Synergetic Impact of Drought and Land Use and Land Cover Change on Livelihood Systems in the Northwestern Escarpment of Ethiopian Rift Valley
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Date
2022-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Drought and centuries of persistent land exploitation have resulted in food insecure communities and significant environmental changes in Northwestern Escarpment Ethiopian Rift Valley. The study evaluated the climate variability, drought trends, LULC change, and drought vulnerability in three livelihood zones (LZ) from 1983 to 2019. Socioeconomic surveys, meteorological data, and Landsat images were employed in the study. The study discovered significantly increased seasonal and annual temperature trends in all studied LZ. Significant annual (31–50%) and seasonal (39–99%) rainfall variability were recorded in the study LZs. Drought was revisited every 2.13, 2.2, and 2.13 years and persisted for 1.5, 1.9, and 1.7 years in Alagie-Ofla livelihood zones (ALOFLZ), Tsirare catchment livelihood zone (TCLZ), and Raya valley livelihood zone (RVLZ), respectively. Of the total areas, 82%, 72%, and 77% of RVLZ, ALOFLZ, and TCLZ changed between identified LULC categories. There were no climaxes LULC types within the study years in all LZs. These cumulative effects have impacted agricultural productivities and local ecosystems in the areas, particularly the RVLZ. This study enabled the researchers to investigate how synergetic drought and LULC change affect livelihood systems. The study hints at improving the current drought impact and LULC changes monitoring system of the country.
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Keywords
Climate Variability, Drought, Land Use and Land Cover Change, Livelihood System, Synergetic Impacts