Abstract
Drastic changes have occurred in Siti zone rangeland over nearly the last three decades, due to rapid land conversion dynamics in the area. In the zone, the land-use change over time and space and temporal trends rangeland condition have never been studied. This study analyzed land use and land cover (LULC) change dynamics since the 1980s. Three dates, 1985, 2001 and 2017, Landsat images were used for classification and analysis of the various LULC. The three images were geo-referenced, re-sampled and processed for classification, using the maximum likelihood classifier algorithm. Moreover, field observations and information from local people were used for triangulation to patterns LULC dynamics. From 1985 to 2017, the general trend observed in the land use/cover change in the rangeland resources in the study districts implies a loss of grassland cover was compensated by an increase in cultivated areas, settlement and shrub/bush land cover. Moreover, the encroachments of invasive plant, Prosopis, settlement and the promotion of cultivation to pastoral way of livelihood have exacerbated the decline of rangeland cover. The study findings have shown important changes in the LULC patterns in the north-eastern Somali rangelands of eastern Ethiopia. These trends are certainly the characteristics of a pastoral way of life turn to settlement. This suggests that major changes in the socio-ecological driving forces affecting landscape dynamics have occurred in the last three decades or so.
Highlights
Somali Regional State (SRS), a major pastoral ecosystem in East Africa, has a total land area of about 327,000 km2, of which about 90% is classified as rangeland [1]
From 1985 to 2017, the general trend observed in the land use/cover change in the rangeland resources in the study districts implies a loss of grassland cover was compensated by an increase in cultivated areas, settlement and shrub/bush land cover
The study findings have shown important changes in the land use and land cover (LULC) patterns in the north-eastern Somali rangelands of eastern Ethiopia
Summary
Somali Regional State (SRS), a major pastoral ecosystem in East Africa, has a total land area of about 327,000 km, of which about 90% is classified as rangeland [1]. The rangelands are suitable for pastoralism, more than 80% of the populations in the SRS depend fully or partially on livestock production for their livelihood [1], so it is the dominant types of land-use systems in the region [2]. Livestock production serves pastoralists as a source of food, cash, social security and status, transport and pack animals [3]. Recent studies on total economic valuation of pastoralism in Ethiopia have shown that 45% of agricultural GDP is sourced from livestock sector in 2008/09 and almost all of Ethiopia’s live animal and meat exports come from pastoral areas of the country [4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
