Modeling land use dynamics in Borkena watershed, Awash River basin, Ethiopia: Implications for sustainable land management
The land use and land cover (LULC) change has far-reaching repercussions on both natural ecosystems and socioeconomic systems worldwide. The objective of this study is to investigate the dynamics of LULC, identify its causes, and evaluate its magnitude over three distinct time intervals (1993–2003,...
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| Format: | Article |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Sustainable Environment |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/27658511.2024.2345461 |
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| author | Engdaye Mersha Sileshi Degefa Mekuria Argaw Wondimagegn Mengist |
| author_facet | Engdaye Mersha Sileshi Degefa Mekuria Argaw Wondimagegn Mengist |
| author_sort | Engdaye Mersha |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The land use and land cover (LULC) change has far-reaching repercussions on both natural ecosystems and socioeconomic systems worldwide. The objective of this study is to investigate the dynamics of LULC, identify its causes, and evaluate its magnitude over three distinct time intervals (1993–2003, 2003–2013, and 2013–2023) in the Borkena watershed. Various methodologies, including remote sensing techniques, field observations, and focus group discussions, were employed to analyze the changes in LULC. Additionally, community perceptions were assessed through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informants Interviews (KIIs). Four LULC classification maps were generated and utilized to analyze land use changes, while image classification was conducted using the maximum likelihood method. The six primary land use and land cover categories considered were forest, cultivated land, shrubland, water bodies, built-up areas, and bare land. The results indicated an increase in settlements (77%), cultivated land (12%), and bare land (7%) between 1993 and 2023, while a decrease in forest cover (10%), shrubland (150%), and water bodies (−101%). These changes were predominantly observed in areas with gentle slopes (0–8%) and low altitudes (0–500 m). The findings suggest a significant expansion of agricultural and urbanization activities within the watershed. Anthropogenic activities such as agriculture and settlement had a more pronounced impact on low-lying and gently sloping areas compared to high-altitude and steep slope regions. Key informants and focus group discussions highlighted rapid population growth, rainfall variability, soil fertility decline, and a scarcity of fuelwood as the primary factors contributing to these changes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-30681de325874a40a9cc4a880927c01c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2765-8511 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sustainable Environment |
| spelling | doaj-art-30681de325874a40a9cc4a880927c01c2024-12-09T16:47:01ZengTaylor & Francis GroupSustainable Environment2765-85112024-12-0110110.1080/27658511.2024.2345461Modeling land use dynamics in Borkena watershed, Awash River basin, Ethiopia: Implications for sustainable land managementEngdaye Mersha0Sileshi Degefa1Mekuria Argaw2Wondimagegn Mengist3Center for Environmental Science, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaNatural resource Management, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, EthiopiaCenter for Environmental Science, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaNatural resource Management, Debre Berhan University, Debre Berhan, EthiopiaThe land use and land cover (LULC) change has far-reaching repercussions on both natural ecosystems and socioeconomic systems worldwide. The objective of this study is to investigate the dynamics of LULC, identify its causes, and evaluate its magnitude over three distinct time intervals (1993–2003, 2003–2013, and 2013–2023) in the Borkena watershed. Various methodologies, including remote sensing techniques, field observations, and focus group discussions, were employed to analyze the changes in LULC. Additionally, community perceptions were assessed through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informants Interviews (KIIs). Four LULC classification maps were generated and utilized to analyze land use changes, while image classification was conducted using the maximum likelihood method. The six primary land use and land cover categories considered were forest, cultivated land, shrubland, water bodies, built-up areas, and bare land. The results indicated an increase in settlements (77%), cultivated land (12%), and bare land (7%) between 1993 and 2023, while a decrease in forest cover (10%), shrubland (150%), and water bodies (−101%). These changes were predominantly observed in areas with gentle slopes (0–8%) and low altitudes (0–500 m). The findings suggest a significant expansion of agricultural and urbanization activities within the watershed. Anthropogenic activities such as agriculture and settlement had a more pronounced impact on low-lying and gently sloping areas compared to high-altitude and steep slope regions. Key informants and focus group discussions highlighted rapid population growth, rainfall variability, soil fertility decline, and a scarcity of fuelwood as the primary factors contributing to these changes.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/27658511.2024.2345461Land useland cover dynamicsland degradationdrivers and causes of LULCCAwash River basinremote sensing |
| spellingShingle | Engdaye Mersha Sileshi Degefa Mekuria Argaw Wondimagegn Mengist Modeling land use dynamics in Borkena watershed, Awash River basin, Ethiopia: Implications for sustainable land management Sustainable Environment Land use land cover dynamics land degradation drivers and causes of LULCC Awash River basin remote sensing |
| title | Modeling land use dynamics in Borkena watershed, Awash River basin, Ethiopia: Implications for sustainable land management |
| title_full | Modeling land use dynamics in Borkena watershed, Awash River basin, Ethiopia: Implications for sustainable land management |
| title_fullStr | Modeling land use dynamics in Borkena watershed, Awash River basin, Ethiopia: Implications for sustainable land management |
| title_full_unstemmed | Modeling land use dynamics in Borkena watershed, Awash River basin, Ethiopia: Implications for sustainable land management |
| title_short | Modeling land use dynamics in Borkena watershed, Awash River basin, Ethiopia: Implications for sustainable land management |
| title_sort | modeling land use dynamics in borkena watershed awash river basin ethiopia implications for sustainable land management |
| topic | Land use land cover dynamics land degradation drivers and causes of LULCC Awash River basin remote sensing |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/27658511.2024.2345461 |
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