Drivers and Implications of Land Cover Dynamics in Muger Sub-Basin, Abay Basin, Ethiopia

Dawit Samuel Teshome, Habitamu Taddese, Terefe Tolessa, Moges Kidane and Songcai You ()
Additional contact information
Dawit Samuel Teshome: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture (IEDA), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China
Habitamu Taddese: Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources, Hawassa University, Shashemene P.O. Box 128, Ethiopia
Terefe Tolessa: Department of Disaster Risk Management and Sustainable Development, Ambo University, Ambo P.O. Box 19, Ethiopia
Moges Kidane: College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, Ambo University, Ambo P.O. Box 19, Ethiopia
Songcai You: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture (IEDA), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100081, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 18, 1-19

Abstract: Research on the landscape level dynamics of land cover and an understanding of the drivers responsible for these changes are useful for formulations of sustainable land management strategies and policy decisions. The pace and magnitude of the LCCs in Ethiopia are threatening the natural ecosystem and creating vulnerability to environmental hazards. This study used a combination of remotely sensed data, field interviews, and observations to examine the dynamics and identify the driving forces of LCC from 1986 to 2020 in the Muger sub-basin, Ethiopia. Multi-temporal satellite images were classified using supervised and unsupervised methods. Information from focus group discussions and the variable ranking method were used to explain the drivers of the observed changes. The study results showed a decline in forest cover from 11.80% in 1986 to 5.90% in 2020, which indicates a loss of 49.90% of the forest cover that existed in 1986. Bare land declined from 1.15% in 1986 to 0.57% in 2020. Similarly, grazing land declined from 1.52% in 1986 to 0.41% in 2020. Wetland also declined from 1.93% in 1986 to 0.31% in 2020. Conversely, during the same period, the proportions of cultivated land, built-up areas, shrubland, and water bodies have risen from 68.86% to 70.44%, from 0.03% to 1.53%, from 14.39% to 20.27%, and from 0.34% to 0.56%, respectively. Population growth and poor agricultural practices were identified as the main causes of LCC in the sub-basin. Therefore, the findings of this study suggest that implementation of comprehensive and integrated basin management policies and strategies will be indispensable to managing the risks and ensuring sustainable development in the larger Abay basin.

Keywords: remote sensing; field survey; accuracy assessment; change detection; causative factors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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