Setup representative paired watersheds in the highlands(＞2000m a.s.l), midlands(1500-2000m a.s.l) and lowlands(＜1500m a.l.s) in the upper Blue Nile River Basin. Use the control area method that defines and compares a pair of watersheds subject to land conservation measures and watershed not subjected land conservation measures. In each paired watersheds through the following three activities, develop low cost and accurate soil erosion observation system, develop special modell for erosion risk assessment, and develop new soil erosion prevention technologies. By comprehensively applying them, we target to achieve reduction in soil erosion in these watersheds.

1-1 Development of a low cost and accurate soil erosion monitoring system
1-2 Development of soil erosion assessment framework
1-3 Development of soil erosion prevention techniques

Traditional free grazing where livestock is raised on the grazing land has caused degradation of land and soil erosion because of overgrazing. Therefore, develop the technology for achieving a new cultivation – grazing linkage system with confinement as the basis for raising livestock in the barn, and reduce soil erosion and improve land productivity. Aim for improvement in the land productivity at the small watershed level.

2-1 Development of comprehensive soil fertility management and conservation tillage methods in the arable land
2-2 Development of improved feeding system and forage species in the grazing land
2-3 Development of land restoration techniques in the degraded hills

In Ethiopian villages, women and young people are socially most vulnerable and they are economically poor too. Therefore, by developing the abilities of women and young people, by introducing new sources of income, and developing access to the markets and building the value chain, empower them socially and economically.

3-1 Elucidation of socio-economic structure and the causes of poverty
3-2 Development of income generating activity
3-3 Development of innovative approach to increase farmers participation in SLM activities

This research topic aligns and summarizes research topics 1 through 3, and by integrating the research outcomes obtained in 1 through 3, it develops and proposes the next generation SLM framework (Ethiopia model). Besides, for each of three small watersheds, it sets up “Small watershed stakeholder committee”, where farmers and administrative agencies come together and look into the issues of small watersheds, and “SLM innovation platform” where issues and dissemination methods of the next generation SLM are discussed with the related government agencies, donors, etc.

4-1 Development of multiple future watershed development scenarios
4-2 Development of SLM approach through establishing Innovation Platform
4-3 Development of the next-generation SLM guidelines and extension manual