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SATELLITE IMAGERY ANALYSIS: MONITORING ETHIOPIAN AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT ON THE OMO RIVER (SUGAR BLOCK 1): 2011-2012
2012 ANALYSIS CONDUCTED WITH SATELLITE IMAGERY ACQUIRED FROM 2010 TO 2012 OVER THE OMO RIVER BASIN, ETHIOPIA
SATELLITE IMAGERY ANALYSIS: MONITORING THE IMPACTS OF ETHIOPIAN DEVELOPMENT ON THE OMO RIVER
Quantitative figures on the rate and extent of the agricultural development within the Omo river valley have been produced from a time series analysis of satellite imagery; figures are sorted thematically and represent developments located exclusively within the northern section of “Sugar Block 1”; construction activities and related impacts are illustrated in the analysis overview map and imagery examples on slides 5, 11-15.
Summary of Main Satellite Analysis Findings (2011 to 2012):
• Over the last 18 months there has been major construction activities on the eastern bank of the Omo river in SNNPR directly related to the development of large-scale sugarcane production;
• It is likely that up to 130 indigenous settlements of the Mursi & Bodi tribes located on lands east of the plantations have increased difficulty of access to the Omo river, due largely to the construction of a large network of irrigation canals;
• Virtually all cultivation and infrastructure construction activities are located within the Tama Wildlife Reserve;
• In late May 2012, a large flooding event was identified immediately north of a newly constructed river barrier, inundating over 500ha of what appears to be traditional agricultural lands.
SATELLITE IMAGERY ANALYSIS: MONITORING THE IMPACTS OF ETHIOPIAN DEVELOPMENT ON THE OMO RIVER – 2011-2012
OVERVIEW Main Analysis Findings
SUGAR BLOCK 1 Encompassing both sides of the Omo River
CULTIVATION Approximately 2,600ha of land east of the Omo is likely under cultivation
NEW BARRIER Newly constructed 500m barrier on Omo, causing serious upstream flooding and decline in water flow downstream
FLOODING Flooding extent over 500ha in area upstream of barrier on 26 May 2012
NO ACCESS Up to 130 small tribal settlements without direct access to Omo
CONSTRUCTION Sugarcane processing mill constructed between September 2011 and early January 2012
NO DEVELOPMENT No indications of current or preliminary development on western bank of Omo River within Sugar Block 1
NEW ROADS Over 125km of new roads constructed CANAL EXTENDED
Primary irrigation canal from Omo River extends over 35km south and probably will be extended further south in coming months
0km 5km
Main Satellite Analysis Findings in Detail (2011 to 2012)
• CONSTRUCTION OF IRRIGATION CANALS - Over 80km of main irrigation canals and secondary
drainage channels constructed between 2011 and May 2012;
- The primary canal diverting water from the Omo River extends over 35km south and probably will be extended further south in coming months;
- The width of the primary canal measures over 25 meters on average (approximate);
• CONSTRUCTION OF NEW ROADS - Over 125km of new roads (secondary and minor access)
constructed from October 2010 to May 2012;
• CONSTRUCTION OF A SUGAR PROCESSING FACILITY & STORAGE - A sugarcane processing mill was constructed immediately
to the east of the plantation zones between September 2011 and early January 2012;
Main Satellite Analysis Findings in Detail II (2011 to 2012)
• SUGAR CANE CULTIVATION - By Late May 2012, approximately 2,600ha of land east of
the Omo was likely under cultivation, representing an increase of 600ha in cultivated land between 10 March and 26 May 2012;
- The potential yield of raw sugar for this extent could range from 13,000 to 26,000 metric tonnes, depending on local environmental and processing conditions;
• SUGARCANE CULTIVATION AREA BY DATE - 11 Dec 2011 = 400ha; 10 March 2012 = 2,000ha; 26 May
2012 = 2,600ha
Main Satellite Analysis Findings in Detail III (2011 to 2012)
• OMO RIVER BARRIER & ASSOCIATED UPSTREAM FLOODING – Between February and early May 2012, a major barrier was
constructed across the traditional extent of the Omo River, probably to help feed the primary irrigation canal which connects to the river at this location;
- The barrier measures 500m in length and upwards of 50 meters in diameter;
- Barrier has caused serious upstream flooding, measuring over 1.1km in diameter on 26 May 2012 and 500m on 10 May (200m is normal for this section of the Omo);
- Approximately 500ha of land on both banks of Omo were flooded on 26 May 2012;
Main Satellite Analysis Findings in Detail IV (2011 to 2012)
• ACCESS TO OMO RIVER FOR INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES - Based on review of satellite imagery coverage from 2006
and 2008, a minimum of 130 distinct settlement sites were identified on lands immediately to the east of the constructed canals and designated sugar cultivation zone. It is likely that remaining inhabitants of these settlements will have increased difficulty of access to the Omo and will have to travel significant distances either to the south or north, around the 35km long canal segment blocking access.
•
Main Satellite Analysis Findings in Detail V (2011 to 2012)
ASTER Image Source: NASA / JAXA
SATELLITE IMAGERY ANALYSIS: MONITORING THE IMPACTS OF ETHIOPIAN DEVELOPMENT ON THE OMO RIVER – 2011-2012
Pre-Development Satellite image recorded on 10 January 2010
BEFORE Eastern bank of Omo before the start of sugarcane plantation development; no indications of major roads or canals
0km 5km
SATELLITE IMAGERY ANALYSIS: MONITORING THE IMPACTS OF ETHIOPIAN DEVELOPMENT ON THE OMO RIVER – 2011-2012
Early Development Satellite image recorded on 29 September 2011
ASTER Image Source: NASA / JAXA
ROAD PREP Preparatory roads built next to planned secondary drainage channels
CONSTRUCTION New road construction leading to planned processing facility
CANAL Main canal axis extended over 15km southward from Omo
0km 5km
ASTER Image Source: NASA / METI
SATELLITE IMAGERY ANALYSIS: MONITORING THE IMPACTS OF ETHIOPIAN DEVELOPMENT ON THE OMO RIVER – 2011-2012
Expanding Development Satellite image recorded on 3 January 2012
SUGARCANE First sugarcane cultivation plots measuring 400ha
MAJOR ROAD Extended several km south-west to Omo MAJOR CANAL
Extended further south to current length of over 35km
NEW MILL Newly-constructed sugarcane processing mill
MAIN CANAL Canal axis extended northward to new entry point on Omo
0km 5km
Pre-Development Recorded 10 June 2010
EasternbankofOmobeforethestartofsugarcaneplanta5ondevelopment;noindica5onsof
majorroadsorcanals
SATELLITE IMAGERY ANALYSIS: MONITORING THE IMPACTS OF ETHIOPIAN DEVELOPMENT ON THE OMO RIVER – 2011-2012
Expanding Development Recorded 10 March 2012
WV01 Imagery, copyright DigitalGlobe 2012
Eastern bank of Omo before the start of sugarcane plantation development; no indications of major roads or canals
1 SECONDARY CANALS indicate further expansion of sugarcane cultivation southward
2 NEWLY-CONSTRUCTED sugarcane processing mill
3 FIRE SCARS related to local slash and burn cultivation
4 MAJOR CANAL extended further south to current length of over 35km
5 MAJOR ROAD extended several km south-west to Omo
1 2
3
4 5
0km 5km
Upstream Flooding Caused by Omo River Barrier (2012)
ASTE
R an
d La
ndsa
t 7 m
age
Sour
ce: N
ASA
/ M
ETI
3 January 2012
NOTE: Gaps in satellite
imagery due to sensor
error with Landsat 7 (ETM)
SATELLITE IMAGERY ANALYSIS: MONITORING THE IMPACTS OF ETHIOPIAN DEVELOPMENT ON THE OMO RIVER – 2011-2012
10 May 2012 25 May 2012
Rising flood waters upstream of barrier Main canal
extended northward to new entry point on Omo
Newly-constructed 500m barrier on Omo, diverting water into irrigation canal
Flooding extent over 500ha in area upstream of barrier, measuring over 1km in width
0km 3km
Notes on Data Sources and Methodology:
• Satellite imagery analysis and derived quantitative information was based on photointerpretation and automatic detection algorithms using an industry standard Geographic Information System (ESRI ArcGIS v10.0); • Quantitative figures on construction activities were derived from measurement of medium resolution satellite imagery; errors are likely to be almost entirely of omission (underestimates) within range of 5-20%; actual values are likely to be larger; errors due to limits to the spatial and spectral resolutions of available satellite imagery; • Research results have not yet been validated in the field; • Satellite imagery used in this analysis was obtained from NASA, JAXA and DigitalGlobe 2012; • Information on protected natural parks was obtained from the World Database on Protected Areas (2910) • Ancillary GIS data from OSM, NGA, NASA and ESRI was also referenced.
