Evaluating Biophysical Conservation Practices with Dynamic Land Use and Land Cover in the Highlands of Ethiopia
Ethiopia is one of the sub-Saharan countries affected by land degradation, notably by soil erosion. The government of Ethiopia has launched an extensive biophysical soil and water conservation (SWC) effort each year to address the problem. These practices were installed on varying land use and land...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Land |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/12/2187 |
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| author | Meseret B. Addisie Gashaw Molla Menberu Teshome Gebiaw T. Ayele |
| author_facet | Meseret B. Addisie Gashaw Molla Menberu Teshome Gebiaw T. Ayele |
| author_sort | Meseret B. Addisie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ethiopia is one of the sub-Saharan countries affected by land degradation, notably by soil erosion. The government of Ethiopia has launched an extensive biophysical soil and water conservation (SWC) effort each year to address the problem. These practices were installed on varying land use and land cover (LULC) systems. Despite the fact that the interventions covered the majority of the landmasses, there were no quantitative data on the scale of biophysical measures with the change in land use and land cover. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate biophysical conservation practices with dynamic land use and land cover in the highlands of Ethiopia. The study focused on districts of the Amhara regional state’s South Gondar zone. A mixed research methodology was employed to gather pertinent data for the study. The dynamics of LULC were analyzed using satellite images acquired between 1990 and 2020. Biophysical conservation measures’ data and qualitative information were collected from the zonal office of agriculture. Twelve years’ worth of biophysical SWC measures data were used for the study. The results indicate that cultivated land makes up the majority of land use and land cover. Bunds built on cultivated land account for 93% of conservation practices. During the study period, there was a significant decline of biophysical conservation practices implementation in each district. Although plantation was used on a wider scale, it was unable to sustain physical SWC practices or expand forest cover in the region. In addition, lack of integrated maintenance for early installed structures decreases the effectiveness of SWC measures. In conclusion, the dynamics of LULC have a significant impact on the magnitude of biophysical conservation measures. Therefore, watershed managers shall consider the spatio-temporal variation of LULC while planning conservation practices. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:12:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8022922fcd90444da53dff94e00bbc55 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:12:05Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj.art-8022922fcd90444da53dff94e00bbc552023-11-24T16:06:52ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2022-12-011112218710.3390/land11122187Evaluating Biophysical Conservation Practices with Dynamic Land Use and Land Cover in the Highlands of EthiopiaMeseret B. Addisie0Gashaw Molla1Menberu Teshome2Gebiaw T. Ayele3Guna Tana Integrated Field Research and Development Center, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor P.O.Box 272, EthiopiaDepartment of Geography and Environmental Studies, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar P.O.Box 79, EthiopiaDepartment of Geography and Environmental Studies, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor P.O.Box 272, EthiopiaAustralian Rivers Institute, School of Engineering and Built Environment, Griffith University, Nathan, QLD 4111, AustraliaEthiopia is one of the sub-Saharan countries affected by land degradation, notably by soil erosion. The government of Ethiopia has launched an extensive biophysical soil and water conservation (SWC) effort each year to address the problem. These practices were installed on varying land use and land cover (LULC) systems. Despite the fact that the interventions covered the majority of the landmasses, there were no quantitative data on the scale of biophysical measures with the change in land use and land cover. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate biophysical conservation practices with dynamic land use and land cover in the highlands of Ethiopia. The study focused on districts of the Amhara regional state’s South Gondar zone. A mixed research methodology was employed to gather pertinent data for the study. The dynamics of LULC were analyzed using satellite images acquired between 1990 and 2020. Biophysical conservation measures’ data and qualitative information were collected from the zonal office of agriculture. Twelve years’ worth of biophysical SWC measures data were used for the study. The results indicate that cultivated land makes up the majority of land use and land cover. Bunds built on cultivated land account for 93% of conservation practices. During the study period, there was a significant decline of biophysical conservation practices implementation in each district. Although plantation was used on a wider scale, it was unable to sustain physical SWC practices or expand forest cover in the region. In addition, lack of integrated maintenance for early installed structures decreases the effectiveness of SWC measures. In conclusion, the dynamics of LULC have a significant impact on the magnitude of biophysical conservation measures. Therefore, watershed managers shall consider the spatio-temporal variation of LULC while planning conservation practices.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/12/2187land degradationland use land coverbiophysical measuresmaintenancesustainability |
| spellingShingle | Meseret B. Addisie Gashaw Molla Menberu Teshome Gebiaw T. Ayele Evaluating Biophysical Conservation Practices with Dynamic Land Use and Land Cover in the Highlands of Ethiopia Land land degradation land use land cover biophysical measures maintenance sustainability |
| title | Evaluating Biophysical Conservation Practices with Dynamic Land Use and Land Cover in the Highlands of Ethiopia |
| title_full | Evaluating Biophysical Conservation Practices with Dynamic Land Use and Land Cover in the Highlands of Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | Evaluating Biophysical Conservation Practices with Dynamic Land Use and Land Cover in the Highlands of Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluating Biophysical Conservation Practices with Dynamic Land Use and Land Cover in the Highlands of Ethiopia |
| title_short | Evaluating Biophysical Conservation Practices with Dynamic Land Use and Land Cover in the Highlands of Ethiopia |
| title_sort | evaluating biophysical conservation practices with dynamic land use and land cover in the highlands of ethiopia |
| topic | land degradation land use land cover biophysical measures maintenance sustainability |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/11/12/2187 |
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