Env't Final Summit

ETHIOPIAN CIVIL SERVICE UNIVERSITY

INSTITUTE OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES

URBAN PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT MASTER’S PROGRAM

URBAN ENVIRONMENTAND PLANNING (MUPD-622)

SUBMITTED INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT ON

URBANIZATION, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND THEIR APPROPRIATE SOLUTIONS: IN

CASE OF WUKRO TOWN, EASTERN ZONE OF TIGRAY REGION, ETHIOPIA

Submitted to: Dr. Ranavijai B Singh

Prepared by: Gebrehiwot Gebresilassie

Id.No: UPMP-0018-04

03 of May, 2012

Addis Ababa,

Ethiopia

I

I. TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents Pages

I. TABLE OF CONTENTS..................................................................................................................................... II

II. ACRONYMS.................................................................................................................................................. III

1. INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................... - 1 -

1.1. GLOBAL URBANIZATION TRENDS............................................................................................- 1 -

1.2 .URBANIZATION TRENDS IN ETHIOPIA....................................................................................- 1 -

2. URBANIZATION ISSUE OF TIGRAY REGION (1984-2007)..........................................................- 2 -

3. DESCRIPTION OF THE CASE STUDY TOWN-WUKRO...................................................................- 3 -

4. MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ORIGINATED DUE URBANIZATION PROCESS IN CASE OF WUKRO TOWN.................................................................................................................................... - 4 -

4.1. SOLID AND LIQUID WASTE DISPOSAL PROBLEM.................................................................- 4 -

4.2 DEFORESTATION AND LAND DEGRADATION.........................................................................- 4 -

4.3. WATER SCARCITY AND POLLUTION........................................................................................- 5 -

4.4. FLOODING.......................................................................................................................................- 5 -

4.5. LOSS OF FERTILE AGRICULTURAL LAND...............................................................................- 6 -

5. APROPRATE AND SUITABLE SOLUSIONS TO URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.............- 6 -

5.1, Improve institutional capacity and frame work of the municipality...................................................- 6 -

5.2. Provision of Affordable Alternative Sources of Energy....................................................................- 6 -

5.3 Introducing Soil and Water Conservation Practices............................................................................- 7 -

5.4 vertical development rather than horizontal........................................................................................- 7 -

5.5. PPPs for Additional dip boreholes.....................................................................................................- 7 -

6. CONCLUSIONS...................................................................................................................................... - 7 -

7. REFERENCES............................................................................................................................................. - 8 -

8. APPENDICES.............................................................................................................................................. - 9 -II

II. ACRONYMS

% = Percent

BoFED = Bureau of Finance and Economic Development

CSA = Central Statistics Agency

ESSP2 = Ethiopian Strategy Support Program2

HHs = Households

Km2 = Square Kilometers

Masl = meters above sea levels

PPPs = Public Private Partnerships

UNEP = United Nation and Environmental Protection

MWUD = Ministry of Work and Urban Development

UN-WRP = United Nations World Report Paper

WIDP = Wukro Integrated Development Plan

BoUDTI = Bureau of Urban Development, Trade and Industry

III

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. GLOBAL URBANIZATION TRENDS

The first cities were established about 5,000 years ago, but it has only been in the last 200 years-

with the advent and spread of industrialization and with the global population rising at an

exponential rate- that cities have grown significantly in size and number. At the beginning of the

20th century, just only 16 cities in the world-the vast majority in advanced industrial countries-

contained a million people or more. Today, almost 400 cities contain a million people or more, and

about 70% of them are found in the developing world [UN-WRP, 2004]. Hence, many people are

ambivalent about cities, believing that they embody the best and worst aspects of civilization. On

the one hand, the diversity of peoples and activities encourages innovation and creativity, which in

turn create opportunities that attract still more people. On the other, the most emerging complex

environmental problems such as climate changes, freshwater pollution and scarcity, deforestation,

and over population etc. Cities, therefore, have come to reflect the hopes and fears of the modern

world. Thus, appropriate urban planning, development, design and management that integrates

economic, social, environmental and fiscal issues is required to address such complex urban

environmental problems.

1.2 .URBANIZATION TRENDS IN ETHIOPIA

According to MWUD (2006, pp.3) 16 % of the country’s total population or 11.7 million people

live in urban areas. The urban population of the country is growing at a rate of about 4.3 % per

annum or increasing by more than half a million people per annum. The combination of urban

growth with the high prevalence of urban poverty suggests a rapidly growing number of urban poor.

About 70% of the urban population of the country is living in slums. Conditions in many slum areas

are appalling: inadequate shelter combined with poor sanitation; extreme overcrowding and a high

proportion of vulnerable women, youth, children, elderly and destitute with very low incomes and

high unemployment; results in a high risk of disease and an extreme poverty trap for many urban

residents. This implies urban environment and environmental health issues are some of the most

observable challenges facing Ethiopia. Shelter, potable water, sanitation and waste management are

cross-cutting issues, and deficiencies in any of these areas can be categorized as development,

health or environmental problems. So, the objective of this paper is mainly to identify the major

environmental problems (impacts) originated due to rapid urbanization process and to recommend

the appropriate and feasible solutions for these problems in case of Wukro town.

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2. URBANIZATION ISSUE OF TIGRAY REGION (1984-2007)

According to BoFED (2008) statistical bulletin, Tigray is the northern - most federal region of

Ethiopia- covers an area of about 53,600 Km2 and comprises 7 administrative zones, 46 districts

and 692 sub-districts. The regional economy is based on agriculture. Over 80% of the

population is dependent on rain-fed, subsistence agriculture. Road infrastructure and coverage,

power supply, telecommunications and other social services have been upgraded since the end

of the civil conflict in 1991, although there is still a need to expand and improve these services.

As elsewhere in the country, lack of institutional capacity and a multi-skilled manpower is the

main constraint to the development of the region. Quality of life is low due to the combined

effects of inadequate water supplies, inadequate food production, and inadequate financial

income. As indicated in table-1 blow, urbanization growth in Tigray both spatially and

temporally is rapidly increasing, even greater than other regions of Ethiopia. The urbanization

growth in the 1st census year (1984) was 8.22% that belongs to total number of only 20 towns or

urban centers. At that time urbanization in Tigray was the least in the country. In the 2 nd census

year (1994) urbanization growth of the region was rise up to 14.94% and 74 total numbers of

urban centers.

Table-1 - The population and housing census of Ethiopia for Tigray region (1984-2007)

year

Total population Share of urban population Number

of townsmale female total male female total percent

1984 1,219,800 1,189,900 2,409,700 85,836 112,198 198,034 8.22 20

1994 1,542,165 1,594,102 3,136,267 214,066 254,412 468,478 14.94 74

2007 2,124,853 2,189,603 4,314,456 398,072 444,651 842,723 19.5 57/86

When we see the 2007 population and housing census of Ethiopia for Tigray region the

urbanization growth was increased to 19.50%. But, the total number of towns or urban centers

decreased from 74 in 1994 to 57 in 2007 due to the flexible classification of urban areas defined

by CSA. Since the first Ethiopian census, CSA has defined urban areas as localities with 2000

or more inhabitants. Urban areas also include all administrative capitals of regions, zones, and

woredas, as well as localities with at least 1000 people who are primarily engaged in non-

agricultural activities, and / or areas where the administrative official declares the locality to be

urban (ESSP2, 2009). Thus, it is logical urban areas do not remain constant between census

years. A locality that was declared urban in 1994 may be defined as rural in 2007 even though

population growth and movement in these areas may have been minimal between census years.

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Thus, this decreasing in number of towns does not mean urbanization growth of the region is

decreasing. The reason is due to the above defined truth and the administrative rearrangements

taken place in 2000/01 in the whole region. According to BoUDTI (2012) Tigray region 86

numbers of towns are reported. Of these 74 are emerging towns while the 12 towns are

medium and large towns having their own administration power. Finally, this rapid urbanization

brings a lot of environmental impacts in the region particularly for the poor urban dwellers.

Therefore, identifying the major environmental problems (impacts) originated due this rapid

urbanization trend and formulating appropriate and suitable solutions for these problems from

urban environmental planning and development point of view specifically in case of Wukro

town is an urgent issue that interests me even if it needs further in-depth researches.

3. DESCRIPTION OF THE CASE STUDY TOWN-WUKRO

The study area Wukro town is located within Ethiopia, Eastern zone of Tigray region on the

Adigrat-Addis Ababa high way 43 km North of Mekelle city at an elevation between 2140-2250

masl. Its astronomical Coordinates are 13°47′N 39°36′E/ 13.783°N 39.6°E. The rock-hewn

churches and Grealta Mountains around Wukro are the town's most distinctive landmarks.

According to Wukro integrated development plan (WIDP, 2008) report the existing total area of the

town under the municipal Jurisdiction was estimated to be 860 hectare but at the present time it

increases to 1205.95 hectare. From the total area developed or built area is 812.50 hectare and

393.45 hectare is undeveloped or inbuilt area. Local industries such as Sheba Tannery, which is

capable of processing 6,000 hides a day and opened in 2004, National geo-textile factory,

governmental and private colleges, and standard hotels are found in Wukro. Besides, currently the

town is selected as training and conferences center of the region due to its nearby location to the

regional capital, Mekelle city. The major economic activities are: services (hotels and restaurants,

traditional beverages, pensions, and groceries), urban agriculture, traders and retailers, wood

works, metal work etc. Based on the 2007 national census year, the total population of the town is

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estimated to be 33,317, with an annual increase of 4.8 %, of which about 46.5% male and 53.5 %

are female. Of this, 58% residents are immigrants from other areas. A total of 9,383 households

were counted in this town, resulting in an average of 3.22 persons per household, and 8,993 housing

units. The 1994 census reported the town had a total population of 16,421 of whom 45.23% were

men and the remaining balance were women. This shows how the urbanization trend of this town is

rapidly increasing with in short period of time. Next, the environmental problems of the town are

discussed as follows.

4. MAJOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS ORIGINATED DUE URBANIZATION PROCESS IN CASE OF WUKRO TOWN

4.1. SOLID AND LIQUID WASTE DISPOSAL PROBLEMBoth liquid and solid waste is garbage, which is produced from household activities such as food

preparation, sweeping or cleaning and so on. As we can see from the tables 2-4 blow in the

appendices, even if 87% of the residents do get solid waste disposal services from the municipality

while most of them had no bathing room and toilet facilities. There are households in the town

throw wastes anywhere in their compound or street. There is no liquid waste system in the area they

live. If these wastes are not disposed properly it looks ugly, smells foul and creates health problems

by attracting insects that spread and carry different types of diseases. This shows that majority of

the residents do not get proper waste disposal services and have an effect on water and sanitation

problem. Both wastes present serious environmental and health problems because of the methods

used to collect and dispose them off. When the wastes are put in the open dump, they will ruin

attractiveness of the surrounding area. Dumps also provide home for disease carrying vectors,

which directly affect the human health. When it is dumped in to water body, it contributes to

various forms of water pollution and becomes dangerous to the ecology of the area.

4.2 DEFORESTATION AND LAND DEGRADATIONDeforestation and land degradation have negative impacts on the land’s capacity to store water and

provide food. Some decades ago unlike the present, Wukro town was surrounded by different types

of indigenous forest species and fertile soil together with the amazing chain mountains that

increases aesthetics of the town. Nowadays, these areas forest coverage is very few. As indicated in

the annex table-5 below, the dominant- more than 81% of the residents HHs-sources of energy for

cooking in the town are both fire wood and charcoal. Most residents do not use electricity for

cooking due to their poor economic status, but not the access of electricity. Moreover, even these

who use electricity as sources of light most do not have their own private electric meter and the

4

electric supply from private venders is too costly, which is unaffordable to the users. As a result,

this aggravates deforestation and soil degradation. Moreover, this creates air pollution and decreases

production and productivity of the farm lands within and surrounding of the town. Finally impacts

are health problems and shortages of food.

4.3. WATER SCARCITY AND POLLUTIONAs indicated in table-6 below, there is shortage of public water distribution in the town. The

problem is aggravating due the rapidly increasing population of the town -from 13045 (1984) and

16421(1994) to 30210 (2007). Since, about 58% of the town dwellers are immigrants it is beyond

the municipal capacity to satisfy all this demand in the short run. Thus, the dwellers spent their

productive time by fetching water from rivers and private water venders. In this regard, 80% of the

households have not private pipe water. This reveals majority of the urban dweller households

obtain potable water both from common public water distribution or private water venders.

However private water venders are very expensive and unaffordable to the residents of the town

especially for the poor. This in turn has also a problem with sanitation and health of the town

dwellers. Besides the above water supply scarcity problems, the liquid waste discharged to the river

from households, institutions, industries such as Sheba leather industry is another water pollution

problem of the town. This polluted river water dwellers of the town used for bathing, washing, and

urban agriculture. The different vegetables and fruits grown using this polluted water especially

heavy metal chemicals have adverse effect on health.

4.4. FLOODING Flooding is another environmental problem of Wukro town that comes after her emergence. Wukro

town is located in the flat plain foot of the Adigrat sandstone and ‘Gerealta’ Mountain. Due to its

geographical location the town is surrounded by annual flowing river called ‘Genfel’, one of the

attributes of Tekeze basin, beginning from the high lands of Atsbi-Womberta district and one big

dam with its large catchment called ‘Quorir’ to the south-East and North-East direction

respectively. During the rainy season surface runoff of water is paramount. Thus, most of the HHs

along the riverside and runoff areas are living under life threatening condition. Besides, most of the

forest coverage on the surrounding catchment area and mountains are deforested by the dwellers of

town for different purposes such as fire wood, home construction, and other wood works the

precipitation is not infiltrate to the ground rather aggravate the flooding problem. The flood brings

both solid and liquid wastes as well as the eroded soil to the neighborhood areas. The invaded area

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becomes a breeding ground of mosquito and malaria as well as other communicable diseases like

dysentery, typhus, that affect their health.

4.5. LOSS OF FERTILE AGRICULTURAL LAND Urbanization usually tends to expand the urban rural peripheries due to the shortest of open space

inside the town. However, large hectare of fertile agricultural land is added to the urban areas

annually. This in turn creates food scarcity and relocation of many poor people.

5. APROPRATE AND SUITABLE SOLUSIONS TO URBAN

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

5.1, Improve institutional capacity and frame work of the municipality

Ethiopia is good in adopting and formulating national urban environmental policies and regulations

promoted by UNEP such as Agenda 21. But, the Policies and regulations are too general, wild, and

lack clear and specific guidelines, technical and operational standards. They do not indicate how the

way of involve the community, private and informal sectors in alleviating environmental problems.

This becomes difficult for smooth implementation on the ground. That is why not only households

but also institutions and industries polluting the environment ignoring these policies and

regulations. Besides, the Policies are sectoral in nature without broad framework that would enable

to examine cross-sectoral and cumulative impacts of various activities. The absence of an

institutional body that coordinates or oversees cross-sectoral issues would lead to conflicts and

loopholes thereby creating suitable conditions for incapable institutions and offenders to avoid the

rules and regulations. All in all, the sources the above mentioned urban environmental problems /

impacts are lack of institutional capacity and skilled man powers. Thus, capacity building and

awareness creation especially at the grass root or community level is very crucial solution for

effective and efficient enforcement of environmental impacts.

5.2. Provision of Affordable Alternative Sources of EnergyTo ensure the sustainability of surrounding forest resources and landscapes which attracts many

tourists and then solve the major urban environment impacts alternative source of energy for

cooking should be considered at an affordable price for the urban poor.

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5.3 Introducing Soil and Water Conservation PracticesTo reduce or protect the risk of flooding of the town starting from the top of the catchment area

different soil and water conservation activities or technologies should be introduced followed by

plantation and rehabilitation.

5.4 vertical development rather than horizontalNowadays, mixed land use and compact development has many benefits. First, it saves the

inefficient land consumption. Next, this decreases travel behavior of individuals and widens

walking and cyclist movements which results in minimizing fuel consumption and air pollution.

Finally, such development decreases the annually added fertile agricultural land to the urban areas

and conflicts arisen in the peripheries. Relocation and food shortage problem also gets solution.

5.5. PPPs for Additional dip boreholesAccess to pure water is the right every person. So, to solve the water scarcity and balance the water

demand of the rapidly growing population of the town the local and regional government should

support the municipality in cooperating with relevant agencies, the private sector, beneficiary

groups, NGOs and International Organizations through dig out additional boreholes.

6. CONCLUSIONSHuman intervention in the natural environment, like development of industries, transport and

energy sectors cause negative impacts on the environment. So, Initiatives promoting the recycling

and reusing of waste materials is not only contribute to a reduction in solid waste but provide a

source of income for the urban poor. “knowledge-based development” approach or city

development that is more intentional, more planned, better coordinated and more purposeful is vital

to reduce urban environment and health problems. Generally, taking the study in case of Wukro

town; deforestation and degradation, flooding, water scarcity and pollution, solid and liquid waste

disposal problem, and loss of fertile agricultural land are the major identified environmental impacts

originated due rapid urbanization process while the suitable solutions recommended by the writer

are; providing alternative sources of energy, soil and water conservation practices on the upper

catchment, PPPs for dig out additional boreholes, vertical development respectively.

7

7. REFERENCES

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Ministry of Works and Urban Development, 2006. Plan for

Accelerated and Sustained Development to End Poverty (2005/06-2009/10): Urban Development

& Construction Industry component of PASDEP. (pdf) Addis Ababa: Final Draft MWUD.

Available at: http:// www. Good governance PASDEP (English). pdf. [Accessed 20 April 2012]

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Office of Population Census Commission CSA, Nov 1995. The

1994 Population and Housing Census of Ethiopia Results for Tigray Region. Volume I Statistical

Report. (pdf) Addis Ababa: Available at: http:// www. Tigray, 1994 CSA, pdf. [Accessed 29 Mar

2012]

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Population Census Commission, Dec 2008. Summary and

Statistical Report of the 2007 Population and Housing Census Results.(pdf) Addis Ababa: Available

at: http:// www. Cen2007-firstdraft. pdf. [Accessed 20 Mar 2012]

The office of the Population Census Commission, 2007. Available at: http:// www.tigray-2007. pdf.

[Accessed 25 Mar 2012]

UNEP, 2011. Publication: Guidebook on National Legislation for Adaptation to Climate Change. Available

at: http:// www. Guidebook on National Legislation for Adaptation to Climate Change . pdf. [Accessed

20 April 2012] ISBN: 978-92-807-3188-0, Job Number: DEL/1232/NA.

8

8. APPENDICES

Table-2-Types of waste disposal by housing units, as of census 2007 for Wukro town Types of waste Housing

unitpercent Types of waste Housing

unitpercent

Collected by municipality 7840 87.18 Burn/bury 143 1.59

Collected by private individuals 15 0.17 Others 56 0.62

Open space/behind the house 847 9.42 Total housing units 8993 100

Dump in river 92 1.02      

Table-3-Types of bathing facility by housing units, as of census 2007 for Wukro town Types of facility Housing

unitpercent Types of facility Housing

unitpercent

No bathing room facility 7191 91.91 Shower, shared 643 8.22

Bath tub, private 92 1.18 Room for bathing vacant 526 6.72

Bath tub, shared 143 1.83 Total housing units 7824 100

Shower, private 398 5.09      

Table-4-Types of toilet facility by housing units, as of census 2007 for Wukro townType of facility Housing unit percent Type of facility Housing

unitpercent

No toilet facility 2195 51.26 VIP latrine, shared 1046 24.43

Flush toilet, shared 1,312 30.64 pit latrine, shared 2751 64.25

flush toilet, private 510 11.91 pit latrine, private 914 21.35

VIP latrine, private 265 6.19 Total housing units 8993 100

Table-5-Types of fuel used for cooking, as of census 2007 for Wukro town

Type electricity gas Kerosene charcoal Firewood dung biogas others Total

No of HHs 1077 26 3379 7702 7620 2174 43 760 9,383

percent 11.50 0.30 36.00 82.10 81.21 23.17 0.50 8.10 100

9

Table-6-Types of lighting, as of census 2007 for Wukro town

Type Electricity/meter,

private

Electricity/meter,

shared

Gener

ator

sol

ar

lante

rn

lamps biogas candle Total

hhs

No of

HHs

2,639 6,114 112 - 20 66 - 41 9,383

percent 28.23 65,16 1.18 - 81.21 23.17 - 0.44 100

Table-7- housing units by source of drinking water, as 2007 for Wukro town

Type sources Housing unit percen

t

Type sources Housing

unit

percent

Inside the house 812 9.97 Protected well or spring 15 0.17

Tap in compound,

private

1,761 19.46 Un protected well or

spring

5 0.06

Tap in compound, shared 3,945 43.59 River/lake/pond 10 0.11

Tap outside compound 2,445 27.00 Total housing units 9050 100

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