The Nile Basin Initiative – No Water No Life

Interviewee

Memberu Allebachew

Nile Basin Initiative

Interviewer

Alison M. Jones

NWNL Director and Photographer

In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Oct 3, 2007

Introductory Note

NWNL was fortunate to have time with Memberu. He began his work in the Amhara region, source of the Blue Nile. He was General Manager of the Environmental Protection Land Administration and Use Authority for 2 years. When we met, his job focused on coordinating the Nile Transboundary Environmental Action Project within the Nile Basin Initiative [hereafter, NBI]. As Ethiopia’s National Coordinator for the NBI, he is focused on land, forest and water conservation.

His responsibility has been to guide grants given for community initiatives and to support communities via direct community-based organizations or non-governmental local organizations. This conversation certainly helped NWNL grasp the importance of stewardship efforts that help unify disparate issues within the Nile River Basin

Outline

BLUE NILE RIVER VALUES in ETHIOPIA
RIVERS as TRANSPORT ROUTES
IRRIGATION NEEDS
FUELWOOD & ENERGY NEEDS
DEFORESTATION – WATERSHED IMPACTS
NBI & TRANSBOUNDARY ISSUES
CLIMATE CHANGE in the NILE BASIN
EDUCATION on CLIMATE CHANGE
MICRO GRANTS

Key Quote We must keep producing solutions for the good of the environment and the people. Government, its institutions and the people should halt today’s horrifying trends that could really change this land.

The most important resource considering the environment is community action.

NBI is based on a vision of opportunities in managing diversities – in populations, natural set ups, geography, political environments, and in the whole complex system. — Memberu Allebachew

NWNL I feel very fortunate to have this time with you to learn more about the extensive and critical transboundary cooperation needed within the vast Nile River Basin. Thank you for your time. First, I’d like to hear more about the specific focus of your work.

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW I used to work in the Amhara region in the state where Blue Nile originates. There I was the General Manager of the Environmental Protection Land Administration and Use Authority for 2 years. Currently, I coordinate the Nile Transboundary Environmental Action Project for the Nile Basin Initiative [hereafter, NBI]. I am Ethiopia’s National Coordinator for this program which is focused on land, forest and water conservation.

Our work basically gives grants for community initiatives and supports communities either via direct community-based organization or non-governmental local organizations.

BLUE NILE RIVER VALUES in ETHIOPIA

NWNL To grasp the scope of your role, let’s first discus the characteristics of the Blue Nile Basin here in Ethiopia, and the value of that river to Ethiopians.

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW Yes, visitors to this country must learn that this Blue Nile because its physical and social value plays a central role in this nation. To begin, this watershed covers almost 34% of the whole nation geographically and covers or touches six regional states of the country. Thus, it attracts interest of different segments of the society, as do the our other tributaries to the main stem of the great Nile River, such as the Tekeze, Baro Akobo that create important contributions.

NWNL The Tekeze becomes very important as it joins the Nile in Sudan, while upstream of that is Ethiopia’s Blue Nile tributary.

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW Basically, Blue Nile offers the biggest potential for most of the development in this country. The cumulative annual runoff of this country is nearly 72.1 billion cubic meters. This means 66% of the total cumulative runoff of this country comes from the Blue Nile Basin, as does 73% of the anticipated potential of hydroelectric power. Also, 58% of the irrigation potential is supposed to be within this Nile Basin, including withing the basins of the Baro-Akobo Rivers and Tekeze River distributaries.

The Blue Nile also constitutes 86% of the volume of the whole Nile. So, these are the economic development perspectives. But more than that, the facts create value in the people’s minds, social traditions, in our civilization, religion, and other sectors. The Nile is actually at the hub of every movement, especially in the north and northwestern parts of the country. Ethiopia has complex geographic, social, cultural, and religious set ups; so the Blue Nile is not just a simple river basin or natural phenomena. It’s more than that. It’s everything.

RIVERS as TRANSPORT ROUTES

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW Ethiopia’s dominant commodities are agricultural and limited amounts of fishing. To serve those economies Ethiopia offers water transport and infrastructure.

NWNL How does the water transport work, since I know your largest river, the Blue Nile even at its upper beginning reaches is very fast rushing with deep gorges?

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW Yes, yet the Blue Nile has many differing characteristics. Its source is Lake Tana, which has a strong transportation system.

NWNL Yes, I’ve seen the ferries on Lake Tana, and gone by boat to Lake Tana’s ancient Coptic Christian monasteries there.

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW You are right that most of Ethiopia’s rivers are fast moving, galloping here and there. We don’t have much slanted gradient, so most of our rivers are not convenient for water transport.

However, similar to Lake Tana, the Baro/Akobo River system on our western border with Sudan (and tributary to the White Nile) is very active in providing water transport.

NWNL Is your river transport for both people and goods? And if so, what goods are transported along your rivers and lakes?

MEMBERU˙ Yes, both people and goods are transported by boat. Most goods are agricultural products from towns like Gambela [in the west on the Baro River] and Bahir Dar [on Lake Tana’s shore serving many island communities]. From Lake Tana’s islands and peninsulas, boats transport agriculture products like mangos, lemons and oranges to local markets. As well, fuelwood is transported, especially to Bahir Dar.

Formerly, the Baro River was used to transport coffee from our interior highlands to the Europe, as the Baro flows slowly into the White Nile which empties into the Nile and goes on to Europe via the Mediterranean Sea..

Other commodities that were moved via river transport include fuelwood and fish, as there’s been a significant fishery activity in both Lake Tana and the Baro River.

IRRIGATION NEEDS

NWNL I am interested the role of the Blue Nile in supplying water to irrigate agriculture in its basin. What is grown in this catchment? Farming here must be suited to a dry climate? How farmers meet their irrigation needs?

Is land around Lake Tana suitable and used for agriculture and if so what are their irrigation methods?

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW There are different methods of irrigation for different agricultural outputs.

Around Lake Tana they grow coffee, oranges and other perennial crops mostly. There is also some seasonal agriculture. Coffee is the most important crop, but they don’t irrigate that. That’s more a wild coffee. In the Fogera Wasteland [wetlands on the eastern edge of Lake Tana, halfway between Bahir Dar and Gondar] they grow rice, herbs and other cereals, for which they use seasonal flooding.

Beyond Lake Tana, farmers rely on rain-fed agriculture. During the dry season and on a very small scale, Blue Nile Basin and use simple pumps on nearby rivers to irrigate in a very traditional way to produce onions. They are not well-structured irrigation fields, just individual initiatives, tapping nearby water with small pumps. But, in the highlands, I think they use drainpipes from the forest.

NWNL Could those farmers increase their production if more irrigation was available?

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW There is a huge potential actually. As I’ve said, outside Lake Tana, crop yields are usually just dependent on rains. Those farmers have not yet explored the possibilities of irrigation. There is a potential and intention, but they have not yet developed such irrigation interventions.

Considering poverty in these areas, there is the need – and we have that resource. Are convenient tributaries to Lake Tana and the Blue Nile. But it’s not yet done, despite a few efforts by the government, and assistance of the African Development Bank/ADB and other donors like the World Bank. These irrigation projects, their potential for programs, and their actual progress are being coordinated by the Ministry of Water Resources.

FUELWOOD & ENERGY NEEDS

NWNL What about the fuelwood – especially around Lake Tana.?

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW Fuelwood is a strong focus of mine. Deforestation is prevalent in most of Ethiopia’s highlands of Ethiopia where it is an environmental trait and creates problems. Like most environmental issues it’s not a stand-alone problem – most are inter-linked. Deforestation is linked with poor farmland management, poor agricultural practices, a lack of water technologies, a lack of capacity and our country’s level of poverty.

Deforestation is sort of vicious circle. It began due the need to acquire additional farmland. This long history means that now most lands are fragments and they are almost exhausted.

But now, the current demand for fuelwood is the major cause of deforestation, as I understand it. Today, people usually focus on fuelwood as a source of income. Furthermore, there is huge demand, prices are high, and most people really can’t afford it.

So, there is huge demand for fuelwood. We see huge amounts of fuelwood transported every two days. This situation is a serious problem and a paradox. People understand the forest is important and that it could potentially be totally gone. But still there is that huge demand.

This is a serious problem that needs an intervention; but I don’t think it’ll be resolved only with 1 or 2 interventions. This is my program’s focus, in collaboration with the Organization for Rehabilitation and Development/ ORDA in Amhara [a district north of Addis that includes Lake Tana, Bahir Dar, Gondar and Lalibela].

We started one small pilot project using a few groups who are working on this fuelwood situation. We tried to promote diversifying into other sources of income like be keeping and fruit orchards and other cultivations to replace their source of land-use income.

NWNL But how do you escape the local population’s need for fuelwood? You can suggest to the suppliers make money by beekeeping or fruit orchards, but the people still need fuelwood for cooking and heat.

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW Well, that’s what I mentioned at the outset. There’s no standard problem and solution. We need very integrated interventions; and we can’t solve everything through projects. The overall solution is development, but development is a long process. Yet, alternative resources and alternative technologies can consume lesser volumes of fuelwood.

From the energy sector, we need intervention, awareness and an expansion of other sources and environmental points of view. Some solutions may involve conservation. For instance, kerosene for daily cooking is already subsidized by the government.

Energy-saving technologies, like solar intervention, are important. But solar energy is not popular. For instance, I have not seen any in Bahir Dar.

NWNL Do you know why not?

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW Maybe it’s not cheap enough or accessible?

NWNL Ah, it’s expensive. I woke up this morning thinking, “Why, in this land of sun, don’t I see wind and solar energy being tapped?” Every afternoon on Lake Tana, storms come in and the wind picks up. There is a natural resource of wind here, as well as sun.

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW I think there is a difference in considering this problem, other interests and understanding the technologies. The government policy basically puts technology as one line of development, especially in the Amhara district. It has established the Energy and Mines Bureau to work on energy and energy-related issues.

NWNL What kind of mining is involved?

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW It is for construction and different minerals, like opal for instance. Are you interested in that?

NWNL Well, of course, every woman loves pretty jewels! But seriously, do continue!

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW This Bureau was supposed to work on the energy policies, alternatives, resources, and problems related to energy. This Energy and Mines Bureau is meant play the government’s political on this sector.

NWNL I do hope this bureau succeeds in finding sustainable alternatives to fuelwood.

DEFORESTATION - WATERSHED IMPACTS

NWNL If there is no change in fuelwood consumption, what are the specific upstream and downstream environmental consequences of fuelwood use? I think first of erosion.

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW The witness to that is reality itself, from Lake Tana to the whole watershed. In the bigger picture, the measurements of soil erosion is the most horrifying problem in the country. Looking most of the rivers and their tributaries, you see a very turbid, almost reddish-brown color. Is that water or mud? Especially in the middle of and after rainy seasons, most tributaries are not very clean.

Anyone can see huge erosion and that sediment-laden rivers are filling Lake Tana. This affects both local fishing and the downstream countries, as we supply them with more than needed sediments. In economic terms this means they face additional costs to manage sediments in their dams, Sudan.

NWNL Yet centuries or millennia ago, sediment benefitted downstream countries.

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW Yes.

NWNL But that was before the dams.

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW Yes, plus centuries what flowed down was purified soil and fertile soil. Now, it costs Sudan a huge amount of money to manage huge flooding. There is no way really regulate the floods, which shrink this system every time it floods.

So, Nile River Basin lakes may also face the fate of Lake Chad. Lake Tana, due to flooding of its surrounding rivers, shrinks with every rainy season. There is an ongoing project in Bahir Dar facing this in the Environment Office of EPLAUA/Environmental Protection Land Administration and Use Authority.

Environmental efforts are being sought and initiated both for the sake of the downstream countries and for Ethiopia itself to survive. We must keep producing solutions for the good of the environment and the people. Government, its institutions and the people should halt today’s horrifying trends that could really change this land.

NBI & TRANSBOUNDARY ISSUES

NWNL In addition to transboundary issues related to sediment overload, what other downstream impacts and solutions facing Nile Basin countries and perhaps threatening conflict between countries within the Blue Nile watershed, as well as the bigger Nile watershed? Is Ethiopia making any specific efforts now to address current transboundary impacts and potential conflicts?

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW I think differences are expected complexities of any river that crosses national boundaries. There are differences and there are common interests. So far, this river has been used unilaterally by each of these nations. It hasn’t been considered as a common resource for very long. Despite conflicting feelings or interests, there are now attempts to discuss this as a common issue. I feel it’s clear that problems in upstream countries will affect interests of downstream countries.

I don’t know if there are official complaints, but costs for downstream damage are a good reason to complain, or at least a reason to seek ways of stopping or mitigating this crisis of sediment overflow. For me, the two best efforts of the Nile Basin Initiative involve land governance. There are no huge achievements in practical environmental issues, but we must appreciate the process and efforts so far.

At a minimum, most countries agreed to consider the NBI a common resource, and they accepted we must compromise for the sake of others. There are common interests and huge common potentials that every country can enjoy – if there is a common understanding and interest. Otherwise, a unilateral approach will never take any one of these countries anywhere. That’s my understanding.

Although, there have been huge unilateral benefits for Egypt and Sudan. But it can’t go on like that; so, demands from other countries are now really coming for front.

NWNL Can you talk a bit about the treaty that was established decades ago by England?

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW Between England and Belgium, there are lots of treaties, I think from 1891 to 1906, 1925, 1929 and 59. I think the 1952 treaty between Egypt and Sudan is most serious one on full utilization of the Nile. They signed that, but I think no one else has recognized that.

NWNL No one from Ethiopia has recognized it.

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW That was a collective unilateral move to exploit this resource. But if you really disregard the country that really country that 86% percent of that flow, I don’t think that would be a lasting solution.

NWNL This year a framework has been created, but it hasn’t been signed.

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW I think countries are negotiating every point, but I don’t have the details.

NWNL Do you see the current agreement as an improvement on the 1959 treaty?

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW Well, the NBI itself was a good start because before there were only a series of conferences to help these countries shape a common vision. That’s one important step. We need something to discuss – not only interests or resources, but we need a common vision. I think countries can work towards legalizing a common vision in a legal bond that can keep all these stakeholder countries together.

There is a political and a legal perspective to it. So, it needs negotiations. For me, this is different than previous bilateral agreements by Sudan and Egypt. At least this takes up the interest of all countries to see the outcome. I hope most points have been agreed. That’s my understanding. I don’t have details on the process so far, but I feel it looks positive. I also understand the ups and downs and the challenges. It will not be easy.

NWNL I read so much progress has been made because countries in the Horn of Africa and the Nile Basin recognize the extreme importance of water. That propels consensus, because the option is war. Anwar Sadat said the only thing that will bring Egypt to war at this point would be a water rights issue.

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW That is one dimension: water or war. It’s the demon in most of these countries. Almost all countries are poor. Most of the populations of these countries live below the poverty line. There is great need in these countries to develop most of their environmental resources.

They live with degradation of their environment, while they feed others via their own rivers.. Peaceful work is more than understanding or fearing the choices. It’s also understanding the potentials of the whole resource.

There are potential development sectors that can’t be shared. Each country has each own potential. For instance, hydroelectricity has good potential to be shared with others. Sharing this good resource can ignite interest from other countries. Differences and diversity in this greater basin can offer opportunities. Many opportunities exist that can be shared, transacted, or exchanged.

Previously the issue has been water, water – water for irrigation, water for irrigation. Now different conflicts can be raised to be managed and become opportunities. No one has discussed that. NBI is based on a vision of opportunities in managing diversities – in populations, natural set ups, geography, political environments, and in the whole complex system. It’s an approach to gleaning benefits from opportunities.

NWNL Very well spoken. Thank you. I have 1 more big topic – and it’s a big one!

CLIMATE CHANGE in the NILE BASIN

NWNL My last query is what effects, if any, do you see of climate change in the Nile Basin or the Blue Nile River Basin?

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW Well, it’s a very huge subject.

Land degradation, or resource degradation, usually starts from a very limited and confined geographical environment. Sometimes it contributes to change in other related ecosystems and environment. If there is an alarming degradation in our country, we have discussed those effects with the downstream countries.

Whether due to good weather, existing weather or climate change, we now expect change in existing phenomena. There are areas already experiencing recurrent droughts and new seasonal droughts, especially in the Nile lowlands. It’s clear these changes are occurring.

For instance, our soil productivity now, due to constant erosion, is down to 2% productivity – that is a climate change effect. The rains we get now are more than expected. So, we have had huge floods in recent years.

These changes are challenging the nation itself. It’s not specific to the Nile River Basin.

NWNL How does it affect the Nile River Basin as a whole?

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW Climate change causes huge floods. Sometimes erratic rainfall causes low productivity, uncertainty in production, and further susceptibility to sudden change. We need a dependable source addressing this changing environment.

NWNL Is the 2% loss of soil productivity due to soil erosion a fallout of climate change or erosion that’s formed due to loss of trees.

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW Erosion is a function of different factors. Climate change is a huge and big one. But, regarding localized environments, people usually see the immediate causes – and then there are intermediary and bigger causes. The climate change framework holds different factors. So, seasonality, duration of erosion and other factors can be listed.

NWNL What period of time does that 2% loss per year cover?

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW Ethiopia’s rain is from June to September, but main production season in the Nile Basin is June to October.

NWNL How aware are Ethiopians in the Blue Nile River Basin of these changes in climate? Is there anything that they can do to adjust? Is there education for them?

We’ve talked about dams and alternate sources of solar and wind for energy. We’ve talked about technological solutions. But what about educating the people as to how to adjust and thus better protect their environment and stop deforestation and erosion?

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW There is one a bold fact of climate change. But there are different ways that people express and experience this change. Mostly they simply consider their localities and tell you changes as factual occurrences. “Before this year, we had this spring, but now we don’t have it.”

They know that until 2 or 3 years ago, this land was covered with natural, indigenous cedar forest – but not now. They know some change related to climate and weather is going on and that affects productivity and their income due to their inability to handle the shocks or to challenge and tackle the problems. Before this year, they’d say, “If it happens this way, we’ll handle it this way, that way.” So, they express and understand the issue.

Another fact, every occurrence has its own contributing factors. But, I don’t think the developing countries, including Ethiopia and the other Nile Basin countries contribute much to climate change. It has a global effect, but I think mostly caused by industrialized nations.

EDUCATION on CLIMATE CHANGE

The farmers may not understand this change is happening due to the developed world, but they understand the effects of their deforestation activities for economic benefit and pressures of huge and horrifying poverty. But for the farmers, it’s a question of surviving today or just leaving that opportunity. They understand the problem, but not how to stop increasing the degradation. Solving that means lots of studies and good development leadership.

There are efforts, especially in environmental education and awareness in schools, and in the curriculum in every subject. I feel that strategy will really educate the kids and help them understand and cultivate an interest in their future. That’s one important thing.

In adult education, there are also efforts. Extension activities do help, including visits to see their crops and to visit livestock and environmental areas. So, that’s why most regional states are already established organizations which should deal with environmental issues.

I can be witness to the environmental production authority of Amhara. It has one section for adult environmental education and awareness, and it develops educations materials to enhance understanding by the public. But considering the complexity of climate change, the capacity of the people and the long-term nature of the problem, much effort and multi-directional efforts are needed tackle the problem.

MICRO GRANTS

NWNL Your task is focused on micro-grants. Is that a more effective way of addressing these issues than governmental approach?

MEMBERU ALLEBACHEW Yes, because I see them differently. The objective of the NBI micro-grants is to encourage community efforts, and some individual efforts. The NBI result I personally appreciate is supports and documents community initiatives. Many community efforts tackle environmental degradation well, but no one has recognized that indigenous knowledge and practice. There were many forestation activities during the Derg Regime, but little of those efforts have survived, so we can’t analyze them.

Our NBI community actions today have state-of-the-art practices and experience on how to address localized environmental problems. The NBI puts on table that practice, state of the art and effectiveness of this indigenous knowledge. It then can be exchanged among countries as a practice case for other interested countries or users. Government efforts – especially mobilizing and educating the whole population in solving these problems – is also important. It’s not an either/or issue. There is no division between government and the other efforts. For me the difference is in approach. The government has the responsibility of coordinating, leading and facilitating what’s going on within this nation.

In concluding, the most important resource considering the environment is community actions. That’s how I see it.

NWNL Thank you. That was a brilliant and wide-ranging discussion, sharing much-appreciated information.

Posted by NWNL on May 9, 2024.
Transcription edited and condensed for clarity by Alison M. Jones.

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