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Exploring land use/land cover changes, drivers and their implications in contrasting agro-ecological environments of Ethiopia

Author

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  • Berihun, Mulatu Liyew
  • Tsunekawa, Atsushi
  • Haregeweyn, Nigussie
  • Meshesha, Derege Tsegaye
  • Adgo, Enyew
  • Tsubo, Mitsuru
  • Masunaga, Tsugiyuki
  • Fenta, Ayele Almaw
  • Sultan, Dagnenet
  • Yibeltal, Mesenbet

Abstract

This study examined the trends, driving factors, and implications of land use/land cover (LULC) dynamics over the past 35 years (1982–2017) in three watersheds of the drought-prone areas that represent different agro-ecologies of Upper Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia: Guder (highland), Aba Gerima (midland), and Debatie (lowland). The changes in LULC were analyzed by integrating field observations, remote-sensing data (aerial photographs [1: 50,000 scale] and very high resolution [0.5–3.2 m] satellite images), and geographic information systems. The drivers of LULC were explored using key informant interviews and relevant literature reviews. The implications of LULC change on soil erosion and surface runoff responses were also evaluated. A minimum of four and maximum of six LULC classes were identified in each watershed over the study period. The study revealed that forest land was the dominant LULC class accounting for 40.9% and 32.0% in Guder and Aba Gerima, respectively in 1982. While in the same period, bush land (36.6%) was the dominant LULC class in Debatie watershed. From 1982 to 2016/2017, forest land, bush land, and grazing land respectively decreased by about 70%, 50%, and 27% in Guder; 65%, 49%, and 63% in Aba Gerima; and 63%, 59%, and 38% in Debatie. During the same period, cultivated land increased by approximately 40%, 129%, and 704% in Guder, Aba Gerima and Debatie, respectively. In contrast, between 2012 and 2017, plantation cover increased by about 400% in the Guder, mainly at the expense of cultivated land, which decreased by 40% for the same period. Population growth and associated changes in the farming practices were the major driving forces for the observed LULC changes in the study watersheds. The traditionally deleterious impacts of human activities on the environment have been recently reversed at an unprecedented rate, particularly at Guder and to a lesser extent at Aba Gerima, following the shift from the traditional annual cropping to more economically attractive tree-based farming practices such as Acacia decurrens plantation in Guder and khat (Catha edulis) cultivation in Aba Gerima. The continued expansion of cultivated land combined with population growth positively linked to the increase of gully erosion and surface runoff potential in the study watersheds particularly, in Aba Gerima and Debatie watersheds. The Upper Blue Nile basin is currently experiencing both positive and negative socio-economic and environmental consequences of LULC dynamics. Hence, the present study can help form a basis for the appropriate development of land management policies and strategies in this and other basins experiencing similar problems.

Suggested Citation

  • Berihun, Mulatu Liyew & Tsunekawa, Atsushi & Haregeweyn, Nigussie & Meshesha, Derege Tsegaye & Adgo, Enyew & Tsubo, Mitsuru & Masunaga, Tsugiyuki & Fenta, Ayele Almaw & Sultan, Dagnenet & Yibeltal, Me, 2019. "Exploring land use/land cover changes, drivers and their implications in contrasting agro-ecological environments of Ethiopia," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:87:y:2019:i:c:s0264837719304089
    DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.104052
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Mengist, Wondimagegn & Soromessa, Teshome & Feyisa, Gudina Legese & Jenerette, G. Darrel, 2022. "Socio-environmental determinants of the perceived value of moist Afromontane forest ecosystem services in Kaffa Biosphere Reserve, Ethiopia," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).
    2. Nigussie, Zerihun & Tsunekawa, Atsushi & Haregeweyn, Nigussie & Tsubo, Mitsuru & Adgo, Enyew & Ayalew, Zemen & Abele, Steffen, 2021. "The impacts of Acacia decurrens plantations on livelihoods in rural Ethiopia," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    3. Nigussie, Zerihun & Tsunekawa, Atsushi & Haregeweyn, Nigussie & Adgo, Enyew & Tsubo, Mitsuru & Ayalew, Zemen & Abele, Steffen, 2020. "Economic and financial sustainability of an Acacia decurrens-based Taungya system for farmers in the Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    4. Nan Ke & Xupeng Zhang & Xinhai Lu & Bing Kuang & Bin Jiang, 2022. "Regional Disparities and Influencing Factors of Eco-Efficiency of Arable Land Utilization in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-17, February.
    5. Admassie, Assefa & Abebaw, Degnet, 2021. "Ethiopia – Land, energy, climate change, and agricultural development: A study in the Sudano-Sahel Initiative for Regional Development, Jobs, and Food Security," Working Papers 308804, University of Bonn, Center for Development Research (ZEF).
    6. Liu, Shuchang & Xiao, Wu & Ye, Yanmei & He, Tingting & Luo, Heng, 2023. "Rural residential land expansion and its impacts on cultivated land in China between 1990 and 2020," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
    7. Kflay Gebrehiwot & Ermias Teferi & Zerihun Woldu & Mekbib Fekadu & Temesgen Desalegn & Sebsebe Demissew, 2021. "Dynamics and drivers of land cover change in the Afroalpine vegetation belt: Abune Yosef mountain range, Northern Ethiopia," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(7), pages 10679-10701, July.
    8. Owais Bashir & Shabir Ahmad Bangroo & Wei Guo & Gowhar Meraj & Gebiaw T. Ayele & Nasir Bashir Naikoo & Shahid Shafai & Perminder Singh & Mohammad Muslim & Habitamu Taddese & Irfan Gani & Shafeeq Ur Ra, 2022. "Simulating Spatiotemporal Changes in Land Use and Land Cover of the North-Western Himalayan Region Using Markov Chain Analysis," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-18, December.
    9. Motuma Shiferaw Regasa & Michael Nones & Dereje Adeba, 2021. "A Review on Land Use and Land Cover Change in Ethiopian Basins," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-18, June.
    10. Zhou, Yang & Li, Xunhuan & Liu, Yansui, 2020. "Land use change and driving factors in rural China during the period 1995-2015," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    11. Fayaz Ahmad Lone & M. Imran Ganaie & Showkat A. Ganaie & M. Shafi Bhat & Javeed Ahmad Rather, 2023. "Drivers of agricultural land-use change in Kashmir valley - an application of mixed method approach," Letters in Spatial and Resource Sciences, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 1-20, December.
    12. Hailu, Alemenesh & Mammo, Siraj & Kidane, Moges, 2020. "Dynamics of land use, land cover change trend and its drivers in Jimma Geneti District, Western Ethiopia," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    13. Chen, Hang & Meng, Fei & Yu, Zhenning & Tan, Yongzhong, 2022. "Spatial–temporal characteristics and influencing factors of farmland expansion in different agricultural regions of Heilongjiang Province, China," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    14. Eskinder Gidey & Oagile Dikinya & Reuben Sebego & Eagilwe Segosebe & Amanuel Zenebe & Said Mussa & Paidamwoyo Mhangara & Emiru Birhane, 2023. "Land Use and Land Cover Change Determinants in Raya Valley, Tigray, Northern Ethiopian Highlands," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-15, February.
    15. Fenta, Ayele Almaw & Tsunekawa, Atsushi & Haregeweyn, Nigussie & Tsubo, Mitsuru & Yasuda, Hiroshi & Shimizu, Katsuyuki & Kawai, Takayuki & Ebabu, Kindiye & Berihun, Mulatu Liyew & Sultan, Dagnenet & B, 2020. "Cropland expansion outweighs the monetary effect of declining natural vegetation on ecosystem services in sub-Saharan Africa," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 45(C).
    16. Séverin Biaou & Gerard Nounagnon Gouwakinnou & Honoré Samadori Sorotori Biaou & Marc Sèwanou Tovihessi & Beranger Kohomlan Awessou & Fiacre Codjo Ahononga & Felix Ogoubiyi Houéto, 2022. "Identifying the land use and land cover change drivers: methods and case studies of two forest reserves in Northern Benin," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(8), pages 9885-9905, August.
    17. Beibei Guo & Xiaobin Jin & Yelin Fang & Yinkang Zhou, 2020. "Evaluation of Sustainable Regional Development Combining Remote Sensing Data and Ecological Constraints: A Case Study of Chaohu Basin, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-20, November.
    18. Lu Yu & Dinglong Xie & Xiang Xu, 2022. "Environmental Suitability Evaluation for Human Settlements of Rural Residential Areas in Hengshui, Hebei Province," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-19, November.
    19. Yuhan Wang & Chenyujing Yang & Yuanyuan Zhang & Yongji Xue, 2023. "Mountainous Areas: Alleviating the Shortage of Cultivated Land Caused by Changing Dietary Structure in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-19, July.
    20. Markos Mathewos & Semaria Moga Lencha & Misgena Tsegaye, 2022. "Land Use and Land Cover Change Assessment and Future Predictions in the Matenchose Watershed, Rift Valley Basin, Using CA-Markov Simulation," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-28, September.

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