Tenth International Conference on The Constructed Environment

Abstract

Lake Tana is the source of the Blue Nile River. The Lake Tana Basin has potential natural resources and these resources ultimately provide the various ecosystem services, like provisioning, regulating, and cultural services that benefit the community. The research problem statements are focused on are the importance of ecosystem services provided by the Lake Tana Basin ecosystems, ecohydrological approaches to avoid or mitigate the impacts, and relevant stakeholders for sustainable management of the Lake Tana Basin. The research employs various methods including primary and secondary data collection; identification of ESS indicators; use of ecosystem service flow matrix with 0-5 relevant capacity; use of ecohydrological approach; and ESS mapping using ArcGIS 10.1 software. In this study, the assessment of Lake Tana Basin ecosystem services adopts the MA approach (MEA, 2005). At the end of this research, awareness will be created among stakeholders on the concept of ecosystem services; and mapping tools will be available as an alternative option for decision-makers, experts, and community members about the use and importance of ecosystem services and to be included in the future Lake Tana Basin watershed management and development activities. Potential point sources pollution are identified and best ecohydrological solutions are recommended. The study covers a three-year period with identification of indicators, data collection, encoding, analysis and interpretation, field supervisions, stakeholder consultations, preparation of ecosystem service flow matrix, mapping of land use land cover and ecosystem services using Arc GIS 10.1, and final thesis.