Assessing the impact of Land use changes on ecosystem services in the Alledighe rangeland, Ethiopia.

Understanding the ecological, social, and economic values of protected areas, as well as assessing the services they provide to both humans and the environment is crucial for informing conservation policies and sustainable land management practices. Using the benefits transfer method, changes in ecosystem service values (ESVs) resulting from spatiotemporal land use dynamics were evaluated in the Alledighe Wildlife Reserve (AWR) spanning from 1998 to 2016. Five distinct habitat types, namely grassland, bushland, woodland, riverine forest, and highland forest, were identified across the landscape. The ESVs were estimated using regional and global ESV values. A decline in the extent of grassland, woodland, and riverine forests by 9.9%, 2.4%, and 1.5%, respectively, was observed while bushland and highland forests increased by 10.6% and 3.3%, respectively. The AWR experienced a loss of roughly 145 km2 of grassland habitat. Based on regional and global ESVs, total ESVs in the study area decreased by 28.18% from approximately US$ 180 million to approximately US$ 129 million, and by 40.85% from approximately US$ 496 million to approximately US$ 293 million. As per individual ESV assessment, the total ESV decreased by 41% from around US$ 374.5 million to US$ 264.8 million. Provisioning service declined by 41.6% from US$ 100 million to US$ 70.6 million. Regulating service declined by 42.5% from US$ 242.4 million to US$ 170 million. Supporting service declined by 67% from US$ 5.3 million to US$ 3.2 million, and cultural service decreased by 27.8% from US$ 26.7 million to US$ 20.8 million. The larger ESV change was contributed by the expansion of forestland and bushland across previously grassland-dominated areas. The results of this study could render the value of the rangeland more visible in the decision-making process, as well as provide valuable input for future planning and management interventions of the AWR's pristine rangeland, thereby enhancing ecosystem services and the livelihoods of the surrounding communities.

Planning for ecosystem services compensation in the central highlands of Ethiopia.

The rapid deterioration of the upper Akaki catchment natural environment has led to an increasing impact not only on the watershed ecosystem but also the livelihood and the general well-being of the local community. As a result, the water supply is becoming a problem for Addis Ababa and its surrounding residents. This may lead to a greater willingness to pay and cooperate in initiatives to protect the watersheds. Therefore, a market-based instrument and participatory arrangements are critical for resolving socioecological problems. This research aimed to demonstrate a need for an incentive-based watershed conservation approach that can be used to support nature conservation through long-term financial investments in the central watersheds and elsewhere. To support the market-based intervention, sealable ecosystem services and cost-benefit analysis, as well as relevant stakeholders, institutions, and legal frameworks, were assessed. The prime factors for designing market-based approaches to halt biodiversity loss and reversing ecological processes are discussed. A domestic water tariff increase of ETB 1 per m3 (US$ 0.08) could raise approximately US$ 3.24 million annually for watershed management, which could compensate smallholder farmers' annual opportunity costs for crop and livestock forage loss. Furthermore, the practice could help to abate biodiversity loss, improve the local economy, and accelerate the implementation of global biodiversity targets. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;00:1-10. © 2023 SETAC.

Impact of land use land cover changes on ecosystem service values in the Dire and Legedadi watersheds, central highlands of Ethiopia: Implication for landscape management decision making.

Land use land cover change in a landscape is the main driver of degradation in ecosystem goods and services. This study was aimed at analysing the dynamics of the LULC change in the catchments of the water supply reservoirs as well as the impact on the Ecosystem Service Values (ESVs) between 1985 and 2022. The benefit transfer method was used to evaluate ecosystem service value (ESV) changes in response to LULC. The watersheds experienced substantial LULC changes. As a result, the natural vegetation, grasslands, and eucalyptus plantations declined dramatically, while settlements and cultivated lands considerably increased. The global and local ESV estimates show a dramatic decline in ESVs between 1985 and 2022. According to global and local ESV estimates, total ESV in the Legedadi watershed has decreased from approximately US$ 65.8 million in 1985 to approximately US$ 11.9 million in 2022 and from approximately US$ 42.7 million in 1985 to approximately US$ 9.66 million in 2022. According to global and local ESV estimates, total ESV in the Dire watershed decreased from approximately US$ 437 thousand in 1985 to approximately US$ 59 thousand in 2022 and from approximately US$ 225 thousand in 1985 to approximately US$ 36 thousand in 2022. The overall decline in ESV demonstrates that the natural environment is deteriorating as a result of replacement of the natural land cover by other economic land uses. Hence, it is highly recommended that implementing sustainable watershed management practices to halt the dramatic loss of natural ecosystems must be a high priority.

Analysis of land suitability for apple-based agroforestry farming in Dire and Legedadi watersheds of Ethiopia: implication for ecosystem services.

This study was conducted to evaluate land suitability for apple farming in the Dire and Legedadi watersheds of the central highlands of Ethiopia. Attributes that determine apple growth were categorized into environmental, soil, climate, and land management factors. The land evaluation methodology developed by FAO (1976) was applied in six steps. First, nine thematic layers are prepared. Second, pair-wise comparison matrices were performed using AHP. Third, thematic layers are reclassified. Forth, weights are assigned to each class. Fifth, weighted overlay analysis was performed to produce a land suitability map. Finally, the land suitability map was classified into high, moderate, marginally suitable, and unsuitable categories. Soil type received the highest weight of 1.98 followed by elevation and LULC of 1.51 each. The mean temperature, rainfall, soil pH, and soil drainage weight were 1.41, 0.94, 0.56, and 0.52 respectively. Whereas the slope and aspect weighted the lowest at 0.38 and 0.19 respectively. Out of the total area of the watersheds, about 14 km2 (6.7%) and 12.34 km2 (13.1%) are highly suitable for apple farming in the Legedadi and Dire watersheds respectively. Whereas, about 113.35 km2 (53.8%) and 42.54 km2 (45.2%) of land are not suitable in the Legedadi and Dire watersheds respectively. Landholders who play a pivotal role should be incentivized to grow perennial crops (e.g., apple-trees) to enhance environmental income and alleviate poverty.