Evaluate and analyze land cover change dynamics, driving force and their implications to biodiversity in the western escarpment of the Rift valley

Bibliographic Data

ID21649327
AuthorsTemesgen Dingamo (0000-0002-7285-5185, Biodiversity Research and Conservation Centre, College of Natural Science Arba Minch University Arba Minch Ethiopia, corresponding author), Serekebirhan Takele (0000-0002-1701-2871, Department of Biology, College of Natural and Computational Sciences Minch University Arba Minch Ethiopia), Sebsebe Demissew (0000-0002-0123-9596, Department of Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management Addis Ababa University Addis Ababa Ethiopia), Zerihun Woldu (0000-0003-0319-3883, Department of Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management Addis Ababa University Addis Ababa Ethiopia)
Year2023
Volume34
Issue16
Pages5017-5028
Publication date2023-10-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueLand Degradation and Development (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1085-3278 • E-ISSN: 1099-145X
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1002/ldr.4826
OpenAlexW4385422308
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited52

Land use land cover (LULC) changes are caused by natural and human alterations of the landscape that could largely affect forest biodiversity and the environment. The study aimed to analyze LULC change dynamics and driving forces in the western escarpment of the rift valley of the Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia. Digital satellite images, which are downloaded from USGS, were analyzed using ERDAS Imagine (14) and Arc GIS 10.2 software and supervised image classification was used to generate LULC classification, accuracy assessment, and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Drivers of LULC change were identified and analyzed. Four land classes were identified such as forest, farmland, settlement, and water‐wetlands. Settlement and farmlands have increased by 8% and 6%, respectively. On the other hand, both forest and water‐wetlands decreased by aerial coverage of 9% and 5%, respectively. The overall accuracy of the study area was 92.86%, 94.22%, and 94.3% with a kappa value of 0.902, 0.92, and 0.922, respectively. NDVI values ranged between −0.42 and 0.73. Agricultural expansion (31.4%), expansion of settlement (25.7%) and Fuelwood collection and Charcoal production (22.9%) were the main driving forces that affected the biodiversity of the vegetation in the study area. Integrated land use and policy to protect biodiversity loss, forest degradation and climate changes are deemed necessary

Agricultural land · Agriculture · Biodiversity · Climate change · Escarpment · Geography · Land cover · Land use · Normalized Difference Vegetation Index · Physical geography · Remote sensing · Satellite imagery · Wetland · Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management · Environmental Science · Land Use and Ecosystem Services · Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology · Ecology · Forestry · Geology

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