The Watershed Management Cooperative Regional Assessment (CRA) identified a number of land degradation hotspots in the Abbay Basin through and extensive mapping exercise. These are areas of increasing population pressure on a degrading natural resource base, increasing food insecurity, with an increasing inability for households to invest in sustainable land management practices - a vicious circle of declining household and community natural, physical, social and human capital assets. The selected hotspots are located in areas of low agricultural potential where land degradation processes (erosion and soil nutrient depletion) are of a severe and longstanding nature. The Chemoga-Yeda watershed is one of these areas
A fully integrated approach is proposed focused on:
Reducing land degradation through soil and water conservation;
Improving agricultural productivity by restoring soil fertility and managing runoff;
Enhancing livelihoods of local communities by promoting sustainable land use;
Conserving biodiversity and natural resources within the watershed area and
Building resilience to climate change through ecosystem restoration and sustainable practices
<p class="MsoNormal">The Chemoga-Yeda sub-basin measures 2,738 km<sup>2</sup> in area, and is part of the Abbay (Blue Nile) River Basin located in the Central Ethiopian Highlands. The sub-basin is located in <a name="_Hlk100487701"></a>Amhara Regional State, East Gojam Regional office. The sub-basin is characterized by high elevations (2000 â€" 3900 m amsl in most parts, down to 890 m in the lowest part), steep slopes, high rainfall intensity that generates considerable runoff, intensive cultivation, overgrazing and deforestation. These characteristics, and the use of inefficient traditional farming methods and growing human population lead to soil erosion, soil fertility decline, water scarcity and deepening poverty.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The objectives of the Chemoga-Yeda project are fourfold, to: (a) improve natural resources management through sustainable land management practices; (b) improve agricultural productivity by introducing improved crop and livestock technologies; (c) enhance Institutional capacity through various capacity building activities; and (d) diversify the livelihoods of local communities with a focus on women and youth by introducing different off-farm activities. The project as three components on sustainable land management, livelihoods support, and institution capacity building.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The project was identified in 2007 under the Cooperative Regional Assessment (CRA) of the Eastern Nile Watershed Management Project (ENWM), which was itself part of the Integrated Development of the Eastern Nile. Full feasibility and project preparation studies were completed in 2012 under the Project Delineation and Prioritization study supported under the NBI Institutional Strengthening Project (ISP). Both phases of the studies were funded by the Nile Basin Trust Fund. </p>
<p>The objectives of the Chemoga-Yeda project are fourfold, to: (a) improve natural resources management through sustainable land management practices; (b) improve agricultural productivity by introducing improved crop and livestock technologies; (c) enhance Institutional capacity through various capacity building activities; and (d) diversify the livelihoods of local communities with a focus on women and youth by introducing different off-farm activities. The project as three components on sustainable land management, livelihoods support, and institution capacity building.</p>