Landscape-based upstream-downstream prevalence of land-use/cover change drivers in southeastern rift escarpment of Ethiopia

Abstract

Characterized by high population density on a rugged topography, the Gedeo-Abaya landscape dominantly contains a multi-strata traditional agroforests showing the insight of Gedeo farmers on natural resource management practices. Currently, this area has been losing its resilience and is becoming unable to sustain its inhabitants. Based on both RS-derived and GIS-computed land-use/cover changes (LUCC) as well as socioeconomic validations, this article explored the LUCC and agroecological-based driver patterns in Gedeo-Abaya landscape from 1986 to 2015. A combination of geo-spatial technology and cross-sectional survey design were employed to detect the drivers behind these changes. The article discussed that LUCC and the prevalence of drivers are highly diverse and vary throughout agroecological zones. Except for the population, most downstream top drivers are perceived as insignificant in the upstream region and vice versa. In the downstream, land-use/cover (LUC) classes are more dynamic, diverse, and challenged by nearly all anticipated drivers than are upstream ones. Agroforestry LUC has been increasing (by 25% of its initial cover) and is becoming the predominant cover type, although socioeconomic analysis and related findings show its rapid LUC modification. A rapid reduction of woodland/shrubland (63%) occurred in the downstream, while wetland/marshy land increased threefold (158%), from 1986 to 2015 with annual change rates of - 3.7 and + 6%, respectively. Land degradation induced by changes in land use is a serious problem in Africa, especially in the densely populated sub-Saharan regions such as Ethiopia (FAO 2015). Throughout the landscape, LUCC is prominently affecting land-use system of the study landscape due to population pressure in the upstream region and drought/rainfall variability, agribusiness investment, and charcoaling in the downstream that necessitate urgent action.

Variation in Ecosystem Service Values in an Agroforestry Dominated Landscape in Ethiopia: Implications for Land Use and Conservation Policy

“…The downstream part mostly covers the pastoral and agropastoral plain of the study landscape, within semi-arid agroecology below 1500 m a.s.l. (Figure 1), and is sparsely populated when compared to the areas upstream [37]. Abaya woreda is found in the northern zonal periphery, with a closer socioeconomic and cultural link to the Gedeo people.…”

“…The LULC datasets we used were mainly obtained from Temesgen et al [37]: three LUC maps at a 1:100,000 scale derived from Landsat images with 30 m resolution in 1986, 2000, and 2015. Datasets selection was limited to clear sky periods, during periods of the lowest possible seasonal moisture content and lowest percent monthly cloud cover, to minimize the highland cloud effect and related reflectance discrepancies caused by seasonal vegetation fluxes and sun angle differences [38,39].…”

Drivers of Land Use-Land Cover Changes in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia

“…Such expansion in agricultural investment is partly driven by global market forces and subsequent government policy changes to attract foreign direct investment. Previous studies also mentioned population growth and subsequent agricultural land expansion as a major driver of rapid LULC dynamics in Ethiopia (Bewket & Abebe 2013;Dessie & Kleman 2007;Temesgen et al 2018).…”

“…All the remaining socioeconomic variables namely: gender, number of families, size of land holding, income, and distance to nearest market center didn't significantly affect farmers' awareness towards both institutional and policy change, and market and infrastructure access as a driver of LULCC. Though less perceived by interviewee farmers, studies show that policy and institutional changes (Biazin & Sterk 2013;Hassen & Assen 2018), settlement, access to market and infrastructure (Kindu et al 2015), livelihood change, and investment expansion (Temesgen et al 2018) are also other important drivers of LULCC in Ethiopia. For instance, the 1974 government change has followed by radical land use policy reforms in Ethiopian history in which land held by the monarchic system for centuries had been handed over to peasants ('land to tillers') through 1975 proclamation for the first time in Ethiopian (Nega et al 2003).…”

Local community perceptions toward livelihood and water–energy–food nexus: A perspective on food security

“…Food security is a very critical concern in the area, and our survey indicates that the majority of people living in the lower part of the sub‐basin are very susceptible to recurrent drought, food insecurity, and extreme poverty (Temesgen, Wu, Legesse, Yirsaw, & Bekele, 2018). The water source known as lake Abaya, has become a source for fishing and salt extraction.…”