Dynamics of land use and land cover changes in Huluka watershed of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Gemechu Shale Ogato,Davide Geneletti,Amare Bantider

doi:10.1186/s40068-021-00218-4

Gemechu Shale Ogato, Davide Geneletti + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s40068-021-00218-4

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Abstract

BackgroundLand use and land cover changes in urbanized watersheds of developing countries like Ethiopia are underpinned by the complex interaction of different actors, driving forces, and the land itself. Land conversion due to residential development, economic growth, and transportation is identified as the most serious environmental pressure on urbanized landscapes of the world. It results in the degradation of natural vegetation and significant increases in impervious surfaces. The purpose of the study was to analyze spatio-teporal changes in land use and land cover in the Huluka watershed with implications to sustainable development in the watershed.ResultsForest land, cultivated land, urban built-up, bush/shrub land, bare land, grassland, and water body were identified as the seven types of land use and land cover in the Huluka watershed. Forest land decreased by 59.3% at an average rate of 164.52 ha/year between 1979 and 2017. Bush/ shrub land decreased by 68.2% at an average rate of 318.71 ha/year between 1979 and 2017. Grassland decreased by 32.7% at an average rate of 228.65 ha/year between 1979 and 2017. Water body decreased by 5.1% at an average rate of 1.06 ha/year between 1979 and 2017. Urban built-up area increased by 351% at an average rate of 16.20 ha/year between 1979 and 2017. Cultivated land increased by 105.3% at an average rate of 692.76 ha/year between 1979 and 2017. Bare land increased by 41.9% at an average rate of 4.00 ha/year between 1979 and 2017. Infrastructural and agricultural expansion, increased demand for wood, local environmental and biophysical drivers, rapid human population growth, economic drivers, technological drivers, policy and institutional drivers, and local socio-cultural drivers were perceived by residents as drivers of land use and land cover changes. Increased flooding risk, increased soil erosion, increased sedimentation into water resources like lakes and rivers, decrease in soil fertility, loss of biodiversity, loss of springs, decrease in annual rainfall, and increase in heat during the dry season were perceived by residents as negative local effects of land use and land cover changes.ConclusionsChanges in land use and land cover in the study water shade imply the need for integrating sustainable watershed planning and management into natural resources management strategies. In other words, practices of appropriate land use planning and management, family planning, participatory planning and management, appropriate environmental impact assessment (EIA), and proper planning and management of development projects and programmes are of paramount importance to promote sustainable development in the Huluka watershed and beyond.

Highlights

Land use and land cover changes in urbanized watersheds of developing countries like Ethiopia are underpinned by the complex interaction of different actors, driving forces, and the land itself
Forest land use and land cover in the watershed is characterized by areas covered with dense trees including Eucalyptus and Coniferous trees, and riverine trees
Bush/shrub land use and land cover is characterized by land with shrubs and bushes and scattered small trees mixed with grasses

Summary

Introduction

Land use and land cover changes in urbanized watersheds of developing countries like Ethiopia are underpinned by the complex interaction of different actors, driving forces, and the land itself. Land use and land cover changes in urbanized watersheds of developing countries like Ethiopia are underpinned by the complex interaction of different actors, Ogato et al Environ Syst Res (2021) 10:10 driving forces, and the land itself (Zeleke 2000; Bewket 2003; Li et al 2009; Claes et al 2012; Fura 2013; Hall et al 2014) In other words, it is mostly seen as the result of the complex interaction between changes in social and economic opportunities linked with the biophysical environment (Tucci 2007; Jha et al 2012; Berggren et al 2013; Dodman et al 2013; Mngutyo & Ogwuche 2013). High population growth rate and negative local impacts of climate change are confirmed to exacerbate the changes leading to modification or complete replacement of the land surface in rapidly urbanizing Ethiopian cities and towns with different environmental implications (Cordaid and IIRR 2011; Berggren et al 2013; Fura 2013; Mngutyo and Ogwuche 2013; Ogato 2013; Hao et al 2015; Ogato et al 2017; Ogato et al 2020)

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