THE IMPACTS OF LAND USE LAND COVER CHANGE ON ECO-SYSTEM SERVICES OF HOTO AREA, GOFA ZONE, SOUTH ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Ecosystems provide essential services vital to human well-being. This study examined land use/land cover changes over three decades and their impact on ecosystem service values of the Hoto area, South Ethiopia. Data acquisition involved analyzing satellite imagery from Landsat for the years 1993, 2003, and 2023, utilizing ERDAS IMAGINE 2014 and ArcGIS 10.3 to classify six land use/land cover changes classes: barren land, forest, grazing land, farmland, shrubland, and settlement. Four kebeles were purposefully selected. A household survey was conducted with a sample size of 315 households of whom 76% were male-headed and 24% were female-headed. Data analysis included spatio-temporal change detection of land use/land cover changes accuracy assessment of classified images and estimation of ecosystem service value using the benefit transfer method were carried out. Significant land use/land cover changes were observed forest cover declined dramatically from 24.88% (1,216 ha) in 1993 to 11.02% (539 ha) in 2023, and grazing land decreased from 13.46% (658 ha) to 9.94% (486 ha). In contrast, settlement areas increased from 4.64% (227 ha) to 7.02% (343 ha), barren land from 2.07% (101 ha) to 19.53% (955 ha), and shrubland grew from 37.34% (1,825 ha) to 44.53% (2,177 ha). The total Ecosystem service value decreased from US$4,346,274.91in 1993 to US$3,334,560.35in 2023. In the study area, the total magnitude of ecosystem service value loss from 1993 to 2023 was US$-1,011,714.56 and the highest loss was recorded on forestland. All individual ecosystem services experienced a decline trend through the study period. Key contributors to these decline included free grazing, deforestation, expansion of farmlands land, and natural disasters. Hence, essential services such as food production, water regulation, and erosion control have been adversely affected, which may subsequently influence the area's resilience and capacity to withstand ongoing anthropogenic pressures, as well as the livelihoods of those reliant on the forest. These findings highlight the urgent need for sustainable land management strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of land use/land cover changes on ecosystem services.