Forest Cover Change Detection and Fire Risk Susceptibility Mapping Using Gis and Remote Sensing: Case of Goba Woreda.
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Date
2008-07
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Addis Ababa Universty
Abstract
Goba woreda, despite its economical, hydrological, and biological importance both nationally
and globally, the forest of the area is under serious threat owing to deforestation and forest fire.
As a consequence, the forest cover of the area has been deteriorating and endemic tree species
are under sever anthropogenic impacts. The aim of the present study is to determine the extent
and the rate of deforestation as well as pattern of forest cover change over the past twenty seven
years (1973 -2000). Besides, it also attempts to map forest fire risk susceptibility of the forest of
the area using GIS and remote sensing techniques. Landsat MSS 1973 and Landsat ETM+ 2000
satellite imageries have been used to determine extent & rate of deforestation and pattern of
change. Both spectral (NDVI) and post classification change detection techniques have been
used to determine the forest cover change of the woreda. The forests of the area which consists of
Erica bush land, moist montane forest, dry ever green forest and plantation. Among the forest
classes, moist montane forest and dry ever green forests are experiencing intensive human
pressure. In 1973, 62.7% (101086 ha) of the woreda was covered by forest where as the
coverage dropped to 56.2 % (90603 ha) in 2000. The coverage decreased by 10.4 % within this
period and it has amounted to 388.3 ha (0.2 % of the total area) deforested per year.
Intensification of agricultural activities in the forest territories takes the lion share for the cause
of deforestation. Seven factors such as NDVI value, vegetation type, aspect, slope, elevation
and distance from settlement and roads have been taken in to consideration to examine the
susceptibility of the forest to fire. The forest fire susceptibility result revealed that 35 %, 25 %, 21
% and 18 % of the forest of the woreda are categorized under the moderate, high, low and very
high susceptibility level respectively. Searching fresh pasture land is the underlying cause forest
fire.
Key words: Deforestation, forest fire risk susceptibility, GIS, Remote sensing.
Description
Keywords
Deforestation, Forest fire risk susceptibility, GIS, Remote sensing