ADDIS ABABA UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF SCIENCE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE PROGRAM MSc Thesis on LAND USE AND LAND COVER CHANGES IN HARENNA FOREST AND SUROUNDING AREA, BALE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK By: Netsanet Deneke Morie A Thesis Presented to the School of Graduate Studies of Addis Ababa University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Environmental Science. Advisors: Prof. Zerihun Woldu Dr. Dagnachew Legesse June 2007 ADDIS ABABA SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES ENVIROMENTAL SCIENCE PROGRAMME LAND USE AND LAND COVER CHANGES IN HARENNA FOREST AND SURROUNDING AREA, BALE MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK BY NETSANET DENEKE MORIE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE PROGRAMME II ACKNOWLEDGMENT This work would have not been completed without the contribution of many institutions and individuals, among which I am indebted to the Addis Ababa University for providing me the opportunity to accomplish this research in particular and MSc program in general. I also would like to give my appreciation to Darwin Project for supporting me through funding to carry out this research towards this thesis. In addition, the Hadiya Zone Administration Council (HZAC), through its comprehensive support of the study and this work deserves acknowledgement. I am greatly indebted to my advisors Professor Zerihun Woldu, Dr. Dagnachew Legesse for their advice and sharing their valuable time and ideas. I am especially indebted to Dr. Menassie and Michel, Coordinator and Manager of Darwin Project respectively, for their enormous support and kindness because without their help my endeavors would have been fruitless. My special thanks also go to Bale Mountains National Park staffs; for their collaboration and facilitation during the study are also cordially acknowledged. All the guides who worked with me during the survey and PA leaders also deserve acknowledgement. The moral and material assistance from my all friends was so much that without their support the research work in particular and my MSc education in general could have not been completed on time. They have a special place in my mind. Also all my classmates are acknowledged for their friendship and support during my enrolment at Addis Ababa University deserves special thanks. Finally, the unfailing encouragement and support rendered from my families deserves particular thanks. The prayers of my father have contributed to the success of my work. III TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENT.…….………………………………………………………….IV TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................... IV ABBREVIATION ................................................................................................. VI ANNEX AND APPENDICES ............................................................................. VIII LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................. IX LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................ IX ABSTRACT .......................................................................................................... X 1. INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................. 1 1.1. Background ................................................................................................ 1 1.2. Statement of the Problem ........................................................................... 4 1.3. Objectives of the study ............................................................................... 5 1.3.1. Main Objective .................................................................................... 5 1.3.2. Specific Objectives.............................................................................. 5 1.4. Approaches used in the study .................................................................... 5 1.5. Overall expectations from the study ........................................................... 6 1.6. Limitations of the study ............................................................................... 7 2. LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................... 8 2.1. Use of remote sensing and GIS for land use land cover mapping and change detection…….……………………………………………………….8 2.2. Land Use Classification ............................................................................ 10 2.3. Land-use and land-cover dynamics and links........................................... 11 2.4. Causes of Land Cover Changes .............................................................. 12 2.4.1. Proximate Causes .............................................................................. 13 2.4.2. Underlying or Driving Causes ............................................................ 14 2.5. Land Use Land Cover Change and its Effects on Local, Regional and Global Scales……..…………...…………………………………………………...15 2.5.1. Climate Change ................................................................................. 15 2.5.2. Global Warming ................................................................................. 17 2.5.3. Hydrological Cycle ............................................................................. 18 2.5.4. Desertification .................................................................................... 19 2.5.5. Forest Resource Degradation ............................................................ 20 2.5.6. Land Degradation .............................................................................. 22 2.5.7. Biodiversity Loss ................................................................................ 23 3. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA ....................................... 25 3.1. Location .................................................................................................... 25 3.2. Bio-Physical Environment......................................................................... 25 IV 3.2.1. Geology ............................................................................................. 25 3.2.2. Vegetation .......................................................................................... 27 3.2.3. Wild Life ............................................................................................. 28 3.2.4. Water Resources ............................................................................... 29 3.2.5. Climate ............................................................................................... 29 3.2.5.1. Rainfall ............................................................................................ 30 3.2.5.2. Temperature ................................................................................ 30 3.2.5.3. Humidity ...................................................................................... 30 3.3. Socio-Economic Characteristics of the Study Area .................................. 31 4. MATERIALS AND METHODS ........................................................................ 32 4.1. Materials ……………….……..………..…………………………………..…32 4.2. Methodology ............................................................................................. 32 4.2.1. Data Collection .................................................................................. 32 4.2.1.1. Socio-Economic Data Acquisition............................................. 32 4.2.1.2. Satellite image Collection ......................................................... 33 4.3. Land use and land cover classes and definitions ..................................... 34 4.5. Data Analysis ........................................................................................... 36 4.5.1. Pre Classification ............................................................................... 36 4.5.2. Classification ...................................................................................... 36 4.5.3. Post Classification……………………………………………..………37 4.5.4. NDVI Based Change Detection………………………………………38 5. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION........................................................................ 40 5.1. Socio- Economic Characteristics of the study area .................................. 40 5.2. Land Use and Land Cover Mapping ......................................................... 41 5.2.1. Land Use Land Cover Classification for 1973 .................................... 41 5.2.2. Land Use Land Cover Classification for 1986 .................................... 42 6.2.3. Land Use Land Cover Classification for 2000 .................................... 43 5.2.4. Post classification and Accuracy assessment .................................... 45 5.2.4.1. Accuracy assessment for LU/LC Mapping of 1973...................... 45 5.2.4.2. Accuracy assessment for LU/LC Mapping of 1986...................... 46 5.2.4.3. Accuracy assessment for LU/LC Mapping of 2000...................... 46 5.2.4.4. Classes Statistics Analysis ........................................................ 477 5.3. Land Use and Land Cover Change Detection .......................................... 48 5.3.1. LU/LC Change Detection for 1973 to 1986 ........................................ 48 5.3.2. LU/LC Change Detection for 1986 to 2000 ........................................ 52 5.4. NDVI Based Change Detection .................................................................... 59 5.4.1. NDVI Value Interpretation .................................................................. 59 5.4.2.