The Impact of Deforestation on Soil Erosion and Climate Change: Structural Equations Modeling
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2010-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Abeba university
Abstract
The goal of this study is to model the impact of land use system considering deforestation, soil
erosion and climate change using structural equations model through confirmatory factor
analysis technique. Moreover, it aims to provide additional information and also to create
public awareness for effective conservation and utilization of forest and soil resources.
The covariance structure of the land use variables is used to study the linear structural
relations among the model variables. The covariance matrix of the model is used to test
whether structural equations model is overidentified or not and that consistent with the
observed data that was obtained from the Agriculture Department of Gamo-Gofa Zone and
collected since 2005. The confirmatory factor analysis of this study shows that increase of soil
erosion or climate change effect lead to decrease in forest and bush land coverage and change
fertility of land. Thus, new crop land demands have been increased and implemented through
deforestation. Forest and vegetation cover in Gamo-Gofa depleted alarmingly, and as a result
soil erosion and climate change rate speedy. This decline was caused by intensive use of land
through deforestation, overgrazing, clearing trees and grasslands to take it under cultivation.
We advocate the planning and management of land resources that is integrated and holistic
with awareness of land users. This will ensure the long term quality of the land use system.
Key words: climate change, confirmatory factor analysis, deforestation, land use system, soil
erosion, structural equations model
Description
Keywords
Climate Change, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Deforestation, Land Use System, Soil Erosion, Structural Equations Model