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ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION ALONG THE SOUTHERN SHORES OF LAKE TANA IN THE TWENTIETH CENTURY [Abstract ID: 1211-15]
The issue of environmental degradation has become very pressing in our present world. It is closely associated with most of the social and economic problems of any society. So, giving due attention and finding a solution to the issue is very vital. Although many studies have been conducted on the problem by scholars of diverse disciplines very few studies have been made based on the environmental history of Ethiopia. Lake Tana is one of those areas that is being seriously affected by environmental degradation. Therefore, the main purpose of this thesis is to undertake a historical survey of environmental degradation of the southern shores of Lake Tana in the twentieth century. The study focuses on the causes and impacts of environmental degradation and people’s efforts in protecting the environment of the target area. This research is undertaken through document analysis of the existing materials, observation, GIS interpretation and extracting information through interviews. The main causes of Environmental degradation in the study area were of population overgrowth, deforestation, land degradation, the land tenure system, and urbanization. Due to these factors, environmental degradation of the area is a very serious problem. Existing forests and wild life were seriously affected, the land was degraded, there was contamination of water bodies, agricultural products declined, and the volume of Lake Tana water and its wet lands shrunk. Though attempts were made to reduce the problem of environmental degradation, the intensity of environmental resource degradation was not equivalent to the efforts for rehabilitating the environment. Because of lack of people’s awareness about environmental degradation and inefficient policy and management on the part of responsible bodies, the challenge of environmental degradation still remains a serious problem and requires continuous and unreserved effort.