Land-use change modelling in the Upper Blue Nile Basin

Land-use and land-cover changes are driving unprecedented changes in ecosystems and environmental processes at different scales. This study was aimed at identifying the potential land-use drivers in the Jedeb catchment of the Abbay basin by combining statistical analysis, field investigation and rem...

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Main Authors: Yalew, S.G., Mul, Marloes L., Griensven, Ann van, Teferi, E., Priess, J., Schweitzer, C., Zaag, P. van der
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: MDPI 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/78148
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author Yalew, S.G.
Mul, Marloes L.
Griensven, Ann van
Teferi, E.
Priess, J.
Schweitzer, C.
Zaag, P. van der
author_browse Griensven, Ann van
Mul, Marloes L.
Priess, J.
Schweitzer, C.
Teferi, E.
Yalew, S.G.
Zaag, P. van der
author_facet Yalew, S.G.
Mul, Marloes L.
Griensven, Ann van
Teferi, E.
Priess, J.
Schweitzer, C.
Zaag, P. van der
author_sort Yalew, S.G.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Land-use and land-cover changes are driving unprecedented changes in ecosystems and environmental processes at different scales. This study was aimed at identifying the potential land-use drivers in the Jedeb catchment of the Abbay basin by combining statistical analysis, field investigation and remote sensing. To do so, a land-use change model was calibrated and evaluated using the SITE (SImulation of Terrestrial Environment) modelling framework. SITE is cellular automata based multi-criteria decision analysis framework for simulating land-use conversion based on socio-economic and environmental factors. Past land-use trajectories (1986–2009) were evaluated using a reference Landsat-derived map (agreement of 84%). Results show that major land-use change drivers in the study area were population, slope, livestock and distances from various infrastructures (roads, markets and water). It was also found that farmers seem to increasingly prefer plantations of trees such as Eucalyptus by replacing croplands perhaps mainly due to declining crop yield, soil fertility and climate variability. Potential future trajectory of land-use change was also predicted under a business-as-usual scenario (2009–2025). Results show that agricultural land will continue to expand from 69.5% in 2009 to 77.5% in 2025 in the catchment albeit at a declining rate when compared with the period from 1986 to 2009. Plantation forest will also increase at a much higher rate, mainly at the expense of natural vegetation, agricultural land and grasslands. This study provides critical information to land-use planners and policy makers for a more effective and proactive management in this highland catchment.
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spelling CGSpace781482024-06-26T10:09:22Z Land-use change modelling in the Upper Blue Nile Basin Yalew, S.G. Mul, Marloes L. Griensven, Ann van Teferi, E. Priess, J. Schweitzer, C. Zaag, P. van der land use land cover change environmental modelling environmental factors river basins catchment areas socioeconomic environment plantations forest management erosion vegetation grasslands Land-use and land-cover changes are driving unprecedented changes in ecosystems and environmental processes at different scales. This study was aimed at identifying the potential land-use drivers in the Jedeb catchment of the Abbay basin by combining statistical analysis, field investigation and remote sensing. To do so, a land-use change model was calibrated and evaluated using the SITE (SImulation of Terrestrial Environment) modelling framework. SITE is cellular automata based multi-criteria decision analysis framework for simulating land-use conversion based on socio-economic and environmental factors. Past land-use trajectories (1986–2009) were evaluated using a reference Landsat-derived map (agreement of 84%). Results show that major land-use change drivers in the study area were population, slope, livestock and distances from various infrastructures (roads, markets and water). It was also found that farmers seem to increasingly prefer plantations of trees such as Eucalyptus by replacing croplands perhaps mainly due to declining crop yield, soil fertility and climate variability. Potential future trajectory of land-use change was also predicted under a business-as-usual scenario (2009–2025). Results show that agricultural land will continue to expand from 69.5% in 2009 to 77.5% in 2025 in the catchment albeit at a declining rate when compared with the period from 1986 to 2009. Plantation forest will also increase at a much higher rate, mainly at the expense of natural vegetation, agricultural land and grasslands. This study provides critical information to land-use planners and policy makers for a more effective and proactive management in this highland catchment. 2016 2016-12-06T05:40:43Z 2016-12-06T05:40:43Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/78148 en Open Access MDPI Yalew, S. G.; Mul, Marloes L.; van Griensven, A.; Teferi, E.; Priess, J.; Schweitzer, C.; van Der Zaag, P. 2016. Land-use change modelling in the Upper Blue Nile Basin. Environments, 3(3):1-16. doi: 10.3390/environments3030021
spellingShingle land use
land cover change
environmental modelling
environmental factors
river basins
catchment areas
socioeconomic environment
plantations
forest management
erosion
vegetation
grasslands
Yalew, S.G.
Mul, Marloes L.
Griensven, Ann van
Teferi, E.
Priess, J.
Schweitzer, C.
Zaag, P. van der
Land-use change modelling in the Upper Blue Nile Basin
title Land-use change modelling in the Upper Blue Nile Basin
title_full Land-use change modelling in the Upper Blue Nile Basin
title_fullStr Land-use change modelling in the Upper Blue Nile Basin
title_full_unstemmed Land-use change modelling in the Upper Blue Nile Basin
title_short Land-use change modelling in the Upper Blue Nile Basin
title_sort land use change modelling in the upper blue nile basin
topic land use
land cover change
environmental modelling
environmental factors
river basins
catchment areas
socioeconomic environment
plantations
forest management
erosion
vegetation
grasslands
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/78148
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