ifwfabs13

=2-Pager Abstract Template for NBDC Contributions to South Africa Forum=

1. Authors
Authors names: Birhanu Zemadim, Matthew McCartney, Bharat Sharma, Mulugeta Lemenih, Deborah Bossio and Tilahun Amede Project Number: N2 E-mail address of lead author: b.zemadim@cgiar.org

2. Forum session
3. Emerging TWG: Spatial Analysis and Modeling



Monitoring and Modeling: supporting decisions for livelihood improvement in the Blue Nile basin of Ethiopian Highlands

4. Key message/highlights

 * Full scale, high resolution hydro-meteorological monitoring will improve decisions towards appropriate Rainwater Management Strategies (RMS) and hence livelihood improvement.
 * Appropriate basin wide decision support tool based on hydrological and agro-ecological systems is required to prioritize suitable RMS, and study downstream impacts and ecosystem services.


 * //Short abstract//** //(150 words) including://

In the Ethiopian highlands of the Blue Nile basin lack of critical water supplies is one of major reason for low agricultural yields and cropping intensities and thus poor livelihoods. In these areas most past efforts in Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) have not produced desired results as these have not been based on sound hydrological basis and the integrated management systems. New Integrated Rainwater Management System (IRMS) needs to be designed based on the landscape concepts and available water under varying agro-hydrologies to meet the demands of all sectors including ecosystem services. The new IRMS approach requires a good understanding of the hydrologic systems and employment of models to assess the impacts of various scenarios. This paper aims to fulfill exactly this gap by, first providing primary biophysical information at a watershed level and then designing an appropriate basin wide decision support tool for the improvement of livelihood in the basin. For this purpose hydro-meteorological monitoring stations were established based on different agro-hydrologic and physiographic variations. The information obtained at the watershed level will be used to develop tools that address issues of water availability and use under various storage systems, water management practices at variable agro-hydrologic and physiographic conditions. The developed tools will then be scaled-up to basin wide level to prioritize different RMS, study ecosystem services and downstream impacts of RWM. Hence decisions on maximizing water productivity, improving economic and livelihood benefits, and ecosystem services will be attained.


 * //Add a visual representation (i.e. graph, chart or figure to highlight emerging results)//**





Plate 1: (A) Identification of suitable location to establish river flow measurement. (B) Flow gages established to measure flow. //Photo: Birhanu Zemadim (2011). Jeldu watershed//



Plate 2: River flow measurement Plate 2: (A) River discharge measurement using current meter (B) River flow measurement using Pressure Transducer (PT). //Photo Birhanu Zemadim (2011). Jeldu watershed//

 ** The 3rd International Forum on Water and Food **  ** Johannesburg, South Africa. November 14 – 17, 2011 **  ** 1. **** Authors: **Birhanu Zemadim*, Matthew McCartney, Bharat Sharma, Mulugeta Lemenih,  Deborah Bossio and Tilahun Amede  ** Project Number: ** CPWF Nile Project 2: Integrated rainwater management strategies – technologies, institutions and policies  ** *E- **** mail address: **b.zemadim@cgiar.org

 ** 2. **** Forum Session: ** Research to Policy/Spatial Analysis and Modelling  ** 3. **** Title: ** Monitoring and Modeling: supporting decisions for livelihood improvement in  the Blue Nile basin of Ethiopian Highlands <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -10000px; margin-left: 0.25in; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: 1832px; width: 1px;"> **<span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">4. **** Key message/highlights: ** <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -10000px; margin-left: 0.75in; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: 1832px; width: 1px;"> · Full scale, high resolution hydro-meteorological monitoring will improve decisions towards appropriate Rainwater Management Strategies (RMS) and hence livelihood improvement. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -10000px; margin-left: 0.75in; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: 1832px; width: 1px;"> · Appropriate basin wide decision support tool based on hydrological and agro-ecological systems is required to prioritize suitable RMS, and study downstream impacts and ecosystem services. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -10000px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 1832px; width: 1px;"> ** Short abstract: ** In the Ethiopian highlands of the Blue Nile basin lack of critical water supplies is one of major reason for low agricultural yields and cropping intensities and thus poor livelihoods. In these areas most past efforts in Rainwater Harvesting (RWH) have not produced desired results as these have not been based on sound hydrological basis and the integrated management systems. New Integrated Rainwater Management System (IRMS) needs to be designed based on the landscape concepts and available water under varying agro-hydrologies to meet the demands of all sectors including ecosystem services. The new IRMS approach requires a good understanding of the hydrologic systems and employment of models to assess the impacts of various scenarios. This paper aims to fulfill exactly this gap by, first providing primary biophysical information at a watershed level and then designing an appropriate basin wide decision support tool for the improvement of livelihood in the basin. For this purpose hydro-meteorological monitoring stations were established based on different agro-hydrologic and physiographic variations. The information obtained at the watershed level will be used to develop tools that address issues of water availability and use under various storage systems, water management practices at variable agro-hydrologic and physiographic conditions. The developed tools will then be scaled-up to basin wide level to prioritize different RMS, study ecosystem services and downstream impacts of RWM. Hence decisions on maximizing water productivity, improving economic and livelihood benefits, and ecosystem services will be attained. <span style="display: block; height: 1px; left: -10000px; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; text-indent: -0.25in; top: 1832px; width: 1px;"> ** 5. ****Add a visual representation (i.e. graph, chart or figure to highlight emerging results)**