Landuse/Landcover Dynamics and Land Degradation Susceptibility Analyses in Kutaber Wereda using Geospatial Tools
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Date
2010-06
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Addis Ababa Universty
Abstract
LandUse/landCover changes occurred from 1973 to 2010 and land degradation
susceptibility analyses were investigated in Kutaber wereda of South Wollo Zone;
Amhara regional state, on an area of 719.92 km2 which was monitored using geospatial
tools together with field verifications. In addition to these, different metrological and other
ancillary data were used for the study. The study area is a reflection of the Ethiopian
highland degradation in many ways because of land degradation, deforestation, land
fragmentation, steep slope cultivation are also common features in the study area.
These problems have been the driving forces to Landuse/landcover changes in many
parts of Ethiopia. The objective of this study is to understand and analyze the long term
dynamics of Landuse/landcover change and developing the susceptibility of land
degradation map. Results from landcover change dynamics show an increase in
agricultural land from 21.59% in 1973 to 51.76% in 2010, with mainly at the expense of
grass land, forest land and Shrub land respectively. On the contrary, forest land, shrub
land and grass land decreased from 15.21%, 27.58% and 20.6% in 1973 to1.2%,
21.78% and 4.05% in 2010 respectively. Due to the rapid expansion of urban and rural
settlement in the second period (1986 – 2010) shows that 8.65% of settlement existed in
2010, with mainly at the expense of grass land. Rate of landcover change and landcover
conversion matrix clearly showed that the dynamics of different landcover classes over
the study periods. Land degradation susceptibility map of the study area have been
produced using multi criteria decision evaluation. Five model parameters: slope, landuse
classes, soil type, population and Rain fall intensity have been used to run the
susceptibility model. The result of land degradation susceptibility analyses showed that
12.92% the area is very highly susceptible, 23.74% highly susceptible, 24.34%
susceptible, 25.08% less susceptible and 13.92% very less susceptible to land
degradation. The majority of the area falls on susceptible, highly susceptible and very
highly susceptible to land degradation (61%). The resultant land degradation
susceptibility map along with the Landuse/landcover can serve local planners and
researchers as a primary source of information for NRM of the study area.
Key words: Landuse/Landcover, land degradation susceptibility model, Dynamics.
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Keywords
Landuse/Landcover, land degradation susceptibility model, Dynamics