IMPACT OF WATERSHED MANAGEMENT ON CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION IN GARA JEBA WATERSHED, DEDER WOREDA, OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA

Currently, climate change and its impacts on natural resources are key issues in Ethiopia. The main impacts on natural resources include land degradation, soil erosion, deforestation, loss of biodiversity, recurrent drought and flood. In view of this, this study was initiated with the main objective of assessing the impact of watershed management on climate change adaptation in Gara Jeba watershed, Deder Woreda. To address the above objective, the study used both qualitative and quantitative data gathered through semi-structured questionnaire, focus group discussion, and key informants. Besides this, long-term climate data was collected from the national meteorological agency of Ethiopia. Climate variability was analyzed by InStat software, whereas impact of watershed management on climate change adaptation was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as percentages, frequencies, bar graphs etc. The results revealed that different watershed management activities were implemented in the study area to support the local communities to cope with climate change. The results indicated that watershed management intervention improved availability of water, vegetation cover, income per household from crop production, social interaction and encouraged households to conserve natural resource. Watershed management intervention also reduced climate hazards such as flood, soil loss, drought, crop and animal diseases, and land degradations. The MannKendall test, showed positive increasing trend in kiremt seasonal rainfall by 2.2 mm per year.. Thus, intervention of watershed management could play a significant role to enhance the capability of the area to cope with climate change impacts. However, lack of technical advice and information to support the selection of interventions suitable for the local context constrain success watershed management in the area. Therefore the government should be recommended to develop proper monitoring and follow up system in place to ensure continuity and sustainability of the watershed management activities.