Drought vulnerability characterization and nature-based adaptation, Eerer Sub-Basin, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Over the past two decades, Ethiopia experienced recurrent and severe droughts, significantly impacting its environment, the livelihoods of its citizens, and the structure of its societal norms. To address these challenges, communities have increasingly turns to ecosystems as a natural buffer against the effects of climate change, particularly drought. The aim of this study was to analyze and to characterize drought-prone areas. The study highlighted the critical role of nature-based solutions (NbS) in climate change mitigation. Moreover, it proposed a long-term strategy to integrating NbS into disaster risk reduction plans by leveraging multi-sensor satellite data and other sources. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) were employed to evaluate drought vulnerability in the study area. The key variables considered for the study were elevation, slope, aspect, land uses and land cover, population density, normalized difference vegetation index, land surface temperature, normalized difference moisture index, vegetation condition index, vegetation health index, and soil moisture index. These metrics collectively provided a comprehensive assessment of drought conditions in the region. The findings revealed varying levels of drought severity: approximately 30.5 % of the study area is classified as experiencing medium drought, 19.1 % faces high drought, and 20 % shows no drought conditions. The results underscore the urgent need for a cohesive strategy to mitigate drought risks, focusing on climate adaptation and sustainable land management through NbS. This approach is vital for enhancing resilience and ensuring long-term sustainability in vulnerable regions.