Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions
Publisher
This study develops a unique and comprehensive household and plot-level dataset covering ten districts of Ethiopia complemented with remotely sensed data and qualitative information collected from the study sites. The econometric results show that compared to open-access plots equipped with pump irrigation, other irrigated configurations—especially private groundwater-based systems—have higher vegetation cover and show less susceptibility to the most common environmental concerns mentioned in the survey regions: water logging, soil salinity, and erosion externalities.
The authors find:
- Both positive and negative impacts of using irrigation on the natural environment are assessed.
- Irrigation water management systems and technologies are important determinants of environmental improvement and degradation.
- Vegetation cover change is found in plots and adjacent areas that are in privately managed pump systems from groundwater.
- There is synergy between climate change and variability and land degradation.