Trends and Triggers of Environmental Change on Gidicho Island and Its Environs, Southern Ethiopia

Gidicho Island, Ethiopia and its coastal areas were known for their abundant vegetation, fertile soil, and disease-free environment, which created a favorable environment for living. However, these attributes have diminished due to the severe environmental changes the area has experienced. This study delves into the critical factors that have led to severe environmental changes on Gidicho Island and its coastal areas, highlighting the substantial impact these changes have had on the community’s livelihoods. Understanding these dynamics is essential for addressing the challenges faced by the residents and forging a path toward sustainable solutions. Employing a mixed research design, we gathered data through a combination of geospatial and qualitative methods, focusing primarily on ethnographic interviews, focus group discussions, field observations, and document analysis. The findings revealed that the study area (Gidicho Island and its coastal area) faced a drastic decline in vegetation cover over the last three decades alone due to extensive overgrazing and the conversion of 2190 km² of forests and 707 km² of shrublands into cultivated land and settlements. This aggravated incidents of droughts, floods, sedimentation of Lake Abaya, and expansion of water bodies. As a result, life in the study area has become harsher and more demanding and forced inhabitants to flee their homeland. The environmental change in the study area is caused by human activities, natural hazards, and structural factors, but the leading factor seems to be human activity. Thus, we suggest that awareness creation and training in sustainable resource management could enable the Bayso people to develop a sense of responsibility and adapt to environmental change while maintaining their cultural heritage. Similarly, involving the Bayso in participatory conservation programs (e.g., reforestation, afforestation, terracing) could empower them to take an active role in preserving their environment.