Landuse/Landcover Dynamics and Soil Erosion Risk Analysis, for Sustainable Land Management in North Central Ethiopia: The Case of Antsokia-Gemza Woreda

Debay, Abiy (2010) Landuse/Landcover Dynamics and Soil Erosion Risk Analysis, for Sustainable Land Management in North Central Ethiopia: The Case of Antsokia-Gemza Woreda. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.

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Abstract

An accurate and up-to-date knowledge of landuse/landcover features and their relative risk for environmental hazards represents the foundation for effective sustainable land resource management. It guides local managers in managing land resources in a more sustainable manner and to implement conservation measures. Hence, this study attempted to identify and quantify the major landuse/landcover changes over the past 32 years (1973-2005) using Remote Sensing and GIS techniques as well as to produce potential soil erosion risk map and to estimate the rate of soil erosion using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) in combination with Remote Sensing and GIS in Antsokia-gemza Woreda. In line with this, three satellite imageries (Landsat MSS 1973, Landsat TM 1986, and Landsat ETM+ 2000) have been utilized for the change detection analysis; and 15years rainfall data, soil map (FAO, 1996), topography map (SRTM) and landcover map of the year 2005 have been considered for soil erosion risk analysis. As a result, landuse/landcover map of 1973, 1986, 2005, and potential soil erosion risk map of the study area was generated. The results showed that during the last 32 years 3 major changes have been observed, forest cover and wetland resource significantly decreased at a rate of (0.93 km2/yr) and (0.53 km2/yr) respectively; on the other hand cultivated land and bare land has shown increment in size at a rate of (0.98 km2/yr) and (1.32 km2/yr) respectively; and settlement and urbanization has intensified. Concerning the soil erosion risk analysis the woreda exhibited soil erosion between 0.019 to 327.011 ton ha-1 yr-1, with 32.86 ton ha-1 yr-1 of mean annual rate of soil loss which has shown the woreda is prone to rainfall erosion. Particularly the steeper slopes in the mid-highland area is highly susceptible to erosion. Therefore, detail assessment based landuse/landscover plan and management, soil and water conservation practices are some of the appropriate interventions recommended.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences Q Science > QE Geology S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
Divisions:	Africana
Depositing User:	Selom Ghislain
Date Deposited:	12 Jun 2018 11:50
Last Modified:	12 Jun 2018 11:50
URI:	http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/4166

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