Human pressure and the abrupt changes on the natural environment: The case of Eritrean refugee settlements in the North western Tigray, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study investigated human induced changes to land use and land cover in three areas of Ethiopia that were occupied by Eritrean refugees, over a period of 10–18 years. Three years of Landsat satellite images were acquired from the U.S. Geological Survey. To detect changes, we used cloud free Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper for the years 2000 and 2010, and Landsat-8 Operational Land Imager and Thermal Infrared Sensor for 2017 for data interpretation. Significant changes were observed including significant loss of forests in all three refuges areas and an increment ion cultivated land in two areas (an average of 122%) except in one area where it reduced by 79.8%. Changes in the other classes of land use and land cover were also observed but at different rates. Our results demonstrate that alternative energy sources that replace firewood consumption are needed, as well as diversification of sources of income, such as off-farm activities, in order to improve the livelihood of the host community.