The issue of unsustainable groundwater utilization is becoming increasingly an evident problem and the key concern for many developing countries. One of the problems is the absence of updated spatial information on the quantity and distribution of groundwater resource. Like the other developing countries, groundwater evaluation in Ethiopia has been usually conducted using field survey which is not feasible in terms of time and resource. This study was conducted in Northern Ethiopia, Wollo Zone, in Gerardo River Catchment district to spatially delineate the groundwater potential areas using geospatial and MCDA tools. To do so, eight major biophysical and environmental factors like geomorphology, lithology, slope, rainfall, land use land cover (LULC), soil, lineament density and drainage density were considered. The sources of these data were satellite image, digital elevation model (DEM), existing thematic maps and metrological station data. Landsat image was used in ERDAS Imagine to drive the LULC of the area, while the geomorphology, soil, and lithology of the area were identified and classified through field survey and digitized from existing maps using the ArcGIS software. The slope, lineament and drainage density of the area were derived from DEM using spatial analysis tools. The rainfall surface map was generated using the thissen polygon interpolation. Finally, after all these thematic maps were organized, weighted value determination for each factor and its field value was computed using IDRSI software. At last, all the factors were integrated together and computed the model using the weighted overlay so that potential groundwater areas were mapped. The findings depicted that the most potential groundwater areas are found in the central and eastern parts of the study area, while the northern and western parts of the Gerado River Catchment have poor potential of groundwater availability. This is mainly due to the cumulative effect of steep topographic and high drainage density. At last, once the potential groundwater areas were identified, cross validation of the resultant model was carefully carried out using existing data of dung wells and bore holes. The point data of dung wells and bore holes were overlaid on groundwater potential suitability map and coincide with the expected values. Generally, from this study, it can be concluded that RS and GIS with the help of MCDA are important tools in monitoring and evaluation of groundwater resource potential areas.
Abaya-Chamo and other wetlands of Ethiopia provide multiple ecosystem services, they are extremely affected by various anthropogenic factors. The unsustainable use of wetlands stems from the negligence of the users about the wetland degradation and the limited policy attention by decision-makers. This study was aimed at analyzing the livelihood benefits of Abaya-chamo lake-wetland and the driving forces of its degradation. Data were gathered using questionnaire survey of 384 households (selected via systematic random sampling), focus group discussion, interview and field observation. Percent, regression, etc., were used for data analysis. It was found that Abaya-chamo lake-wetland offers fish, timber, firewood, fodder, irrigation water, farmland, rainfall, recreation, tourism, aesthetic, carbon sink, air quality and climate regulation, etc., services to local people. Farm expansion, sedimentation, irrigation, invasive plants (e.g. emboch), open access and overuse of resources, lack of legal framework and rapid population growth were the main causes of the wetland degradation. Applying the lakes’ salty-water for irrigation is expected to lead to chemical land degradation in the next few decades. The invasive emboch-plant results in dwindling aquatic resources (e.g. fish), loss of economic and tour benefits, and change in local climate thereby depleting the lake water, and the dissolved O2 and CO2 storage capacity of the lake-wetland rapidly. The lakes’ salty-water based irrigation is expected to result in chemical land degradation to the extent of abandoning crop farming in the next few decades unless some actions are taken. Thus, the government should formulate clear policy and legal framework about sustainable management of wetland resources.
plus using interview. Supervised classifications (via ERDAS14 and ArcGIS10.5) were applied to detect land use/ land cover classes. Change matrix model and Kappa coefficients were used for analysis of the land use/land cover dynamics in the lake-wetland. It was found that forest; water body, shrub land, agricultural land, settlement and swamp area were the main land use/land cover classes. Wetland/swamp area has continuously declined throughout 1990-2000, 2000-2010 and 2010-2019 where its magnitude of shrinkage in the respective periods was 11.4 % (700 ha), 16 % (867 ha) and 31.3 % (1,424 ha). While 'settlement' and 'water body' of the lakewetland increased at progressively increasing magnitudes of changes in three periods within 1990-2019, 'shrub land' and wetland/'swamp' declined at progressively increasing magnitudes of loss in the same periods. Siltation, rapid population growth-led expansion of settlement and irrigation-based farming were the main drivers of the land use/land cover dynamics and degradation of the lake-wetland. Thus, consistent mapping and integrated actions should be taken to curb the threats on the sustainability of the lake-wetland in Southern Ethiopia. To reduce the impact of LULC dynamics on wetlands, the regime should: advance a clear political, institutional and legal framework for wetland management.
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