Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Gully Development in the Tigray Highlands

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Landscapes and Landforms of Ethiopia

Part of the book series: World Geomorphological Landscapes ((WGLC))

Abstract

In the Tigray highlands, gully development is linked to poverty-driven unsustainable use of the land in a vulnerable semi-arid and mountainous environment, where intense rainfalls challenge the physical integrity of the landscape. Over the last two centuries, three major phases in the hydrological regime of the region could be distinguished. In the first phase, between 1868 (or earlier) and ca. 1965, the relatively stable gully channels showed an oversized morphology inherited from a previous period when external forcing of environmental conditions caused significant channel development. In the second phase (ca. 1965–ca. 2000), increased aridity and a continued vegetation clearance accelerated dynamics of the gully system. A sharp increase in gully headcut retreat rates, network densities and volumes could be quantified for that period. With the widespread implementation of soil and water conservation measures, erosion rates decreased, which announced the start of the third hydrogeomorphic phase since ca. 2000. In 2010, about one-fourth of the gully channels were stabilized. These hydrogeomorphic developments correspond to a gully cut-and-fill cycle in the second half of the twentieth century and suggest that a pre-1868 cut cycle took place.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Alemayehu F, Taha N, Nyssen J, Girma A, Zenebe A, Behailu M, Deckers J, Poesen J (2009) The impacts of watershed management on land use and land cover dynamics in Eastern Tigray (Ethiopia). Resour Conserv Recy 53:192–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ayres Q, Scoates D (1939) Land drainage and reclamation. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Billi P, Dramis F (2003) Geomorphological investigation on gully erosion in the Rift Valley and the Northern highlands of Ethiopia. Catena 50:353–368

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • BoANR (1997) Water and soil conservation, forestry development. Manual for agricultural cadres. Lekatit 1989 (Eth. Cal.) (in Tigrinya). Bureau of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mekelle

    Google Scholar 

  • CSA (2008) Summary and statistical report of the 2007 population and housing census. Population size by age and sex. Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia, Addis Abbaba

    Google Scholar 

  • Daba S, Rieger W, Strauss P (2003) Assessment of gully erosion in eastern Ethiopia using photogammetric techniques. Catena 50:273–291

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Mûelenaere S, Frankl A, Haile M, Poesen J, Deckers J, Munro RN, Veraverbeke S, Nyssen J (2013) Historical landscape photographs for calibration of LANDSAT land use/cover in the Northern Ethiopian Highlands. Land Degrad Dev 25:319–335

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Descheemaeker K, Nyssen J, Rossi J, Poesen J, Haile M, Moeyersons J, Deckers J (2006) Sediment deposition and pedogenesis in exclosures in the Tigray highlands, Ethiopia. Geoderma 132:291–314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • FAOSTAT (2013) Statistical division of the UN food and agriculture organization. http://faostat.fao.org/

  • Frankl A, Nyssen J, De Dapper M, Haile M, Billi P, Munro RN, Deckers J, Poesen J (2011) Linking long-term gully and river channel dynamics to environmental change using repeat photography (Northern Ethiopia). Geomorphology 129:238–251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frankl A, Poesen J, Deckers J, Haile M, Nyssen J (2012) Gully head retreat rates in the semiarid highlands of North Ethiopia. Geomorphology 173–174:185–195

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frankl A, Jacob M, Haile M, Poesen J, Deckers J, Nyssen J (2013a) The effect of rainfall on the spatio-temporal variability of cropping systems and duration of the crop cover in the Northern Ethiopian highlands. Soil Use Manag 29:374–383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frankl A, Poesen J, Haile M, Deckers J, Nyssen J (2013b) Quantifying long-term changes in gully networks and volumes in dryland environments: the case of Northern Ethiopia. Geomorphology 201:254–263

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frankl A, Poesen J, Scholiers N, Jacob M, Haile M, Deckers J, Nyssen J (2013c) Factors controlling the morphology and volume (V)—length (L) relations of permanent gullies in the Northern Ethiopian highlands. Earth Surf Process Land 38:1672–1684

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frankl A, Zwertvaegher A, Poesen J, Nyssen J (2013d) Transferring google earth observations to GIS-software: example from gully erosion study. Int J Digital Earth 6:196–201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gebremedhin B, Swinton SM (2003) Investment in soil conservation in northern Ethiopia: the role of land tenure security and public programs. Agric Econ 29:69–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gebremedhin B, Pender J, Tesfay G (2004) Collective action for grazing land management in crop-livestock mixed systems in the highlands of northern Ethiopia. Agricul Syst 82:273–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall F (2001) Ground-based photographic monitoring. Gen Tech Rep PNW-GTR-503. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Portland

    Google Scholar 

  • HTS (1976) Tigrai Rural Development Study (TRDS). Hunting Technical Services Ltd. Government of Ethiopia and UK Ministry of Overseas Development. Hunting Technical Services, Borehamwood

    Google Scholar 

  • Hurni H (1986) Guidelines for development agents on soil conservation in Ethiopia. Soil conservation research project. Community Forests and Soil Conservation Development Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Addis Ababa Ethiopia

    Google Scholar 

  • Graf WL (1988) Fluvial processes in dryland environments. The Blackburn Press, Caldwell

    Google Scholar 

  • Kassas M (1995) Desertification: a general review. J Arid Environ 30:115–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knighton D (1998) Fluvial forms and processes—a new perspective. Hodder Education, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Maddison A (2006) The world economy. OECD, Development Centre Studies, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Meire E, Frankl A, De Wulf A, Haile M, Decker J, Nyssen J (2013) Land use and cover dynamics in Africa since the nineteenth century: warped terrestrial photographs of North Ethiopia. Reg Environ Change 13:717–737

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mekuria W, Veldkamp E, Haile M, Gebrehiwot K, Muys B, Nyssen J (2009) Effectiveness of exclosures to control soil erosion and local community perception on soil erosion in Tigray, Ethiopia. Afr J Agric Res 4:365–377

    Google Scholar 

  • Moeyersons J (1989) La nature de l’érosion des versants au Rwanda. Annales, Kon. Mus. Mid. Afr., Tervuren 19, Tervuren

    Google Scholar 

  • Moeyersons J (1990) Soil loss by rainwash: a case study from Rwanda. Z Geomorph 34:385–408

    Google Scholar 

  • Moeyersons J, Nyssen J, Poesen J, Deckers J, Haile M (2006) Age and backfill/overfill stratigraphy of two tufa dams, Tigray highlands, Ethiopia, evidence for Late Pleistocene and Holocene wet conditions. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 230:165–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moges A, Holden NM (2008) Estimating the rate and consequences of gully development, a case study of Umbulo catchment in southern Ethiopia. Land Degrad Dev 19:574–586

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Munro RN, Deckers J, Grove AT, Haile M, Poesen J, Nyssen J (2008) Soil and erosion features of the Central Plateau region of Tigrai—learning from photo monitoring with 30 years interval. Catena 75:55–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haregeweyn Nigussie, Poesen J, Nyssen J, Verstraeten G, de Vente J, Govers G, Deckers S, Moeyersons J (2005) Specific sediment yield in Tigray-Northern Ethiopia: assessment and semi-quantitative modelling. Geomorphology 69:315–331

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haregeweyn Nigussie, Poesen J, Nyssen J, Govers G, Verstraeten G, de Vente J, Deckers J, Moeyersons J, Haile M (2008) Sediment yield variability in Northern Ethiopia: a quantitative analysis of its controlling factors. Catena 75(1):65–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nyssen J, Moeyersons J, Deckers J, Haile M, Poesen J (2000) Vertic movements and the development of stone covers and gullies, Tigray Highlands. Ethiopia Z Geomorph 44:145–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Nyssen J, Poesen J, Luyten E, Veyret-Picot M, Deckers J, Haile M, Govers G (2002) Impact of road building on gully erosion risk: a case study from the Northern Ethiopian highlands. Earth Surf Process Land 27:1267–1283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nyssen J, Veyret-Picot M, Poesen J, Moeyersons J, Haile M, Deckers J, Govers G (2004) The effectiveness of loose rock check dams for gully control in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Soil Use Manage 20:55–64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nyssen J, Poesen J, Veyret-Picot M, Moeyersons J, Haile M, Deckers J, Dewit J, Naudts J, Teka K, Govers G (2006) Assessment of gully erosion rates through interviews and measurements, a case study from Northern Ethiopia. Earth Surf Process Land 31:167–185

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nyssen J, Poesen J, Moeyersons J, Haile M, Deckers J (2008) Dynamics of soil erosion rates and controlling factors in the Northern Ethiopian highlands—towards a sediment budget. Earth Surf Process Land 33:695–711

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nyssen J, Haile M, Naudts J, Munro N, Poesen J, Moeyersons J, Frankl A, Deckers J, Pankhurst R (2009) Desertification? Northern Ethiopia re-photographed after 140 years. Sc Total Environ 407:2749–2755

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nyssen J, Frankl A, Munro RN, Billi P, Haile M (2010) Digital photographic archives for environmental and historical studies: an example from Ethiopia. Scott Geogr J 126:185–207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berakhi Ogbaghebriel, Brancaccio L (1993) Some reflections on the origin and land use of pediments on the Ethiopian highlands. Geografia Fisica e Dinamica del Quaternario 16:101–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Pankhurst R (1995) The history of deforestation and afforestation in Ethiopia prior to world war I. Northeast Afr Stud 2:33–119

    Google Scholar 

  • Poesen J, Nachtergaele J, Verstraeten G (2003) Gully erosion and environmental change, importance and research needs. Catena 50:91–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reubens B, Poesen J, Nyssen J, Leduc Y, Zenebe A, Tewoldeberhan S, Bauer H, Gebrehiwot K, Deckers J, Muys B (2009) Establishment and management of woody seedlings in gullies in a semi-arid environment (Tigray, Ethiopia). Plant Soil 324:131–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schumacher M (2012) Recent trends in gully erosion as evidenced by repeat photography around Hagere Selam (Northern Ethiopia). Unpublished Master Thesis. Institute for Geography, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden

    Google Scholar 

  • Schumm SA (2005) River variability and complexity. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Sharf FA, Northrup D, Pankhurst R (2003) Abyssinia, 1867–1868: artists on campaign: watercolors and drawings from the British expedition under Sir Robert Napier. Tsehai Publishers, Addis Ababa

    Google Scholar 

  • Valentin C, Poesen J, Li Y (2005) Gully erosion, impacts, factors and control. Catena 63:132–153

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Virgo KJ, Munro RN (1978) Soil and erosion features of the Central Plateau region of Tigrai, Ethiopia. Geoderma 20:131–157

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    A. Frankl & J. Nyssen

  2. Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, 3001, Heverlee, Belgium

    J. Poesen

  3. Royal Museum for Central Africa, 3080, Tervuren, Belgium

    J. Moeyersons

Authors
  1. A. Frankl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Poesen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Moeyersons
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. Nyssen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Frankl .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Physics and Earth Sciences, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy

    Paolo Billi

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Frankl, A., Poesen, J., Moeyersons, J., Nyssen, J. (2015). Gully Development in the Tigray Highlands. In: Billi, P. (eds) Landscapes and Landforms of Ethiopia. World Geomorphological Landscapes. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8026-1_10

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation