Land use and land cover (LULC) change have intense implications on soil resources, that requires research attention and global collaboration to take urgent actions. The present study attempted to analyze the impact of LULC change on soil erosion and sedimentation in Muger Sub-basin, southwestern parts of Ethiopia. Landsat TM 1986, Landsat ETM+ 2003, and Landsat OLI/TIRS 2020 are used for LULC analysis. We used rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, slope length and steepness, cover management, and conservation practices to calculate soil erosion and sedimentation between 1986 and 2020. In this study, the integration of revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) model and geographic information system (GIS) are used to analyze the impact of LULC change on soil erosion and sedimentation. The average soil loss rate is about 53.2 ton/ha/year in 1986 and increased to 63.6, and 64 ton/ha/year in 2003, 2020, respectively. Result revealed that about 2,707.7 ha (33%), 3,124.5 ha (38.1%) and 3,197.4 ha (38.9%) were exposed to severe erosion in 1986, 2003 and 2020, respectively. The mean sediment yields of the study area is estimated to 7.8 ton/ha/year in 1986, and later increased to 10, and 10.2 ton/ha/year in 2003, and 2020, respectively. Results revealed that the steep slope areas with crop land experience considerable soil loss, with mean soil loss increasing over all study period. Thus, urgent policy on the wise use of natural resources is essential not optional to reduce the current soil loss and sedimentation in Muger Sub-basin.

Research on the landscape level dynamics of land cover and an understanding of the drivers responsible for these changes are useful for formulations of sustainable land management strategies and policy decisions. The pace and magnitude of the LCCs in Ethiopia are threatening the natural ecosystem and creating vulnerability to environmental hazards. This study used a combination of remotely sensed data, field interviews, and observations to examine the dynamics and identify the driving forces of LCC from 1986 to 2020 in the Muger sub-basin, Ethiopia. Multi-temporal satellite images were classified using supervised and unsupervised methods. Information from focus group discussions and the variable ranking method were used to explain the drivers of the observed changes. The study results showed a decline in forest cover from 11.80% in 1986 to 5.90% in 2020, which indicates a loss of 49.90% of the forest cover that existed in 1986. Bare land declined from 1.15% in 1986 to 0.57% in 2020. Similarly, grazing land declined from 1.52% in 1986 to 0.41% in 2020. Wetland also declined from 1.93% in 1986 to 0.31% in 2020. Conversely, during the same period, the proportions of cultivated land, built-up areas, shrubland, and water bodies have risen from 68.86% to 70.44%, from 0.03% to 1.53%, from 14.39% to 20.27%, and from 0.34% to 0.56%, respectively. Population growth and poor agricultural practices were identified as the main causes of LCC in the sub-basin. Therefore, the findings of this study suggest that implementation of comprehensive and integrated basin management policies and strategies will be indispensable to managing the risks and ensuring sustainable development in the larger Abay basin.