The impacts of land use/cover changes on values of ecosystem service in Tul watershed, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

There has been a rise in interest in the relationship between ecosystem service values and land cover change resulting from sustainable land management. Changes in land use/cover caused by soil and water conservation practices combined with plantation practices can have an impact on the values systems of ecosystem service. The study aims to address the issue of how changes in land use/cover influence ecosystem values in Ethiopia’s Tul watershed. To estimate ecosystem service values in the study watershed, the benefits transfer method of the modified value coefficient was used. The total ESV decreased by US$4.2 million between 1990 and 2010 while increasing by US$4.3 million between 2010 and 2021. The expansion of plantation practices in the watershed contributes to the improvement of the values of ecosystem service. The major ecosystem functions that influence changes in the ecosystem service values are climate regulation, erosion control, waste treatment, and the nutrient cycle. It is concluded that there needs to be scaled up the controlled management of natural forests and shrublands in steep slope areas, and sustainable plantation practices enhance the values of ecosystem service.