Detection and characterization of meteorological drought and its impacts in the UNESCO designated world heritage site of Konso Cultural Landscape, southern Ethiopia

Recent droughts, particularly severe in 1999, 2000, 2009, 2011, and 2022, are threatening the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Konso Cultural Landscape in southern Ethiopia. These droughts have significantly reduced agricultural productivity, disrupting traditional harvest rituals critical for intergenerational knowledge transfer. Additionally, they have altered architectural designs and pushed communities toward nonfarm livelihoods due to worsening conditions. The study used Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation Stations data (1981–2022) alongside qualitative methods to analyze drought patterns via the Standard Precipitation Index across wet seasons and annual scales, revealing higher frequency and severity in seasonal timescales. These findings underscore urgent policy needs for adaptation strategies to sustain the landscape's cultural integrity.

Assen, Y. M., Kura, A. L., Degefu, M. A., Gella, A., & Yesuph, A. Y. (2025). Detection and characterization of meteorological drought and its impacts in the UNESCO designated world heritage site of Konso Cultural Landscape, southern Ethiopia. Discover Environment, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44274-025-00486-2