Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1080/26395916.2021.1895888
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Investigating environment-related migration processes in Ethiopia – A participatory Bayesian network
Author Groth, J.; Hermans, K.; Wiederkehr, C.; Kassa, E.; Thober, J.
Source Titel Ecosystems and People
Year 2021
Department CLE
Volume 17
Issue 1
Page From 128
Page To 147
Language englisch
Topic T5 Future Landscapes
Keywords Migration drivers; Africa; climate change; soil degradation; soil and water conservation; adaptation; participatory Bayesian network; stakeholder
Abstract The influence of environmental change on human migration is complex. Despite major strides in understanding the environment’s role in migration processes, uncertainties associated with multi-scale factor interactions and their influence on migration still persist. This study aims to (a) understand how soil degradation and rainfall changes – in combination with socio-economic factors – in the northern Ethiopian highlands contribute to human decisions to migrate; and (b) identify barriers for adopting local policy measures to reduce migration needs. Therefore, we integrate place-based research with literature findings and the participatory development of a Bayesian network (BN) involving local policy makers and representatives from both villages and NGOs. Our results show two major influential factors that affect environment-related migration: (a) the sufficiency of a household’s agricultural production and (b) non-farm activities. According to our participatory BN, we conclude that environmental changes increase migration, either through high migration needs due to low agricultural production and/or through increased non-farm activities, which increases the necessary financial means to enable migration. We conclude that contradicting policy programs greatly hinder local measures to prevent soil degradation, potentially fueling migration, and that bottom-up and locally adapted strategies are particularly promising for sustainable land management in the region.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=24334
Groth, J., Hermans, K., Wiederkehr, C., Kassa, E., Thober, J. (2021):
Investigating environment-related migration processes in Ethiopia – A participatory Bayesian network
Ecosyst. People 17 (1), 128 - 147 10.1080/26395916.2021.1895888