ADAPTATIONS TO A CHANGING LACUSTRINE ENVIRONMENT: ETHIOPIAN BAYSO PERCEPTIONS OF AND RESPONSES TO ECOLOGICAL RISKS

Abstract

The study deals with the Bayso people living on the shoreline of Abaya Lake and on the island of Gidicho in southern Ethiopia. The Bayso people lived for a long time in a changing environment with frequent uncertainties. This study describes the ecological risk perceived by local people and their adaptive strategies, skills and knowledge they used to respond the risks. The study employed qualitative approaches, field observation, focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews all of which contributed to insights about the community. Free listing was used to explore their knowledge of ecological risks and adaptive strategies. Major risks perceived by Bayso adults were drought, flood, lake sedimentation, animal diseases, crop pests, human diseases (amoebas, malaria and skin rashes), and lack of potable water, conflicts, poor leadership and deforestation were discussed. Among Bayso adolescents’ lake sedimentation was ranked first and followed by drought and flood. Regarding previous studies on adaptive strategies, some have mentioned migration and livelihood diversifications, but previous studies have not mentioned amesa, shore line farming, eating wild plants, trade, dem, kallo, saving, wogarsi, and werega of which were identified and discussed as adaptive strategies in this study. Among Bayso there are various means and modes of skills and knowledge transfer (vertical and horizontal) exhibited in Bayso villages and important occasions of cultural transmission included; events, coffee ceremonies, looking after cattle, farm, play and punishment, and teamwork (eba) were stated.