EQA (Jun 2023)
Assessment of land use land cover dynamics and its contributing factors in Adama district, central Ethiopia
Abstract
Land use land cover change has resulted negative consequences for the quality of environment and life of rural livelihoods in Ethiopia in general and the study area in particular. The aim of this study was to investigate the spatial and temporal Land Use/Land Cover Changes and its contributing factors in Adama District, Oromia regional sate, central Ethiopia. The three periods of satellite imageries (Landsat 4-5TM 1990, Landsat7 ETM+ 2000 and Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS 2020) were used to detect the changes. By using simple random sampling technique, 240 respondents were selected, and questionnaires, interviews and field observations were used to collect the data. The collected data were analyzed by using ArcGIS 10.5; ERDAS imagine 2015, SPSS version 23 and excels 2010 software. The determinants variables of land use land cover changes were assessed using multiple regression model. The results showed that there was continuous expansion of cultivated land and settlement area, which increased by the rate of 935.3 and 797.1 hectares per year respectively during the study period of 1990 to 2020. On the other hand, water bodies, forest and shrub land reduced with rate of (-112.03), (-870.2), (-759) hectares per year respectively. This indicates that an increased deforestation together with poor land management practices has accelerated land cover changes. Rapid urbanization, settlement expansion and population growth, expansion of agricultural land, need for fuel wood and construction materials are the main driving forces to the land use /cover dynamics in the district. This suggest that there is a need to protect the fragile environment by implementing sustainable land management practice through integrated participatory approach. Besides, long and short term training need to be arranged for all farmers/stakeholders toward land use land cover changes of the district.
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