Dynamics of land use/cover change and its drivers during 1992–2022 in Yayo Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve, Southwestern Ethiopia

• Published in: Sustainable environment Vol. 10; no. 1
• Main Authors: Terfassa Fida, Gemeda, Baatuuwie, Bernard Nuoleyeng, Issifu, Hamza
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 31-12-2024
• Subjects: Ethiopia; land cover; land use; persistence; swap
• ISSN: 2765-8511; 2765-8511
• DOI: 10.1080/27658511.2024.2374119

Human activities have resulted in significant land use/cover changes (LULCC), which have extensive biological, environmental, and socioeconomic impacts worldwide. Currently, human activities such as forest fires and the expansion of coffee plantations are affecting the Yayo Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve (YCFBR). The objective of this study was to examine the historical dynamics of LULCC and its driving factors for the last 30 years in the area. The objective of this study was to examine the historical dynamics of LULCC and its driving factors in the area over the past 30 years. The study used Landsat images from 1992, 2002, 2012 and 2022 after applying common image preprocessing techniques such as geometric and radiometric correction algorithms. A supervised image classification method using maximum likelihood algorithms was used to create land cover (LC) maps. Additionally, household surveys, key informant interviews (KII), and focus group discussions (FGD), were used to examine the drivers of LULCC. The result showed that at the beginning of the study period in 1992, high forests made up about 63% of the study area, followed by grazing lands at 23.6%. The remaining biosphere consisted of agricultural land, cultivated areas, open forests, and grazing lands. The transition matrix shows that 58% of grazing land areas were converted to agricultural areas, 13.65% of high forests were converted to open forests, and 22% of agricultural areas were converted to built-up area areas. The YCFBR landscape was found to be 62% persistent and 16% swapped, with high forests and grazing lands having the highest swap rates at 9% and 4%, respectively. In addition, population growth, expansion of agricultural land, lack of diversified livelihood opportunities, problems with the land tenure system, lack of successful law enforcement, and increasing settlement areas have been identified as major causes of LULCCs in the area. The results of the study can be used as a valuable input for biodiversity conservation planning in the area, helping policymakers improve management strategies for LU and potentially reduce pressure on high forest areas.