Evaluation of the Linkages between Ecosystem Services and Land Use/Land Cover Changes in Matenchose Watershed, Rift Valley Basin, Ethiopia

Abstract

The global ecosystem services that are essential to sustaining life on the planet have been disrupted by different anthropogenic activities. This study’s objective is to examine how ecosystem services vary with changes in land use and land cover (LULC) across 29 years at the Matenchose watershed. Landsat images for 1991 (TM), 2003 (ETM+), and 2020 (OLI-8) were used for the categorization of LULC. To evaluate the changes in ecosystems service valuations (ESVs) as a result of LULC changes in combination with ArcGIS, the value transfer valuation approach was utilized. Farmlands, towns, and bare land exhibited growing trends among the five major LULC classes, but forest and grassland showed declining trends. From 1991 to 2020, ESVs decreased by a total of US $157.24 million due to the LULC modifications. In terms of ESV functions, provisional services (US $89.23 million) and cultural services (US $69.36 million) made up the majority of the loss of ESV. Overall, the reduction of ESV showed the environment is degrading because of existing LULC changes, this calls for immediate sustainable land management intervention by responsible actors. To attain sustainable development goals regarding food and life on the land, it is imperative to reverse the loss of ecosystem services.

Evaluating the Spatial Evolution of the Eco-Economy Harmony in Anxi County, China, Based on Ecosystem Services Value

“…Land-use change is a key factor influencing ecosystem services [25]. Land-use change reflects the complex interactions between climate change and human activities and is closely linked to several terrestrial processes such as biodiversity, surface energy balance, atmospheric circulation, and carbon cycling [26,27].…”

Quantification of soil erosion and sediment yield using the RUSLE model in Boyo watershed, central Rift Valley Basin of Ethiopia

“…Lower results reported by various scholars, for instance, Mathewos et al [ 6 ] at Matenchose watershed reported 21 t/ha/y; Kouli et al [ 106 ] reported 10 t/ha / y; Haregeweyn et al [ 107 ] described 29.9 t/ha/y in southern Ethiopia; Gerawork and Moges [ 108 ] explored 7.47 t/ha/y; Bekele and Gemi [ 109 ] reported 2.2 t/ha/y. The variety in the outcomes might be credited to the fluctuating soil factors in the different review regions.…”

“…In this research, RUSLE together with Arc GIS was used to estimate the soil loss [ 7 ]. This model is widely applied throughout the world where data sources are scarce [ 6 , 7 , 26 , 52 ]. The soil loss estimation using RUSLE in arc GIS approaches embroils the amalgamation of five various inputs (R, K, LS, C, and P) as shown in equation (1) below [ 52 ].…”

“…The erosion of soil, a key cause of deterioration of land with detrimental effects on social, economic, and environmental development, is a global issue [ 6 ]. Severe land degradation is recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa compared with the rest part of the world [ 7 ].…”