Background: Soil erosion in the Ethiopian highlands is considered to be one of the major problems threatening agricultural development and food security in the country. However, knowledge about the forces driving the long-term dynamics in land use is limited. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to analyse the spatial and temporal land use/land cover (LULC) changes and their environmental implications over the period 1964-2014 in the Gelana sub watershed, Northern highlands of Ethiopia. Two aerial photographs (1964, 1986) and a Landsat 8 image (2014) were the source of objective landscape data. The subjective supporting data was collected by group discussion, interview and field visits that include the collection of photographic evidence. Seven LULC types, namely forest, shrub land, cultivated and rural settlement, grass land, bare land, urban built up area, and wet land were identified.
Results:The result revealed that during the analysis period shrub land, cultivated and rural settlement, grass land, bare land, and urban built up area expanded at a rate of 0.48, 0.14, 0.62, 4.95, and 28.45% per year respectively. On the other hand, during the same period forest and wet land decreased by 1.28 and 1.09% per year respectively. The observed LULC changes were driven by population growth, growing demand for cultivated and rural settlement and forest for extraction of fuel and construction materials.
Conclusions:These aggravate soil erosion and biodiversity loss. This information on LULC changes and possibilities for their optimal use is essential for the selection, planning and implementation of land use schemes to meet the increasing demands for basic human needs and welfare. Therefore, there is an urgent need to design and implement appropriate land management options, coupled with population control and designation of protected areas to preserve natural resources.
