s:2397:"%T Tree survival does not always depend on soil water conservation-what and where matters: Lessons from East Shewa Ethiopia 
%A Kinuthia R 
%A Mugwe J 
%A Muthuri C 
%A Danga B 
%X Efforts to scale agroforestry in the arid and semiarid areas in Ethiopia are constrained by the high rate of tree mortality. These areas have low tree cover despite concerted efforts of tree planting by both governmental and non-governmental institutions. To enhance tree survival in East Shewa zone of Ethiopia, two micro catchments: micro basins and trenches were introduced in four districts: Adami Tulu, Dugda, Lume and Bora. This study sought to assess the effectiveness of the micro catchments in enhancing survival of three tree species: Cordia africana, Grevillea robusta and Mangifera indica through soil moisture retention. The study also sought to assess other factors that influence survival of trees from farmers’ perspective. Survival of the trees grown in the micro catchments was compared with trees grown in the conventional planting pits (control). Tree survival data was collected through six-month assessment from planting time up to 36 months while data on farmers’ perceptions was collected through a household survey involving 110 farmers who had planted at least one tree species for the past five years. Using SPSS, descriptive statistics and ANOVA were used to analyse the data. A low survival rate (30%). Livestock damage was the second main cause in Adami Tulu (25%) and Dugda (20%), insects and pests attack in Lume (33%) and Bora (29%). The study further revealed differences in tree management activities and access to water for trees across the sites. The study concluded that: in isolation, micro catchments may not adequately address the low tree survival rate in East Shewa. Not only is tree survival influenced by other factors such as inadequate soil water but also by livestock damage and attack by insects and pests; early stages of tree establishment are critical in overall tree survival; variations across sites in terms of tree species suitability and tree management influence performance of trees. The study recommends holistic approaches in addressing tree survival and further research into appropriate tree management practices suitable in the specific sites and for the different tree species, mainly focused at the early stages of seedling establishment. 
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