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SECOND CIRCULAR
International Association of Geomorphologists
Association Internationale de Géomorphologues
IAG/AIG REGIONAL CONFERENCE 2011
GEOMORPHOLOGY FOR HUMAN ADAPTATION TO
CHANGING TROPICAL ENVIRONMENTS
ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA FEBRUARY 18‐22, 2011
ORGANIZED BY
EAG ‐ ETHIOPIAN ASSOCIATION OF GEOMORPHOLOGISTS
with the support of
Department of Earth Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia,
Paleoanthropology & Paleoenvironment Program, Addis Ababa University,
Ethiopia
Mekelle University, Ethiopia
Department of Geological Sciences, “Roma Tre” University, Rome, Italy
AIGEO ‐ Italian Association of Physical Geography and Geomorphology, Italy
BAG ‐ Belgian Association of Geomorphologists, Belgium
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INTRODUCTION
The response to our call for papers by the first circular is very encouraging with more than 60
participants already registered from 20 countries. Prominent key note speakers also honoured
us by confirming their participation.
This circular contains detailed information on the sessions and session conveners, key note
speakers, field excursions and guides, accommodation and conference venue, as well as other
practical information.
CONFERENCE PROGRAM
Registration and Reception: February 18, 2011
Scientific Sessions: February 19, 21 and 22, 2011
Mid Conference Field Excursion or City Tour: February 20, 2011
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Asfawossen Asrat ‐ Department of Earth Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
Mohammed Umer ‐ Department of Earth Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
Francesco Dramis ‐ Department of Geological Sciences, “Roma Tre” University, Rome, Italy
Jan Nyssen ‐ Department of Geography, University of Ghent, Belgium
CONFERENCE SECRETARIAT
Asfawossen Asrat ‐ Department of Earth Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
Mohammed Umer ‐ Department of Earth Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
Bekele Abebe ‐ Department of Earth Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
Valerio Acocella ‐ Department of Geological Sciences, “Roma Tre” University, Rome, Italy
Kassa Amare ‐ Department of Earth Sciences, Mekelle University, Ethiopia
Aklilu Amsalu ‐ Department of Geography, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
Asfawossen Asrat ‐ Department of Earth Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
Woldeamlak Bewket ‐ Department of Geography, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
Paolo Billi ‐ Department of Earth Sciences, Università di Ferrara, Italy
Mauro Coltorti ‐ Department of Earth Sciences, University of Siena, Italy
Francesco Dramis ‐ Department of Geological Sciences, “Roma Tre” University, Rome, Italy
Giandomenico Fubelli ‐ Department of Geological Sciences, “Roma Tre” University, Rome, Italy
Tsige Gebru, University of Cologne, Germany
Mitiku Haile ‐ Department of Land Resource Management and Environmental Protection
(LARMEP), Mekelle University, Ethiopia
Nigussie Haregeweyn ‐ Department of LARMEP, Mekelle University, Ethiopia
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Jan Moeyersons ‐ Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium
Paola Molin ‐ Department of Geological Sciences, “Roma Tre” University, Rome, Italy
Jan Nyssen ‐ Department of Geography, University of Ghent, Belgium
Alberto Pizzi ‐ Department of Earth Sciences, University of Chieti, Italy
Jean Poesen ‐ Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, K.U.Leuven, Belgium
Valery J. Terwilliger, Geography Department, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
Mohammed Umer ‐ Department of Earth Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
Kifle Woldearegay – Department of Applied Geology, Mekelle University, Ethiopia
Gezahegn Yirgu ‐ Department of Earth Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia
CONFERENCE TOPICS AND CONVENERS
Session Convener 1 Convener 2
1.Land Degradation and Resilience Miodrag Zlatic (Belgrade,
Serbia)
Mitiku Haile (Mekelle,
Ethiopia)
2.Geomorphological Mapping Paolo Paron (FAO, Nairobi,
Kenya)
Michael Smith
(Kingston, UK)
3.Quaternary Stratigraphy and
Paleoclimate
Martin Williams (Adelaide,
Australia)
Mohammed Umer
(Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)
4.Coastal Geomorphology Hervé Regnauld (Rennes,
France)
Giuseppe Mastronuzzi
(Bari, Italy)
5. Geoheritages and
geoarchaeology
Metasebia Demissie (Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia)
Frances Williams
(Adelaide, Australia)
6. Fluvial Geomorphology and
Flooding Hazard
Maria J. Machado (CSIC,
Madrid, Spain)
Paolo Billi (Ferrara, Italy)
7. Volcanic Geomorphology and
Hazard
Valerio Acocella (Roma Tre,
Italy)
Gezahegn Yirgu (Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia)
8. Geomorphology of Tropical
Mountains
Olav Slaymaker (British
Columbia, Canada)
Jan Nyssen (Gent,
Belgium)
9. Drylands Geomorphology and
Desertification
Jean Poesen (Leuven,
Belgium)
Nigussie Haregeweyn
(Mekelle, Ethiopia)
10. Morphotectonics, Active
Tectonics and Seismic Hazard
Cliff Ollier (Nedlands,
Australia)
Mauro Coltorti (Siena,
Italy)
11. Landslide Hazard Assessment
and Zoning
Jan Moeyersons (Africa
Museum, Tervuren, Belgium)
Bekele Abebe (Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia)
12. Environmental Change and
Human Impact
Andrew Goudie (Oxford, UK) Alfredo Pérez‐Gonzales
(Madrid, Spain)
13. Karst Geomorphology Zbigniew Zwolinski (Poznan,
Poland)
Asfawossen Asrat (Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia)
14. Wetlands Geomorphology Requested
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15. Urban Geomorphology Francesco Dramis (Roma
Tre,Italy)
16. Mining Areas Rehabilitation Annibale Mottana (Roma
Tre, Italy)
17. Planetary Geomorphology Rosaly M. Lopes (NASA, USA)
18. Geoecology Zbigniew Zwolinski (Poznan,
Poland)
Asfawossen Asrat (Addis
Ababa, Ethiopia)
19. Tectonic topography Sierd Cloething (Amsterdam,
The Netherlands)
Claudio Faccenna (Roma
Tre, Italy)
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
The following prominent scholars will present key notes:
1. Andrew Goudie (Oxford): Environmental Change in Africa ‐ past, present and future
2. Olav Slaymaker (British Columbia): The drivers of landscape change in the 21st century
3. Jean Poesen (Leuven): Research challenges for soil erosion, soil and water conservation
in tropical environments
4. Martin Williams (Adelaide): Geomorphic evolution of the Ethiopian tributaries of the
Nile: volcanism, tectonism, climatic change, human impact
5. Miodrag Zlatic (Belgrade and World Association of Soil and Water Conservation):
Stakeholders’ participation in land management for sustainability in mountainous
regions
FIELD TRIPS
1. Pre‐Conference Field Trip 1 (MER): “Geomorphology of the Main Ethiopian Rift” (dates:
February 15 – 17, 2010; route: Addis Ababa, Butajra, Awasa, Langano, Addis Ababa).
Leaders: Asfawossen Asrat, Mohammed Umer, Paolo Billi.
Excursion Details: Departure from Addis Ababa will be on the 15th of February (morning)
and traverse will be along the Addis Ababa‐Butajira‐Hosania‐Durame‐Awassa road. Along
this traverse we will visit the volcanic and tectonic landforms as the road follows the
escarpment zone along the western junction of the main Ethiopian rift from the NW
highlands. Moreover, we will visit active land degradation zones as well as manifestations
of environmental changes due to natural and human impacts. We will visit the lakes region
(lakes Awassa, Langano, Shala and Ziway). The Ethiopian Rift Valley lakes are the
northernmost of the African Rift Valley lakes. In central Ethiopia the Great Rift Valley splits
the Ethiopian highlands into northwestern and Southeastern halves, and the Ethiopian Rift
Valley lakes occupy the floor of the rift valley between the two highlands. These lakes have
been one of the reference sites for paleoclimate research of the Late Quaternary in Africa.
The shorelines and sections as well as cores from the lakes made the subject of a number
of published outputs since the 1970s. We will visit Late Quaternary stratigraphic sections.
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In addition, a visit to a number of development projects as well as urbanization around the
lakes will give us an insight to the impact of human activity on the lake environment. We
will also visit landslide zones at Wonod Guenet, at the Eastern margin of the Main
Ethiopian Rift. Back to Addis on 17th February.
2. Pre‐Conference Field Trip 2 (AFAR): “Tectonic Landforms and Volcanism in the Southern
Afar” (dates: February 13 – 18, 2011; route: Addis Ababa, Nazret, Dire Dawa, Harar,
Semera, Kombolcha, Addis Ababa).
Leaders: Valerio Acocella, Bekele Abebe, Mauro Coltorti, Gezahegn Yirgu.
Excursion Details: The excursion will provide a unique occasion to visit the southern part
of the Afar Triangle, where the Main Ethiopian Rift joins with the Gulf of Aden Rift and Red
Sea Rift. The landscape of this area is strongly controlled by active tectonics and
volcanism. On the excursion route spectacular volcanic features, such as the Debre Zeit
volcanic district, the Fantale volcano (last eruption 1810) and the Kone caldera complex
will be shown. Subsequently, the tectonic features of the northern margin of the southeastern
Ethiopian plateau, between the Awash Park and the historical town of Harar, will
be visited. The last part of the trip will be held in the Tendaho Graben (ground fractures,
1969 Serdo earthquake epicentral area, hot springs) around Semera, the recently built
capital of the Afar region.
3. Post‐Conference Field Trip (NEH): “Geomorphological hazards, land degradation and
resilience in the northern Ethiopian highlands” (dates: February 23– March 2, 2011; route:
Addis Ababa, Dessie, Mekelle, Adigrat, Axum, Addis Ababa by flight).
Leaders: Francesco Dramis, Jan Nyssen, Paolo Billi, Giandomenico Fubelli, Asfawossen
Asrat, Bekele Abebe, Mohammed Umer.
Excursion Details: Driving alternatively near the upper edge of the Rift escarpment and in
the lowlands, this spectacular excursion presents results of geomorphic research that
takes place in northern Ethiopia since more than 15 years. At Karakore the tectonic
context and the surface effects of a strong (M = 6.1) earthquake that stroke the area in
1961 will be shown. A full day visit to the tectonic basin of Dessie will allow to observe a
number of spectacular landslides of different types, including those affecting the Dessie
urban area. More to the north, sandbed and boulderbed flashy, ephemeral streams
coming from the highlands and ending up with distributary systems on the floor of the
Kobo‐Alamata basin will be shown. The excursion will follow further to Tigray, a dissected
plateau with deeply incised gorges. Steep slopes, high population and livestock densities
combined with slow evolution of the agricultural system have lead to important land
degradation, mainly sheet, rill or gully erosion and landsliding. Affected sites will be visited
and causes and consequences discussed. At the foot of Ferrah Amba, summit of Tigray
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(3939 m a.s.l.), the impacts of global warming and direct human activities will be
examined. In these highlands, which are one of the regions in the world where very
intense soil conservation is carried out, findings regarding the efficiency of these
techniques are discussed and encounters with smallholder farmers are foreseen. In situ,
we also discuss sediment transport rates by rivers and reservoir sedimentation. Along the
road, geomorphic activity will be illustrated through comparison of historical photographs
with the current geomorphic features. Relevant topics of the excursion will be the long
term geologic‐geomorphic evolution of the eastern Tigray Highlands: the early Palaeozoic
planation surfaces, Palaeozoic glacials, Mesozoic transgression‐regression sequence
(including a rock church hewn in sandstone), Tertiary volcanism, as well as the
environmental evolution of the area during the Holocene. The excursion will end and
culminate in Axum where the geomorphology and geoarchaeology of the town
surroundings and the monuments of the Axumite civilisation (ca. 300 BCE – ca. 700 CE) will
be presented.
4. Post‐Conference Field Trip Extension to Lake Tana, Lalibela (NEH‐LAL): (March 2‐9, 2011
route: Axum, Simien Mts., Gondar, Bahar Dar, Lalibela, Addis Ababa; maximum number of
participants 20). It is possible to interrupt the excursion on March 7 flying back to Addis
from Bahar Dar.
Excursion Details: This post‐conference extension trip will offer to the participants a
unique occasion to visit the spectacular environment of the Simien Mts., the historical
town of Gondar, Lake Tana, the Blue Nile waterfall and the rock‐hewn churchs of Lalibela.
The excursion will be organized by a travel agency.
5. Post‐Conference Field Trip Extension to the Danakil Depression (NEH‐EX): (dates: March
1 ‐ 4, 2011; route: Mekelle, Berhale, Lake Asale, Dallol, Mekelle, Addis Ababa by flight;
maximum number of participants 20).
Leaders: Jan Nyssen.
Excursion Details: From the cloud forest on the edge of the escarpment (2500 m a.s.l.),
the first day is a continuous 4WD driving down into the Rift Valley on rough roads. On the
way down, we meet camel caravans bringing up the salt to the highlands. Frequent stops
along the road will allow observing textbook examples of geomorphic features, including
flatirons, dykes, natural subsurface dam in a river bed, etc. At around 1000 m a.s.l. desert
geomorphology dominates. This is the home of the Afar nomads. The pediment of the
escarpment has been built up since the Tertiary. Deep cross‐sections will be visited and a
clear grain size gradient observed: from large boulders and dreikanter ventifacts at the
upper part, to the salt flats in the Danakil Depression, the hottest place on Earth, at 126 m
below sea level. The night is spent in the village of M’hamed Ilah, core of the artisanal salt
mining industry. Don’t expect much comfort here; sleeping is simply in the open air. The
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second day starts with a visit to the salt excavations and further to the crater of Dallol,
coloured by sulfur, salt, and other minerals. On the drive back, everybody will be happy
with a stop at a river to wash off salt and dust. For participants in good health only.
6. Intensive Course on Landslide Geomorphology and Mapping (LANDMAP): (dates:
February 14‐17, 2011; working area: Dessie basin and town; maximum number of
participants: 20).
Instructors: Giandomenico Fubelli, Jan Moeyersons.
Course Detail: The intensive course will be focused on the reconnaissance, classification
and mapping (by detailed geomorphological field survey and air‐photo interpretation) of
the numerous landslides of different types and size that affect the Dessie urban area and
the tectonic basin where the town is located. The landslide susceptibility of the study area
will be assessed by means of a a GIS‐assisted methodology. A proficiency certificate will be
given to the participants.
CONFERENCE AND EXCURSION FEES
Event By December 10, 2010
Conference registration 240.00 €
Accompanying person 120.00 €
Students (PhD, MSc) 120.00 €
Pre‐conference field trip 1 (MER) 240.00 €
Pre‐conference field trip 2 (AFAR) 300.00 €
Post‐conference field trip (NEH) 850.00 €
Extension to the Danakili Depression 200.00 €
Extension to Simien Mts., Lake Tana, Lalibela 680.00 €*
Intensive Course on landslide mapping 150.00 €
*780€ if there are less than 10 participants. The balance should be paid at the Conference desk.
Conference registration fees will cover costs of reception, coffee/tea breaks and lunch during
the scientific sessions, One day Mid Conference excursion or city tour and conference
materials. Pre‐/post‐conference excursion fees will cover costs of transportation,
accommodation, meals, and guidebook. Participants are required to pay registration fees by
bank transfer before December 10, 2010 (see address below and the attached payment
form). After this date, it will be possible to pay the registration fees at the conference
registration desk with a 10% surcharge. Refund will be charged by 20% deduction. No refund
will be made after December 10, 2010.
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Bank Transfer address:
UNICREDIT Banca di Roma, Agenzia 108,
via Ostiense 105/A,
Roma (IBAN: IT53W0300203252000400014281
Swift CODE: BROMITR1108 by UNICRITMM)
in favour of Università degli Studi “Roma Tre", via Ostiense 161, 00154 Roma
specifying: “IAG/AIG Conference 2011‐ Dipartimento Scienze Geologiche”.
Note: Please send a SCANNED COPY OF BANK TRANSFER DOCUMENT to the following address:
Prof. Francesco Dramis
Department of Geological Sciences,
“Roma Tre” University, Rome, Italy
E‐mail: dramis@uniroma3.it
FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Subject to funding, the Organizers may provide full or partial financial assistance to the
participation of African Geomorphologists and/or Research/Postgraduate students on a
competitive basis. Applicants for fellowship should fulfill the following: be a citizen of and
working in any African Country and have an abstract accepted for oral or poster presentation.
Applications for fellowship letters, together with a brief CV and a supporting letter from the
pertinent institution should be sent along with Registration form and Abstract to the
Conference Secretariat by August 31, 2010, and results of the competition will be
communicated to applicants by the end of September 2010.
In addition, the International Association of Geomorphologists will offer up to 7 grants to Young
Geomorphologists from African countries. The grants are mainly intended to cover travel costs
and the fee of the pre‐Conference Intensive Course for Young Geomorphologists. The IAG grant
holders will be also exempted from paying the Conference registrations fees. A specific "Call for
IAG grants" will be soon available on the IAG website (http://www.geomorph.org).
REGISTRATION
Registration with reduced payment has been completed on May 1, 2010. Registration with the
indicated fees above will be open until August 31, 2010, the deadline for Abstract submission.
Please send all details in the attached registration form to the Conference Secretariat
(asrata@geol.aau.edu.et or moha_umero@yahoo.com) before August 31, 2010.
ABSTRACT SUBMISSION
Abstracts will be accepted for oral or poster presentation. Please indicate your preference when
submitting. Abstracts are to be submitted by e‐mail as an attached file in Word format to the
Conference Secretariat (asrata@geol.aau.edu.et or moha_umero@yahoo.com). The deadline
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for abstract submission is August 31, 2010. Acceptance will be decided by the end of
September 2010.
Format:
Abstract is limited to one A4‐size page, text only without any figures or tables. Top, bottom, left,
and right margins 25 mm.
Title: Upper and lower case, left justified, Times font, 14 pt bold.
Contributors’ names: Upper and lower case, left justified, first name first, surname last,
Times font, 11 pt.
Affiliation: Upper and lower case, left justified, Times font, 10 pt. Numbered
superscripts should be used to indicate the affiliation of each contributor. E‐mail address
can be added in parentheses at the end of the corresponding contributor’s affiliation.
Main text: Single‐spaced text, Times 10 pt font, no section headings.
IMPORTANT DATES
August 31, 2010 Abstract submission Deadline
Registration Deadline
September 30, 2010 Decision on abstracts and fellowship requests communicated to applicants
December 10, 2010 Deadline for payment of fees by bank transfer
Deadline for money refund
CORRESPONDENCE
All correspondence concerning REGISTRATION, ABSTRACT SUBMISSION AND APPLICATION
FOR SPONSORSHIP should be addressed to:
Asfawossen Asrat and Mohammed Umer
Department of Earth Sciences Addis Ababa University
P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Phone: 251‐911‐407553; 251‐911‐405950
E‐mail: asrata@geol.aau.edu.et ; moha_umero@yahoo.com
All Correspondence concerning PAYMENTS FOR CONFERENCE PARTICIPATION AND
EXCURSION should be addressed to:
Prof. Francesco Dramis
Department of Geological Sciences,
“Roma Tre” University, Rome, Italy
E‐mail: dramis@uniroma3.it
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CONFERENCE VENUE
GHION HOTEL, Addis Ababa
Visit the hotel web site for details at http://www.ghionhotel.com.et
ACCOMMODATION
It is suggested to book your room at the Ghion Hotel where the conference will be held. Many
other hotels suitable for all sorts of budgets are located at walking distance from the venue. A
list of the major hotels along with pertinent information is indicated in the following address:
http://www.ethiopiahotelguide.com/index.php Participants are expected to make reservations
on their own.
VISAS
Visas are required for all visitors to Ethiopia (except nationals of Kenya) and can be obtained
from Ethiopian diplomatic missions abroad. According to new regulations, citizens from 33
countries, including North American and most European countries, can obtain a Tourist Visa at
the Addis Ababa Bole airport. Participants are strongly advised to check on visa requirements
with their nearest Ethiopian Embassy or Consulate. For a scientific visiting/workshop visa
application, you need an official invitation letter. If you wish to apply for this visa, please send
an e‐mail to the Conference Secretariat (asrata@geol.aau.edu.et or moha_umero@yahoo.com)
with your personal details, including: full names (as in passport), gender, birthday
(month/day/year), nationality, passport number, professional position,
institute/university/company name, detailed mailing address, phone and fax numbers, and email
address. The official invitation letter will be sent to you by September 30, 2010. More
information concerning Ethiopian visa application can be found at:
http://www.mfa.gov.et/Consular_Affair_Diplomatic/Consular_Affair.php
TRAVEL SERVICE
Flights to/from Addis Ababa: Ethiopian Airlines serves the following destinations: Abidjan,
Accra, Bamako, Bangkok, Beijng, Beirut, Brazzaville, Brussels, Bujumbura, Cairo, Dakar, Dar es
Salaam, Delhi, Djibouti, Dubai, Entebbe, Frankfurt, Harare, Hargeisa, Hong Kong, Jeddah,
Johannesburg, Kharthoum, Kigali, Kilimanjaro, Kinshasa, Lagos, Lilongwe, Libreville, Lome,
London, Luanda, Lumumbashi, Lusaka, Malabo, Mombassa, Mumbay, Nairobi, N’Djamena,
Paris, Rome, Ryad, Sanaa, Stockolm, Tel Aviv, Washington, Zanzibar. Others: Lufthansa:
Frankfurt; British Airways: London; KLM: Amsterdam; Turkish Airline; Emirates; Egypt Air.