Changes in total and per-capital ecosystem service value in response to land-use land-cover dynamics in north-central Ethiopia

Ecosystems provide a wide range of services crucial for human well-being and decision-making processes at various levels. This study analyzed the major land cover types of north-central Ethiopia and their impact on total and per-capita ecosystem service value (ESV). The ESV was estimated using the benefit-transfer method along the established global and local coefficient values for the periods 1973, 1986, 2001, 2016, and 2024. The findings show that agricultural lands continued to expand at a rate of 563.4 ha year−1, at the expense of forests and grasslands. As a result, the total ESV of the study area declined from $101.4 to$61.03 million and $60.08–$43.69 million, respectively. The ESV per capita was also diminished by $152.4 (37.7$257 (40.6%), respectively. However, land-cover improvement during the period 2001–2016 enhanced the total and per capita ESV in the study area. Therefore, potential future research may be required to develop a valid approach for assessing the robustness and sensitivity of value coefficients for the valuation of the ESV at the landscape level.</p

Ecosystem service value distribution along the agroecological gradient in north-central Ethiopia

Land use and the associated ecosystem service functions vary with changes in agroecological conditions. This study analyzed the distribution of ecosystem service values along the agroecological gradient in Borena landscape. Land-cover information was extracted from Landsat satellite images; and ecosystem service values were estimated using established global and local databases. Land-cover types were constrained in one or two agroecological zones with varying proportions. Cultivated land covering 53.7% of the total landscape area, plantation forest (32.3%) and grassland (9.4%) land-cover types exist in all agroecological zones, with the highest proportion in the humid highland. The highest long-term average ecosystem service value was observed along the humid highland accounting for about 21.8-33.11 million $US. The sub-humid highland consisted 5.67-8.88 million$US. Ecosystem service value showed a decreasing trend between 1973 and 2001 along all agroecological zones and increased in 2016. Moreover, the highest depletion was found along the humid highland (7.27-18.93 million $US) and least depletion was observed along the cold highland (1.79-4.40). Occurrence of the highest depletion along the most inhabited zone, i.e., humid highland, revealed that many of the impacts are human induced. Agroecological gradient substantially determines the amount and distribution of ecosystem service values. Sustainable land management efforts and proper land-use planning are required with special attention to susceptible zones to conserve and increase ecosystem service values

Assessment of spatial distribution of aridity indices in Raya valley, northern Ethiopia

Abstract Aridity is a risk with the threat of desertification because of erratic precipitation and prolonged droughts. Aridity indices are often used for the climate-based land classification and monitoring droughts. Hence, this study aimed at analysis of the spatial distribution of aridity indices in Raya valley, northern Ethiopia. Meteorological data from eight meteorological stations located throughout the study area were used to compute the three aridity indices employed: the De Martonne aridity index (I DM), the Pinna combinative index (I P), and the Food and Agriculture Organization aridity index (I FAO). Each aridity index value was computed at each station. Then, once the statistical properties of each aridity index at each station were assessed, inverse distance-weighted geographic information system interpolation technique was used for the spatial estimation of the aridity indices. The three indices indicated a high coefficient of determination which in common revealed the area prone to dry and semi-dry risk. However, I DM was found more appropriate for the considered area since it defines more the climate of each location using seven classes, and it can be computed at specific season and month. The annual, seasonal, and monthly aridity indices of I DM showed high spatial variability of aridity index. The spatial distribution of the I DM underlined irrigation requirements in the northern east part of the study area. This analysis may be helpful for the utilization of water resources and irrigation systems of the study area

Changes in total and per-capita ecosystem service value in response to land-use land-cover dynamics in north-central Ethiopia

Ecosystems provide a wide range of services crucial for human well-being and decision-making processes at various levels. This study analyzed the major land cover types of north-central Ethiopia and their impact on total and per-capita ecosystem service value (ESV). The ESV was estimated using the benefit-transfer method along the established global and local coefficient values for the periods 1973, 1986, 2001, 2016, and 2024. The findings show that agricultural lands continued to expand at a rate of 563.4 ha year⁻¹, at the expense of forests and grasslands. As a result, the total ESV of the study area declined from $101.4 to$61.03 million and $60.08–$43.69 million, respectively. The ESV per capita was also diminished by $152.4 (37.7$257 (40.6%), respectively. However, land-cover improvement during the period 2001–2016 enhanced the total and per capita ESV in the study area. Therefore, potential future research may be required to develop a valid approach for assessing the robustness and sensitivity of value coefficients for the valuation of the ESV at the landscape level