Browsing by Author "YETNEBERSH YITAYEW ZEGEY"

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    THE NEXUS BETWEEN URBANIZATION AND WATER BODIE: THE CASE OF LAKE HAWASSA WATERSHED, SIDAMA NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA
    (2023-11) YETNEBERSH YITAYEW ZEGEY
    The study examines the relationship between urbanisation and water bodies in the Lake Hawssa watershed, Sidama National Regional State, Ethiopia, where the lack of buffer zone policies hinders conservation efforts and challenges the implementation of such policies. The study employed a descriptive research design with mixed research methods; primary and secondary data sources were used. Data was collected from 390 households in 5 kebele and from Ministry of Water and Energy (MOWE) technical staff. A survey questionnaire, key informant interviews, and field observation were used as data collection methods. Descriptive statistical methods were used to analyze the data. The study found that due to a lack of buffer zone policy, Lake Hawassa and its tributaries, as well as its watersheds, had come under pressure from a variety of legal and illegal activities, such as floating, walking close to the lake, washing and swimming, dropping plastic caps, organic garbage, hotels, restaurant and industry waste, and the like. Moreover, due to uncontrollable urbanisation and its negative effects on the lake and its watershed, the study area typically exhibited characteristics of a high border adverse effect, low watershed cover, high sedimentation, high household waste, a high wastewater disposal area, and others. The survey results also showed that the absence of buffer zone policy had a significant negative relationship with urbanisation and water bodies' connectivity (r = -.481**, p < 0.05), and the challenges in light of the absence of buffer zone policy were considered as vegetative cover was being depleted in an unsustainable manner, catchment's plant cover declines, and sediment loads rising were among the major factors that affected the survival and consistence of Lake Hawassa watershed. Thus, the important recommendations that are found to be of paramount importance from the findings of this study include: Contextualizing buffer zone policy and other environmental protection policies, laws, proclamations, and regulations for the Lake Hawassa watershed and implementing them by delegation of the responsible body, controlling the expansion of illegal settlement and urbanisation around Lake Hawssa, the nexus between urbanisation and water body connectivity, should be considered with buffer zone policy ratification and put into practice. The buffer zone of Lake Hawassa should be managed and protected from the disruption that comes from urban agriculture, intensive grazing, commercial development, and even unsustainable recreational development.