Mekelle University
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Mekelle University College of Social Sciences and Languages Department of Geography and Environmental Studies Post Graduate Study Program Assessment of spatio-temporal changes of wetlands using GIS and RS techniques in Dawa Chefa Area in the Northern Central Ethiopian Highlands By: Kassaye Hussien Aragaw Major Advisor: Biadglign Demissie (Assistant. Professor) Co-Advisor: Hailemariam Meaza (MSc.) A thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of degree of Masters of Science (MSc.) in Geography and Environmental studies: Specialization in Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS) August, 2014 Mekelle College of Social Sciences and Languages Department of Geography and Environmental Studies Post Graduate Study Program Assessment of spatio-temporal changes of wetlands using GIS and RS techniques in Dawa Chefa Area in the Northern Central Ethiopian Highlands Approved by Board of Examiners Mr.Solomon Hishe (MSc) __________________________________ Chairman Biadglign Demissie (Assistant Professor) ________________________________________ Advisor Mr.Hailemariam Meaza (MSc) __________________________________________ Advisor Dr. Senbete Toma _____________________________________________ Examiner Dr.Berhanu Getahun ______________________________________________ Examiner Declaration This is to certify that this thesis entitled “Assessment of spatio-temporal change of wetlands and its socio-economic effect using GIS and remote sensing techniques in the Northern Central Ethiopian Highlands: A Case of Dawa Chefa Area”, submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Master of Science in Geography and Environmental Studies with specialization in GIS and RS at Mekelle University, department of Geography and Environ-mental Studies done by Kassaye Hussien Aragaw CSSL/PS066/04 is an authentic work carried out by him under our guidance. The matter embodied in this project work has not been submitted earlier for an award of any degree or diploma to the best of our knowledge and belief. Name of the Student: Kassaye Hussien Aragaw Signature: ______________ Date: _________________ Advisors: 1. Biadgilgn Demssie(Ass.Proffesor) Mekelle, Ethiopia Signature: ___________________ Date: _____________________ 2. Hailemariam Meaza (M.Sc.), Mekelle, Ethiopia Signature: ___________________ Date: ____________________ Acknowledgements Above all, I would like to thank the “Almighty God” who helped and guided me in all aspect of my life especially to accomplish this work successfully. Glory to his Almighty for His care and smoothening challenges in doing this research. And again I would like to thank Him for that He gave me people around me to help and empower me. It is my pleasure to express my sincere appreciation and special gratitude to my advisors, Ass. Professor Biadgilgn Demissie for his constructive, fruitful and valuable comments and guidance throughout the research work. His unreserved support gave me encouragement and further strength for successfully completing the research in time. I would like to thank Mr. Haile Mariam Meaza, my co-advisor, for his timely and constructive comments and closely flow up the progress of my work, offering numerous comments and suggestions. And also I would like to thank all the staffs of Department of Geography and Environmental study for their integrative support. I would also like to thank my sisters (Zeyneba Hussien, Leila Hussien and Hadiya Hussien) for all their love, respect, help and empowerment throughout my work. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Abdulkerim for all his honest support as he was the study Werda‟s GIS professional he provided me with all the necessary input for my work. I never forget the full cooperation of Kemissie preparatory school to have accesses of broad band network service throughout the research work. Specially, for director Girm Ali my special gratitude deserves him. Finally, to all my students of Kemissie preparatory school who participated in the data collection process. Specially student Abderehman who helped me in translation of Amharic language to Oromifa and his participation in the field work. i Tables of Contents Tables of Contents Pages Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ i Tables of Contents......................................................................................................................... ii List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. v List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... vi Lists of Acronyms and Abbreviations ....................................................................................... vii Abstract ....................................................................................................................................... viii Chapter 1: Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background of the study ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the problem ........................................................................................................................ 2 1.3 Objectives ............................................................................................................................................... 3 1.3.1 General objectives ........................................................................................................................ 3 1.3.2 Specific objectives ....................................................................................................................... 3 1.4 Research questions .................................................................................................................................. 3 1.5 Significance of the study ......................................................................................................................... 3 1.6 Delimitation of the study ........................................................................................................................ 4 1.7 Limitations of the study ............................................................................................................ 4 1.8 Organization of the thesis ....................................................................................................................... 4 Chapter 2: Literature Review ...................................................................................................... 5 2.1 Land use and land cover dynamics ......................................................................................................... 5 2.2 Wetlands ................................................................................................................................................. 5 2.2.1 Functions of wetland .................................................................................................................. 6 2.2.1.1 Hydrologic flux and storage .................................................................................................. 6 2.2.1.2 Biogeochemical cycling and storage ..................................................................................... 7 2.2.1.3 Biological productivity ......................................................................................................... 7 2.2.1.4 Decomposition ...................................................................................................................... 7 2.2.2. Wetland change ........................................................................................................................... 7 2.2.3. Causes of wetlands change ......................................................................................................... 8 2.2.3.1 Agriculture ............................................................................................................................ 8 2.2.3.2 Grazing .................................................................................................................................. 9 2.2.3.3 Urbanization .......................................................................................................................... 9 2.2.3.4. Roads and bridges .............................................................................................................. 10 ii 2.2.4. Consequences of wetland loss ................................................................................................... 10 2.3. Application of GIS and RS in wetland change detection ..................................................................... 10 2.3.1. Application of RS in wetlands monitoring ................................................................................ 10 2.3.2. Digital image processing of satellite images ............................................................................. 12 2.3.3. Application of GIS in wetland change detection ...................................................................... 13 Chapter 3: Methods and Materials ........................................................................................... 14 3.1 Description of the study area