Matching socioeconomic and ecological need in wetland management using systems approach

The world is facing increasing and interrelated water problems. The water is not only scarce but also not properly developed, managed and utilized. Wetlands are vital resources, which significantly contribute to the water system, as they have multiple functions and values. But they are complex ecosystems and are one of those misused or over exploited resources because of different reasons. That includes lack of understanding of its value and function, inadequate legislation and lack of relevant information and limited involvement of stakeholders, especially the local people, in decision making. It is due to poor management practices, which lack acceptable standards, in water and related resources management. Although Awash River is the most developed river basin in Ethiopia somewhat with better infrastructure, the issue of population growth, increasing demands for resources, agricultural expansion, and environmental situation of the region and wetlands degradation is serious concerns to maintain the function and value of the basin. This paper focuses on how wetlands in can be managed properly to address the two most significant needs which are socioeconomic and ecological needs. In most cases including Cheffa Wetland, one of the wetlands of Awash River basin in Ethiopia, the interrelated environmental, institutional, social and political factors influence the management practices. These factors along with the nature of the wetland make the issue of management complex. So as to deal with such a complex situation, a holistic and integrated approach is required instead of fragmented and sectoral attempts to manage the resource. System thinking is a holistic approach that provides an alternative to understand the problematic situation and allows all stakeholders to participate in improving the situation through understanding deferent perspectives. Therefore in this paper Systems analysis is used as a methodological framework, to deal with the problematic situation of Cheffa wetland. Integrated water resource and adaptive management as the two sets of concepts are used in contemporary water resource management practices to address the complexity and uncertainty in resource management decision are considered in this thesis