Adoption of integrated watershed management and socio ecological implications in Gelda micro watershed lake tana basin Ethiopia

Integrated watershed management (IWM) is widely promoted in Ethiopia to reduce land degradation and improve livelihoods, yet micro-watershed evidence on adoption patterns and socio-ecological outcomes is limited. This study assessed IWM adoption and perceived socio-ecological impacts in the Gelda micro-watershed, Lake Tana Basin, using a mixed-methods approach: a survey of 316 households (151 IWM participants, 165 non-participants), six focus group discussions, twelve key informant interviews, and field observations. Adoption was measured across physical, biological, and agronomic practices, and perceived ecological, economic, and social benefits were quantified using a standardized perception index. MANOVA and Probit regression evaluated differences in perception and determinants of adoption. Results show that 46% of participants implemented fully integrated IWM measures, whereas none of the non-participants adopted all three; agronomic measures dominated among non-participants (50%). Adoption increased with slope position (upper 34%, middle 45.3%, lower 58.3%). MANOVA revealed a significant effect of participation on combined perception indices (Pillai’s Trace = 0.934, F = 1470.11, p < 0.001), with participants reporting higher overall perception scores (72.1% vs. 40%) and greater ecological (77.5% vs. 52.7%), economic (68.5% vs. 54.7%), and social (70.7% vs. 52.8%) benefits. Probit regression showed that training (p = 0.028) and extension contact (p = 0.003) significantly increased perception and adoption, while labor constraints and weak institutional support reduced adoption among non-participants. These findings indicate that sustained IWM success depends on topography-specific practices, community participation, continuous technical support, and linking conservation measures to livelihood incentives such as hand tools, seedlings, and grass planting materials.