Department of Life Science, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, 38541, Republic of Korea.
Department of Agricultural Technical and Vocational Training, Ministry of Labor and Skills, 40/1080, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Environ Monit Assess. 2024 Mar 4;196(4):339. doi: 10.1007/s10661-024-12392-w.
Forests are pivotal in upholding and stabilizing ecosystem functions and services globally. Assessing changes in forest cover serves as a crucial indicator to comprehend the scope, scale, and dynamics of land use and land cover alterations on regional and global scales. This study evaluates the forest cover changes between 2005 and 2021, pinpointing the key drivers of forest land changes within the Senan district in Ethiopia's Amhara region. The analysis incorporated Landsat satellite images from 2005, 2011, and 2021, supplemented by field surveys using questionnaire data. Results reveal a shift: forest cover declined from 13.6% (2005) to 11.2% (2011) but rose to 15.4% by 2021, averaging a 12.9% annual change. Several crucial factors were identified as contributors to this forest cover change. These include expanding agricultural land, population growth, urbanization, and using wood as a fuel source. Poverty, exacerbated by population growth, climate change impacts, and a scarcity of food resources, directly linked to a shortage of farmlands, emerged as significant drivers of forest cover change. In light of these findings, an in-depth analysis of land use and land cover dynamics should be conducted, particularly at the expense of forest lands. Moreover, implementing sustainable management practices by developing strategies for intensive agriculture and fostering environmentally friendly non-farm income-generating activities is essential. This study provides reference material to policymakers and land-use planners setting sustainable development goals, advocating for balanced economic growth and environmental conservation to foster a harmonious relationship between humans and forests.
森林在维护和稳定全球生态系统功能和服务方面起着关键作用。评估森林覆盖变化是理解区域和全球范围内土地利用和土地覆盖变化范围、规模和动态的重要指标。本研究评估了 2005 年至 2021 年间的森林覆盖变化，确定了埃塞俄比亚阿姆哈拉地区森纳地区森林土地变化的主要驱动因素。该分析结合了 2005 年、2011 年和 2021 年的 Landsat 卫星图像，并辅之以使用问卷数据的实地调查。结果显示，森林覆盖从 2005 年的 13.6%下降到 2011 年的 11.2%，但到 2021 年上升到 15.4%，平均每年变化 12.9%。确定了几个关键因素是导致这种森林覆盖变化的原因。这些因素包括农业用地的扩大、人口增长、城市化以及将木材作为燃料来源。人口增长、气候变化影响以及粮食资源短缺导致的贫困问题直接导致了森林覆盖的变化，与农田短缺密切相关。鉴于这些发现，应该对土地利用和土地覆盖动态进行深入分析，特别是要考虑到森林土地的损失。此外，通过制定集约化农业战略和促进环境友好的非农业创收活动，实施可持续管理实践至关重要。本研究为制定可持续发展目标的政策制定者和土地利用规划者提供了参考材料，倡导在促进人类与森林和谐关系的同时实现经济的平衡增长和环境保护。
