Land Use/land cover Dynamics, its driving forces and impacts on ecosystem services in Jimma Rare District, North-Western Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) change is one of the most important environmental challenges that have affected the earths’ systems and its ecosystem services. This study was conducted with the main objective of assessing LULC change, its drivers, and impacts on ecosystem services in the Jimma Rare district for the year 1974–2019. In order to understand the spatial and temporal changes of LULC and its drivers, a four time period of satellite images (1974, 1991, 2005 and 2019) were obtained. In addition respondent interviews, focus group discussions (FGD) and field observations were employed. Moreover, the ecosystem service value coefficients developed at a global level were used to assess the impacts of LULC on the ecosystem service provision of the study area. The results of the study showed that grassland and forest land decreased from 4518.87ha (13.09%) to 902.42ha (2.61%) and 3287.79ha (9.52%) to 2506.63ha (7.26%) from 1974–2019 respectively. Similarly, wetlands declined from 1182.08 ha (3.42%) to 562.37ha (1.63%) in the stated period. The greatest expansion of cultivated land and settlement area occurred during the year 1974–1991. Expansion of crop land, rural and urban settlement, deforestation, and overgrazing were among the major proximate causes. Likewise, the major underlying drivers of LULC dynamics include population increase, the presence of weak policy and institutions, poverty and lack of awareness were identified by respondents and focus group discussants. The total natural capital value reduced from 662.75 (million $/ha/yr) to 577.03 (million $/ha/yr) in the study period indicating the impacts of LULC and its drivers on ecosystem services values. From this study, it is possible to conclude that Jimma Rare District has experienced a significant change in LULC and ecosystem service values over the past 45 years. Hence, appropriate policy packages for land use are required to curb the negative impacts of such changes so that the provision of the required services can be sustained for development endeavors.