Population growth and other factors affecting land-use and land-cover changes in north-eastern Wollega, Ethiopia Alemayehu A. Urgesa1,2*, Assefa Abegaz1, Asmamaw L. Bahir1, Diogenes L. Antille3 1
Addis Ababa University, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 2 Wolaita Sodo University, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Sodo, Ethiopia 3 University of Southern Queensland, National Centre for Engineering in Agriculture, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia *Corresponding author e-mail:
[email protected]
This study investigated the influence of population growth on land-use/land-cover changes observed in north-eastern Wollega, Ethiopia between 1972 and 2005. A knowledge-base that will support sound and informed decision-making on sustainable resource management is provided. The changes in land-use/land-cover observed in this region are linked to rainfall and availability of arable land. These two factors combined have encouraged the migration of farmers from relatively less productive areas of the north and centre of the country. To quantify impacts, the study used a combination of land-use/land-cover detection techniques based on time series image processing, assessment of population dynamics and linear regression models. Results indicated that since the 1970s, cropland and settlement areas expanded at the expense of land formerly occupied by forest, shrub and grassland. The regression analyses showed that such changes were associated (P50% bush canopy mixed with some trees and
