Effects of Resettlement Schemes on the Biophysical and Human Environments

Abstract

This book focuses on the effects of resettlement schemes on the environment. The chapters of the book include: Theories, typologies and processes of settlement, resettlement and resettlement schemes in Africa and other countries; Effects of the 1960s, 70s and 80s resettlement schemes on the overall bio-physical and human environments and brief presentation on the ongoing resettlement programme in Ethiopia; Effects of the resettlements on the soil resources, water, vegetation, land-use and farming systems, fires, health and wildlife in Gambela Region.

Most of the resettlement projects were designed on the basis of political motives, short-sighted economic gains in mind, and were not integrated to other development programmes. As a result, they have aggravated land-use and ethnic conflicts, environmental degradation, food insecurity and poverty. It can be reversed through environmental knowledge, regional integration, effective land-use planning, and conservation-based sustainable utilisation of the natural resources.

About the Author

Dr. Mengistu Woube is an Associate Professor in Social and Economic Geography with emphasis on natural resources, environmental and agricultural issues. He was a Visiting Scholar at Michigan State University and Visiting Research Fellow at Addis Ababa University in conjunction with a Swedish SIDA financed project in Ethiopia. Currently he has an Associate Researcher Status at the Institute of Development Research (IDR) at Addis Ababa University. Dr. Mengistu is the author of several publications on agriculture, environment, land-use, water resources, flooding, ethno botany, resettlement schemes, malaria and urbanisation. He is currently working as a research consultant, and developing (i) a research project (Comparative Analysis of Irrigation Projects in Ethiopia); ii) and a training programme (Developing Competence Centre for Knowledge Transfer on Food Plants to Promote Food Security in Ethiopia).