This study was carried out to identify and document the landrace (farmers' variety) diversity and ethnobotany of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) (Fabaceae) in Northern Ethiopia. A total of 54 germplasm accessions and six representative voucher specimens of cowpea were collected from different geographical locations of Ethiopia ranging from 1260-2140 m a.s.l. within the grid references of 10 o 00' to 14 o 00' N and 38 o 00' to 40 o 00' E. Of these, 45 (83%) were local farmers' varieties and 9 (17%) were commercial varieties introduced by the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture and the Melkassa Agricultural Research Center (MARC). The majority of farmers (60) (75%) preferred the erect type of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata subsp. cylindrica (L.) Verdc. farmers' variety locally named KIMITE (short drought resistant) and subsp. cylindrica (L.) Verdc. farmers' variety CHEKELE (dry season crop). The spreading type of cowpea (subsp. unguiculata farmers' variety JERGADIE-stretched type) produces much more vegetative parts than grains. Farmers mainly used it for improving soil fertility and for animal feed. In Amhara Region, cowpea is mainly used for human food in the form of boiled grains (NIFRO), bread (KITA) and as ingredient for various sauces (SHIRO WET). There are high potential areas for cowpea production; but the actual production by local farmers is restricted to only few areas. Given the current paucity in making use of the locally available germplasm by farmers, the responsible body (MARC) for cowpea research and development would need to mount an aggressive enhancement and/or distribution of the important cowpea landraces to the areas where the crop can be suitably grown by local small scale farmers.

The present research was carried out to identify and document the landrace diversity and ethnobotanical uses of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) (Fabaceae) in Southwestern and Eastern Ethiopia. Data were collected through field observations, semi-structured interviews, guided field walk with cowpea farmers and users, and market surveys. Descriptive statistics, preference ranking and informant consensus were employed in the analysis. Forty-four cowpea accessions were collected from geographical locations ranging from 428-2128 m.a.s.l. and 05° 17' 06.6" to 09°33' 58.5'' N and 34° 15' 54.5'' to 42° 26' 30.4'' E. The landraces had diverse seed sizes, colours, growth habits and germination potentials. Local variety 'Rapo' (Anywaa language) of V. unguiculata subsp. dekindtiana was found in Gambella Region; 'Atera babile' (Oromo language) of V. unguiculata subsp. cylindrica and subsp. unguiculata were found in all regions studied. Farmers grew cowpea for the purposes of human food, livestock Feed, improving soil fertility and medicine. The majority of farmers (63.33%) preferred the widely known 'Atera babile' which belongs to subsp. unguiculata because of its spreading nature, ability to produce more biomass than other varieties, effectiveness for improving soil fertility and ability to supersede weeds as a ground cover. Further research should focus on local landraces maintained by farmers and the crop wild relative is a worthwhile undertaking given its local importance and for future genetic improvement both as a food and feed crop.

This research has made an endeavor to analyze the practices of community based participatory forest management and its impacts on the incomes of the forest user groups and the forest cover of Chilimo forest, Dendi District, Ethiopia. 380 households were selected from seven peasant association proportionally and simple random sampling was adopted to choose the sample households from each peasant association. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze and interprete the data. The income of forest user groups and the Chilimo forest cover were enhanced as a result of community based participatory forest management. Forest revenue and the introduction of some agricultural activities are attributed to the income improvement of the forest user groups. The statistical test result showed that there is a significant income difference (U=10078.5, P=0.00) between forest user group and non-forest groups. The magnitude of land use in general and forest cover change in particular was drastically changed between 1990 and 2010 at Chilimo forest. A significant forest cover change variation (P=0.00) within 1900-2010 has been observed. Plantation of seedlings and protection of existing trees are the major factor for the regeneration of the forest cover. A better outcome of participatory forest management can be achieved if the government supports the forest user groups to ensure its sustainability and expand the forest user group income generating activities into the whole cooperatives.

The rock hewn churches of Lalibela are among the nine tangible sites in Ethiopia registered in the world heritage list. The study was carried out to asses and identifies the major challenges and future perspectives of Rock Hewn Churches of Lalibela (RHCL) for a sustainable tourism development in Ethiopia. The study used concurrent mixed method of data collection such as questionnaire, interview, observation and document review. A total of 288 respondents from local communities and visitors were used for collecting primary information via semi-structured questioner. The majority of respondents are participating in tourism sector such as in accommodation, shopping, hotel, cooking and traditional performance, serving as priest and being experts in the city administration office of culture and tourism. Despite its importance, regarding the negative impact of tourism; the majority of respondents 70 (63.6%) agreed and 27 (24.3%) disagree for the question "tourism has increased the level of commercialized culture in Lalibela town. Around 87.6% of the respondents were their first trip to visit the RHCL. Hence, among the RHCL Bete Amanuel, Bete Abba Libanos, Bete Medhanealem, Bete Merkorios, Bete Giorgis are highly endangered in the parts such as roof, pillars, interior and exterior parts cracking due to the newly constructed shelter load and geological, climate and biological factors. The conservation and maintenance works used to sustain tourism practices in Lalibela lacks adequacy. Therefore, the stakeholders of the RHCL such as government organizations, local community, civil societies and development investors must work to meet standards for conserving and sustaining tourism development practices in Ethiopia, particularly in Lalibela town.

ClimateCompatible Development (CCD) is an emerging development approach which seeks to minimize the threat posed by climate change while maximize the opportunities for development. In view of the adverse impact of climate change on the general development of the country, Ethiopia, a number of polices which constitute climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies have been adopted and established. Among such polices, Ethiopian water resources and disaster risk management policy is expected to have direct and indirect role in addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation. Rainwater harvesting, water shed management, use of water efficiently, small scale irrigation and water resource protection, strengthening drought and flood early warning system are adaptation strategies for water resource policy, and water harvesting and improved energy efficiency are low carbon footprint strategies/mitigation strategies. Disaster risk management policy also comprises climate change and variability related disaster risk reduction strategies; enhancing early warning information system, and safety net program as the climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies, which are the major component of CCD. These policies also have its own limitation in relation to the system base and institutional gap in implementing CCD. In fact, these barriers can be eased by updating and/or adjustment of the policies under the framework of climate compatible development; mainstreaming climate change issues into water resource and disaster risk management policy; strengthening sectorwise linkage and synergy to avoid overlap; as well as monitoring the climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies among sectors.