range has degraded, thus decreasing the conservation value of the area for ecotourism. The options for livelihood diversification, range-land improvements and future research needs are outlined.