Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Natural Forest Cover Change Utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing Technologies: A Case Study
Tariku Kebede Tofu1, Adamu Dessalegn2, Aster Chalicisa3
1Tariku Kebede Tofu, Department of Geometics Engineering, Wachamo University, Wachamo (Ethiopia), East Africa.
2Adamu Dessalegn Tadesse, Department of Geometics Engineering, Wachamo University, Wachamo, (Ethiopia), East Africa.
3Aster Chalicisa, Department of Geodesy and Geodynamics, Space Science and Geospatial Institute, (Ethiopia), East Africa.
Manuscript received on 29 November 2024 | First Revised Manuscript received on 12 December 2024 | Second Revised Manuscript received on 20 Ferbuary 2025 | Manuscript Accepted on 15 March 2025 | Manuscript published on 30 March 2025 | PP: 10-15 | Volume-15 Issue-1, March 2025 | Retrieval Number: 100.1/ijsce.F365014060125 | DOI: 10.35940/ijsce.F3650.15010325
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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: Ethiopia’s natural forest cover is declining at an alarming rate due to population-growth-induced factors, other human-caused activities, and natural factors. This study aimed to evaluate the spatiotemporal dynamics of natural forest change using change analysis. The study (2000 ETM, 2010 ETM, and 2020 OLI-TIRS Landsat images was used for change detections. Thus, the study result revealed that the primary land use types were natural forests by 2000, but by now (2020), most of the natural forest areas have been replaced by other land use classes. Thus, 233.76 ha of natural forest were cleared yearly for the last 20 years, mostly converted to farmland and settlement areas. The forest in the study serves as a source of energy (fuelwood and charcoal production), has substantial economic importance (timber and other construction materials production), and provides food, as well as habitats for domestic and wildlife. Quantification of land use change detection reveals that farmland, human settlements, and plantation areas exhibit an increasing trend throughout the study period. At the same time, natural forests show a decreasing trend of 12% from 2000 to 2010 and 14% from 2010 to 2020. The primary causes of natural forest degradation are the high demand for farmland, housing, and energy, primarily driven by population growth, inadequate provision of clean energy, and a low level of awareness. Natural forests will have high economic, ecological, genetic, and medicinal value. Thus, protecting and conserving natural forests is crucial for the study area.
Keywords: Geospatial technologies; land use dynamics; Mari Mansa district; Natural Forest.
Scope of the Article: Image Processing and Recognition