Scenario-based Land Management Options for the Highland of Ethiopia: A Decision Support Tool to Implement Rural Land Use Plans

The implementation of locally acceptable improved land management practices is crucial to improve the livelihoods of local communities and reduce the degradation of ecosystem services (ESs). This study was conducted in Tara Gedam watershed, northwestern Ethiopia, to identify suitable land management options from four ecosystem service-based scenarios: business as usual (BAU), transition agriculture (TAG), intensified agriculture (INA), and optimized ecosystem services (OPE) using the Analytic Hierarchy Process method of Multi-criteria Decision Analysis tools. A stakeholder workshop and group discussions with farmers and agricultural experts were conducted to set criteria for selecting the best management option. Livelihood benefits and environmental improvements were rated highest and are therefore the most influential factors for the selection of land management options. These two criteria were responsible for the best performance of the OPE and INA. INA and/or TAG were also the preferred options from the perspective of farmers. This is attributed to the fact that these options provide benefits within a shorter period of time compared to OPE. Smallholder farmers should be provided with financial and technical support to implement improved management options such as OPE. The results of this study will contribute to the knowledge base of agricultural experts for future implementation of Ethiopian rural land use planning.