Dynamics and Drivers of Land Use and Land Cover Change in the Upper Awash Basin, Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia
Dynamics and Drivers of Land Use and Land Cover Change in the Upper Awash Basin, Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia
复制标题
埃塞俄比亚中央裂谷上阿瓦什盆地土地利用和土地覆盖变化的动态和驱动因素
DOI：
10.1007/s00267-023-01814-z
复制
发表时间：
2023
影响因子：
3.5
通讯作者：
Amanuel Kumsa
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Almaz Deche;Mohammed A. Assen;Shimeles Damene;J. Budds;Amanuel Kumsa
本研究分析了1972 - 2016年埃塞俄比亚中部大裂谷大规模灌溉农业扩张相关的土地利用成本动态模式和驱动因素。利用GIS工具分析了航空照片（1972年）、陆地卫星图像（1980年、2000年）和SPOT5卫星图像（2016年），揭示了LULC的变化，并利用文献资料、关键信息提供者访谈和焦点小组讨论来确定这些动态的生物物理和社会经济影响及其驱动因素。研究表明，耕地、农村居民点用地和城市建成区的扩张是以牺牲林地、林地、灌丛和草地为代价的。虽然经济作物产量的增加给小农带来了一些好处，例如获得灌溉和现代农业投入和技术，但不加管制地将自然植被转化为耕地导致生物多样性丧失、森林砍伐和牧场和柴火减少。研究区土地利用效率的显著变化是由生物物理、经济、制度、技术和人口因素共同作用造成的，这些因素在不同的时间点以不同的幅度相互强化。这些变化得到一个关键驱动因素的支持，即政府的农业政策，这些政策促进了对国内和出口市场的商业化农业的投资。研究表明，了解土地利用价值变化的促成因素和驱动因素之间复杂的相互作用，对于为决策和政策提供信息至关重要，特别是通过指导对变化的潜在驱动因素而不仅仅是近因的响应。
This study analyzed the patterns and drivers of LULC dynamics in relation to the expansion of large-scale irrigated agriculture in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia from 1972 to 2016. Aerial photographs (1972), Landsat images (1980, 2000) and SPOT5 satellite images (2016) were analyzed using GIS tools to reveal LULC changes, and documentation, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were used to ascertain the biophysical and socioeconomic implications and drivers of these dynamics. The study revealed that cultivated and rural settlement land, and urban built-up areas had expanded at the expense of forestland, woodland, shrubland and grassland. While an increase in the production of cash crops had brought some benefits to smallholder farmers, such as access to irrigation and modern agricultural inputs and technologies, the unregulated conversion of natural vegetation to cultivated land resulted in a loss of biodiversity, deforestation, and reduction of pasture and firewood. We identified that significant LULC changes in the study area were caused by intersecting biophysical, economic, institutional, technological and demographic factors, which reinforced each other with varying magnitudes at different moments in time. These changes were underpinned by one key driver, that is, government agricultural policies that promoted investment in commercial agriculture for national and export markets. The study shows that understanding the complex interaction between the contributing factors and drivers of LULC change is crucial to inform decision-making and policies, in particular, by directing responses towards the underlying drivers of change rather than only the proximate causes.