Land use land cover change in and around Chebera Churchura National Park, Southwestern Ethiopia: implications for management effectiveness
Abstract Background Land use-land cover change (LULCC) resulting from anthropogenic activities has been one of the major causes of loss of biodiversity globally. Thus, understanding the dynamics of such LULCC, especially within protected areas, is important to assess their past-present management ef...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SpringerOpen
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Environmental Systems Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40068-022-00267-3 |
| _version_ | 1811233590276521984 |
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| author | Temesgen Yadeta Zewdu Kelkay Tessema Fanuel Kebede Girma Mengesha Addisu Asefa |
| author_facet | Temesgen Yadeta Zewdu Kelkay Tessema Fanuel Kebede Girma Mengesha Addisu Asefa |
| author_sort | Temesgen Yadeta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Land use-land cover change (LULCC) resulting from anthropogenic activities has been one of the major causes of loss of biodiversity globally. Thus, understanding the dynamics of such LULCC, especially within protected areas, is important to assess their past-present management effectiveness, identify the driving forces and assist future implementation of mitigation measures. The objectives of this study, based on satellite images analysis, were to examine and describe patterns of LULCC within and in the buffer zone area of Chebera Churchura National Park, SW Ethiopia, at five points in time (1985, 1991, 2000, 2010, and 2020); and to examine management effectiveness of the park authority in slowing down the rate of LULCCs after the establishment of the park. Results Results showed that different land cover types exhibited varying patterns of change over the last 35 years. However, major differences were detected between the park area boundary and its buffer zone area after establishment of the park. From the year 1991 to 2000 (before the establishment), grassland declined by 52.9% (120.55km2) and 58.9% (151.9km2) within the park boundary and its buffer zone, respectively. After the establishment, grassland continued to decline only in the buffer zone. Similarly, agricultural land declined by 13.2% (2.7 km2) within the park but expanded by 5.4% (3.1 km2) in the buffer zone prior to park establishment. However, after establishment of the park, agricultural land in the buffer zone increased by 99.4% (99.7 km2). Grassland and wooded grassland had the opposite trend within the park area before vs after the establishment of the park. Conclusions Results of the present study showed that striking differences in the rates of LULCCs within the park area and its buffer zone after establishment of the park, with the implication that the management is effective in slowing down LULCC relative to that in the buffer zone areas. In sum, this study would serve as a showcase on cost-effective means to assess human impacts on biodiversity in protected areas due to policy changes. Findings of the study would serve as a bench mark to evaluate future management effectives of the park authority. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T11:23:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a1bd27cd9b804174a8c86ddb952703f5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2193-2697 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T11:23:36Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Systems Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-a1bd27cd9b804174a8c86ddb952703f52022-12-22T03:35:18ZengSpringerOpenEnvironmental Systems Research2193-26972022-11-0111111510.1186/s40068-022-00267-3Land use land cover change in and around Chebera Churchura National Park, Southwestern Ethiopia: implications for management effectivenessTemesgen Yadeta0Zewdu Kelkay Tessema1Fanuel Kebede2Girma Mengesha3Addisu Asefa4Rangeland Ecology and Biodiversity Program, Haramaya UniversityDepartment of Natural Resources Management, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Debark UniversityDepartment of Wildlife and Their Habitat Research, Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation AuthorityWondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources, Hawassa UniversityDepartment of Wildlife and Their Habitat Research, Ethiopian Wildlife Conservation AuthorityAbstract Background Land use-land cover change (LULCC) resulting from anthropogenic activities has been one of the major causes of loss of biodiversity globally. Thus, understanding the dynamics of such LULCC, especially within protected areas, is important to assess their past-present management effectiveness, identify the driving forces and assist future implementation of mitigation measures. The objectives of this study, based on satellite images analysis, were to examine and describe patterns of LULCC within and in the buffer zone area of Chebera Churchura National Park, SW Ethiopia, at five points in time (1985, 1991, 2000, 2010, and 2020); and to examine management effectiveness of the park authority in slowing down the rate of LULCCs after the establishment of the park. Results Results showed that different land cover types exhibited varying patterns of change over the last 35 years. However, major differences were detected between the park area boundary and its buffer zone area after establishment of the park. From the year 1991 to 2000 (before the establishment), grassland declined by 52.9% (120.55km2) and 58.9% (151.9km2) within the park boundary and its buffer zone, respectively. After the establishment, grassland continued to decline only in the buffer zone. Similarly, agricultural land declined by 13.2% (2.7 km2) within the park but expanded by 5.4% (3.1 km2) in the buffer zone prior to park establishment. However, after establishment of the park, agricultural land in the buffer zone increased by 99.4% (99.7 km2). Grassland and wooded grassland had the opposite trend within the park area before vs after the establishment of the park. Conclusions Results of the present study showed that striking differences in the rates of LULCCs within the park area and its buffer zone after establishment of the park, with the implication that the management is effective in slowing down LULCC relative to that in the buffer zone areas. In sum, this study would serve as a showcase on cost-effective means to assess human impacts on biodiversity in protected areas due to policy changes. Findings of the study would serve as a bench mark to evaluate future management effectives of the park authority.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40068-022-00267-3AgricultureFireForestGrasslandGrazingProtected area |
| spellingShingle | Temesgen Yadeta Zewdu Kelkay Tessema Fanuel Kebede Girma Mengesha Addisu Asefa Land use land cover change in and around Chebera Churchura National Park, Southwestern Ethiopia: implications for management effectiveness Environmental Systems Research Agriculture Fire Forest Grassland Grazing Protected area |
| title | Land use land cover change in and around Chebera Churchura National Park, Southwestern Ethiopia: implications for management effectiveness |
| title_full | Land use land cover change in and around Chebera Churchura National Park, Southwestern Ethiopia: implications for management effectiveness |
| title_fullStr | Land use land cover change in and around Chebera Churchura National Park, Southwestern Ethiopia: implications for management effectiveness |
| title_full_unstemmed | Land use land cover change in and around Chebera Churchura National Park, Southwestern Ethiopia: implications for management effectiveness |
| title_short | Land use land cover change in and around Chebera Churchura National Park, Southwestern Ethiopia: implications for management effectiveness |
| title_sort | land use land cover change in and around chebera churchura national park southwestern ethiopia implications for management effectiveness |
| topic | Agriculture Fire Forest Grassland Grazing Protected area |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40068-022-00267-3 |
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