Abstract:
This study mainly examines detection and projection of Land Use/Land Cover change by using of
GIS and Remote Sensing techniques in ShashogoWoreda between 1990 and 2019. In order to
achieve these, satellite data of Landsat TM for 1990, ETM+ for 2000 and 2010, and OLI for 2019
have been obtained and preprocessed using ERDAS Imagine.
The Maximum Likelihood Algorithm of Supervised Classification has been used to generate land
use and land cover maps. For the accuracy of classified Land Use/Land Cover maps, a confusion
matrix was used to derive overall accuracy and results were above the minimum and acceptable
threshold level. Post classification comparison change detection method was employed to identify
gains and losses between Land Use/Land Cover classes. Additionally, socio-economic assessment
was conducted by using KII and FGD to investigate the driving forces of land use land cover
change. The study covers a total area of 35,376.6ha. Five land use land cover classes namely;
cropland, forest, rangeland, water body and settlement land were clearly identified for the study.
Subsequently, an attempt was made to predict for the next 29 years change based on the observed
Land Use/Land Cover changes using Marcov Chain Model. The satellite image results show that
during the last three decades, Cropland and settlement lands were increased by 51.5% and 168%
while rangeland and forest lands were decreased by 56.2%, and 49.7% respectively. As the study
displayed population growth, expansion of agricultural land, demand for fuel wood and
construction materials and ineffective natural resource conservation practice were the main
causes of LULCC at woreda .Whereas, forest degradation, land degradation, Extinctions of
biodiversity (fauna and flora) and climate variability following hydrological impact and shortage
of animal feeding were the main impact of land use/ land cover change in study area. Therefore, to
solve the LU/LC change; effective and strong natural resource management and utilization policy
should be implemented by woreda forest and natural resource office in order to insure the
sustainability of natural resources in a way of participating the local community.
