The study of land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics and the perception of local people in Aykoleba, Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

It is believed that since the advent of agriculture, changes in land use and land cover (LULC) have happened. However, rates, extents and intensities of LULC changes have become more aggravated at all levels. The current study aims to examine the dynamics and perceptions of LULC change in the last four decades in Aykoleba, Ethiopia using a combination of remote sensing data and the ground truth data. Focus group discussions were employed to obtain data on the status of land degradation. Remote sensing data were obtained using Landsat imageries of MSS (1973), Landsat TM, 1986 and 2000, and Landsat ETM+ (2013) with 30 m spatial resolution. ArcGIS10.2 and ERDAS Imagine13.1 were used to generate LULC classes. Accordingly, four LULC classes were identified, of which forest and bare LULC have been augmented by 8.8 and 54.9%, respectively. The escalation in forest cover is associated with plantation of eucalyptus near the home gardens, farmlands, and degraded areas. Nevertheless, open bush and grassland, and cultivated and settlement land cover classes were lessened by 27.4 and 37.8%, respectively although increase in bare land is related to abandonment of the cultivated land in hilly and sloppy areas, and overgrazing, among other factors. The local community perceived that population pressure is a top driver of LULC change in the study area. Overgrazing and lack of appropriate land use policy are also significant causes of change. Thus, the establishment of land use plan and appropriate population policy is recommended in Ethiopia.

Projected patterns of land uses in Africa under a warming climate

“…As a result of social development and environmental factors, land dynamics are continuously changing 18 . In particular, land use changes have been a focal point of debate among researchers especially on the concern of environmental programme 19 – 22 . Land resources provide a variety of ecosystem services that are essential for human survival on earth 23 .…”

Impacts of Integrated Watershed Management Interventions on Land Use/Land Cover of Yesir Watershed in Northwestern Ethiopia

“…Professionals usually use the term land cover/land use: land cover refers to the physical and biological cover of the land's surface [6][7][8][9][10], whereas land use refers to how humans utilize and manage land for various purposes, involving the manipulation and alteration of its natural state [11]. On the other hand, land conversion involves changing the land's use as a result of human activities and interventions [6,12].…”