Land Use/Cover Dynamics in Ribb Watershed, North Western Ethiopia

Land use/cover change dynamics influences many aspects of the natural environment. Its shifting patterns as a component of many existing climate change problems has been gaining recognition as key cause and consequences of environmental problems and livelihood changes. The Ribb River watershed has been subjected to prolonged use for agriculture without conserving natural resource. Forest degradation, biodiversity and habitat loss and soil degradation are the common problems in the area. Therefore, determining the land use and cover dynamics in the Ribb River Watershed was important to make decisions on resource conservation, executing sustainable development activities in the watershed areas. The main objectives of the study was to determine the land cover/use status of Ribb River watershed in the years 1973, 1987, 1995, and 2011 by using landsat images. The overall results of the analysis have shown that between the last 38 years in the Ribb Watershed, about 57.4 % of forest, 52.3 % of bush lands 63.5 % of areas of water bodies were converted to cultivated and settlement lands, grazing lands and wetlands,whereas the cultivated and settlement lands, grazing lands and wetlands were increased in area by 36.2%, 50.9% and 66.3% respectively. Population pressure and, land tenure policy were identified as causes for changes in land use/cover. The results of this study were significant indicators for planners and other stakeholders in the watershed to take measures that can help to bring long term solutions for resource conservation and bringing sustainable development and livelihood attaining mechanisms in the watershed. Keywords: Ribb, Watershed, Land Use/Cover, dynamics, GIS and Remote Sensin