IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v7y2018i1p32-d135567.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Forest Cover Change, Key Drivers and Community Perception in Wujig Mahgo Waren Forest of Northern Ethiopia

Author

Listed:
  • Negasi Solomon

    (Department of Land Resources Management and Environmental Protection, Mekelle University, P.O. Box 231, 7000 Mekelle, Ethiopia)

  • Hadgu Hishe

    (Department of Land Resources Management and Environmental Protection, Mekelle University, P.O. Box 231, 7000 Mekelle, Ethiopia
    Division Forest, Nature, Landscape, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200E, P.O. Box 2411, 3001 Leuven, Belgium)

  • Ted Annang

    (Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 571, 00233 Accra, Ghana)

  • Opoku Pabi

    (Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 571, 00233 Accra, Ghana)

  • Isaac K Asante

    (Department of Botany, University of Ghana, P.O. Box LG 571, 00233 Accra, Ghana)

  • Emiru Birhane

    (Department of Land Resources Management and Environmental Protection, Mekelle University, P.O. Box 231, 7000 Mekelle, Ethiopia
    Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003, No-1432 Ås, Norway)

Abstract

This study assessed forest cover change from 1985 to 2016, analyzed community perception on forest cover change and its drivers, and suggested possible solutions in northern Ethiopia. Landsat images of 1985, 2000 and 2016, household interviews and focus group discussions were used. While dense forests and open forests increased by 8.2% and 32.3% respectively between 1985 and 2000, they decreased by 10.4% and 9.8% respectively from 2000 to 2016. Grasslands and cultivated land decreased in the first period by 37.3% and 5.5% but increased in the second period by 89.5% and 28.5% respectively. Fuel wood collection, cultivated land expansion, population growth; free grazing, logging for income generation and drought were the major drivers of the change reported by local communities. Soil erosion, reduction in honey bee production, flooding and drought were the most perceived impacts of the changes. Most of the farmers have a holistic understanding of forest cover change. Strengthening of forest protection, improving soil and water conservation, enrichment planting, awareness creation, payment for ecosystem services and zero grazing campaigns were mentioned as possible solutions to the current state of deforestation. In addition, concerted efforts of conservation will ensure that the forests’ ecosystems contribute to increased ecosystem services.

Suggested Citation

  • Negasi Solomon & Hadgu Hishe & Ted Annang & Opoku Pabi & Isaac K Asante & Emiru Birhane, 2018. "Forest Cover Change, Key Drivers and Community Perception in Wujig Mahgo Waren Forest of Northern Ethiopia," Land, MDPI, vol. 7(1), pages 1-16, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:7:y:2018:i:1:p:32-:d:135567
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/7/1/32/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/7/1/32/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sisay Nune Hailemariam & Teshome Soromessa & Demel Teketay, 2016. "Land Use and Land Cover Change in the Bale Mountain Eco-Region of Ethiopia during 1985 to 2015," Land, MDPI, vol. 5(4), pages 1-22, November.
    2. Asfaw, Adanech & Lemenih, Mulugeta & Kassa, Habtemariam & Ewnetu, Zeleke, 2013. "Importance, determinants and gender dimensions of forest income in eastern highlands of Ethiopia: The case of communities around Jelo Afromontane forest," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 1-7.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Toru Sakai & Emiru Birhane & Buruh Abebe & Destaalem Gebremeskel, 2021. "Applicability of Structure-from-Motion Photogrammetry on Forest Measurement in the Northern Ethiopian Highlands," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-14, May.
    2. Negasi Solomon & Alcade C. Segnon & Emiru Birhane, 2019. "Ecosystem Service Values Changes in Response to Land-Use/Land-Cover Dynamics in Dry Afromontane Forest in Northern Ethiopia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-15, November.
    3. Sumaryanto & Sri Hery Susilowati & Fitri Nurfatriani & Herlina Tarigan & Erwidodo & Tahlim Sudaryanto & Henri Wira Perkasa, 2022. "Determinants of Farmers’ Behavior towards Land Conservation Practices in the Upper Citarum Watershed in West Java, Indonesia," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-21, October.
    4. Dilnessa Gashaye & Zerihun Woldu & Sileshi Nemomissa & Enyew Adgo, 2023. "The Land-Use and Land-Cover Changes in the Este District, South Gondar Zone, Northwestern Ethiopia, in the Last Four Decades (the 1980s to 2020s)," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-18, August.
    5. Mohamed Ali Mohamed, 2021. "An Assessment of Forest Cover Change and Its Driving Forces in the Syrian Coastal Region during a Period of Conflict, 2010 to 2020," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(2), pages 1-25, February.
    6. Jia Zhao & Yuluan Zhao & Xiaopiao Yang, 2022. "Evolution Characteristics and Driving Mechanism of the Territorial Space Pattern in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, China," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-29, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Negasi Solomon & Alcade C. Segnon & Emiru Birhane, 2019. "Ecosystem Service Values Changes in Response to Land-Use/Land-Cover Dynamics in Dry Afromontane Forest in Northern Ethiopia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-15, November.
    2. Belay Manjur Gebru & Woo-Kyun Lee & Asia Khamzina & Sonam Wangyel Wang & Sungeun Cha & Cholho Song & Munkhansan Lamchin, 2021. "Spatiotemporal multi-index analysis of desertification in dry Afromontane forests of northern Ethiopia," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(1), pages 423-450, January.
    3. Su Wu & Neema Simon Sumari & Ting Dong & Gang Xu & Yanfang Liu, 2021. "Characterizing Urban Expansion Combining Concentric-Ring and Grid-Based Analysis for Latin American Cities," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-14, April.
    4. Hishe, Hadgu & Giday, Kidane & Van Orshoven, Jos & Muys, Bart & Taheri, Fatemeh & Azadi, Hossein & Feng, Lei & Zamani, Omid & Mirzaei, Mohsen & Witlox, Frank, 2021. "Analysis of Land Use Land Cover Dynamics and Driving Factors in Desa’a Forest in Northern Ethiopia," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C).
    5. Tola Gemechu Ango & Kristoffer Hylander & Lowe Börjeson, 2020. "Processes of Forest Cover Change since 1958 in the Coffee-Producing Areas of Southwest Ethiopia," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-29, August.
    6. Dennis Etemesi Olumeh & Dagmar Mithöfer, 2024. "Impact of collective action on household welfare: Empirical evidence from baobab collectors in Malawi," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 95(2), pages 385-411, June.
    7. Amadu, Festus O. & Miller, Daniel C., 2024. "The impact of forest product collection and processing on household income in rural Liberia," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    8. Worku, Adefires & Pretzsch, Jürgen & Kassa, Habtemariam & Auch, Eckhard, 2014. "The significance of dry forest income for livelihood resilience: The case of the pastoralists and agro-pastoralists in the drylands of southeastern Ethiopia," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 51-59.
    9. Olumeh, Dennis Etemesi & Mithöfer, Dagmar, 2023. "Gender gaps in the collection and marketing of an underutilized plant species – Baobab in Malawi," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    10. 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).
    11. Shackleton, Charlie M. & Pandey, Ashok K., 2014. "Positioning non-timber forest products on the development agenda," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 1-7.
    12. Sadeghi, Azin & Zhunusova, Eliza & Günter, Sven & Dieter, Matthias, 2023. "Households' livelihood in restricted forest landscapes: What is the impact of contextual factors?," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    13. 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.
    14. Mazhar Biland & Alam Zeb & Ayat Ullah & Harald Kaechele, 2021. "Why Do Households Depend on the Forest for Income? Analysis of Factors Influencing Households’ Decision-Making Behaviors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-17, August.
    15. Wakjira Takala Dibaba & Tamene Adugna Demissie & Konrad Miegel, 2020. "Drivers and Implications of Land Use/Land Cover Dynamics in Finchaa Catchment, Northwestern Ethiopia," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-20, April.
    16. Girma, Jony & Gardebroek, Cornelis, 2015. "The impact of contracts on organic honey producers' incomes in southwestern Ethiopia," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 259-268.
    17. Bitzer, Verena & Moździerz, Monika & Kuijpers, Rob & Schouten, Greetje & Juju, Denabo Billo, 2024. "Gender and forest resources in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic literature review," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    18. 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).
    19. Ameha, Aklilu & Nielsen, Oystein Juul & Larsen, Helle Overgard, 2014. "Impacts of access and benefit sharing on livelihoods and forest: Case of participatory forest management in Ethiopia," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 162-171.
    20. Sonam Wangyel Wang & Belay Manjur Gebru & Munkhnasan Lamchin & Rijan Bhakta Kayastha & Woo-Kyun Lee, 2020. "Land Use and Land Cover Change Detection and Prediction in the Kathmandu District of Nepal Using Remote Sensing and GIS," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-18, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:7:y:2018:i:1:p:32-:d:135567. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.