Environmental Impacts of Floriculture Industry in Debrezeit Town: A Need for Strategic Environmental Assessment

Tilahun, Abayneh (2013) Environmental Impacts of Floriculture Industry in Debrezeit Town: A Need for Strategic Environmental Assessment. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.

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Abstract

Floriculture is one of the booming sectors in Ethiopia, and a good way to generating income for both the owners and the government. Beside this, different environmentalists complain on the industry because the industry uses too much pesticides and chemical fertilizers which damage the environment. The general objective of this research is to assess the ecological impacts of floriculture industries on surrounding environment with respect to the existing environmental regulations/EIA/ and implementation, and assessing a need for strategic environmental assessment/SEA/ which basically focuses on cumulative impacts. The study was conducted on floriculture industry and the surrounding environment where the industries are congested, in Debrezeit town. The necessary data are collected through interviewing the employee (Senior Experts) in floriculture industry, direct physical site observation and assessing existing situation of the study area and by taking sample from the soil and river water. Water samples are taken at five sample points along the Wedecha River which is found adjacent to the industries. Eight parameters (pH, electrical conductivity (EC), Nitrate (No3-N), reactive phosphate (PO4), Biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), Sulfate (SO4), Total ammonia (T-NH3)) are used to analyze ecological impacts of the industries on water body. The soil sample also taken from two different green houses those are established in different time series. The following parameters, pH, CEC, EC, Phosphorus (P) and total Nitrogen (TN) are used to analyze the impact on the soil by the industries. The founding result indicating that some parameters BOD5 (54 mg/l), PO4 (3.4 mg/l), NO3 (16.6 mg/l), T-NH3 (0.1 mg/l) from water samples are beyond the standard which is stated by EPA. And the soil sample result of (CEC and EC) also has a great difference when compared to common agricultural soil and the concentration of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) are high when compared to international standards. Beside this, 90% of the flower industry uses ground water resources. As planting media 40% uses soil bed, hydroponics 30% and the rest 30% also used both planting media. The waste is discharged directly to water body by 30% of the farm and 40% are drain to the land. The land use change is also visible, 30% of the farm is established on local farmer’s area, and 40% are established on state farm area and the rest 30% are established by removing the swampy area. In the case of health issue only 20% of the farms have a clinic. And no one have (100%) EIA document. Therefore, to assure the environmental sustainability of the booming projects of floriculture industry, the introduction of SEA to the country will flourish the way. SEA can do in a better way which EIA is unable to do. Wastewater recycling, Wastewater treatment, Vegetation Buffer preparation, integrated pest management (IPM) practices, Health and safety training to workers, and application of Strategic Environmental Assessment SEA are a good practices to minimize the impact and For better, sustainable and conducive environment sake.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Floriculture industry, effluent, EIA and SEA
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
Divisions:	Africana
Depositing User:	Tim Khabala
Date Deposited:	19 Jun 2018 13:28
Last Modified:	19 Jun 2018 13:28
URI:	http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/4668

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