Connecting-Africa | Find publications

Advanced search

Find:


Title Water resource developments in Ethiopia: potential benefits and negative impacts on the environment, vector-borne diseases, and food security
Full text https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/8538007; http://hdl.handle.net/1854/LU-8538007; http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/er-2013-0076
Date 2014
Author(s) Yewhalaw, D.; Hamels, S.; Getachew, Y.; Torgerson, P. R.; Anagnostou, M.; Legesse, W.; Kloos, H.; Duchateau, Luc; Speybroeck, N.
Abstract To satisfy the growing demand for electricity, Ethiopia plans to increase its electricity production five-fold between 2010 and 2015, mainly through the construction of dams. A literature review shows that while dams can boost power and agricultural production, promote economic development, and facilitate flood control, they can also lead to environmental, ecological, and socioeconomic changes. Several case studies show that dams may alter the composition and density of vectors and intermediate host species, increase the incidence of malaria schistosomiasis and possibly lymphatic filariasis, and lead to eutrophication of reservoirs, soil erosion, and earthquakes. There is evidence that dams and commercial irrigation schemes can increase soil and water degradation, vulnerability to drought, and food insecurity in riverine and lacustrine areas downstream of dams. It appears that dams in Ethiopia are also vulnerable to high soil erosion rates and earthquakes. Consequently, the current and proposed large-scale dam construction program in Ethiopia requires in-depth research to improve our understanding of the unintended negative effects of projects and to guide the location, design, and implementation of appropriate preventive and remedial programs.
Subject(s) INTESTINAL SCHISTOSOMIASIS; TRIGGERED EARTHQUAKES; INDUCED SEISMICITY; NORTHERN ETHIOPIA; CLIMATE-CHANGE; SUGAR ESTATE; RIVER-BASIN; LARGE; DAMS; RESERVOIR; MALARIA; water resource developments; environment; food security; vector-borne; diseases; Ethiopia
Language eng
Publisher Canadian Science Publishing, Nrc Research Press
Type of publication journalArticle; info:eu-repo/semantics/article; info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
Source ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS; ISSN: 1208-6053; ISSN: 1181-8700
Repository Gent - University of Gent
Added to C-A: 2019-01-28;09:50:44