RESUMEN
Fast coppicing plantations like Eucalyptus are becoming an ever increasingly important land use system globally, including the Eucalyptus hotspot highlands of Northwestern Ethiopia. However, comprehensive information regarding species composition is essential for proper planning and policy decisions. The current study mapped the spatial distribution of Eucalyptus globulus (hereafter referred to as Eucalyptus) and identified the key push factors for its expansion. The study used a mapping procedure that uses Landsat imagery together with ground truth data based on supervised training of a pixel-by-pixel classification algorithm within image regions to distinguish areas of Eucalyptus plantations from other classes. High-resolution multispectral and multi-temporal remote-sensing images were combined with ground truth data to produce robust features of Eucalyptus plantation distribution maps. Heckman's Two-Stage econometric model was also employed for determining the major driving factors of Eucalyptus expansion. The results of the mapping algorithm were Eucalyptus plantation distribution maps of 30 × 30 m resolution that showed temporal changes from 1999 to 2021. The findings revealed that Eucalyptus coverage increased by 55% during the period from 1999 to 2010 and the change expressively increased to 69% in 2021 with respect to the reference period. The study also found that a number of push factors influenced the size of land planted with Eucalyptus. The developed maps showing the spatial distribution and expansion of Eucalyptus will help policymakers properly manage the ecosystems and agricultural landscapes of Eucalyptus growing areas.
RESUMEN
Today, evaluating ecological wellbeing and ecosystem services is becoming a great concern towards conserving the natural resource base. Healthy functioning ecosystems have fundamental roles for aiding humankind to lead a healthy life and ensure an improved social welfare. Estimating the non-market benefits of ecosystem services can help experts and the public frame policy directions designed for landscape development. The ecosystem of the Eucalyptus hotspot highlands of northwestern Ethiopia, where this study was carried out, provides services that are essential to changes in the life of the society and biodiversity. However, in recent years, the ecosystem is facing a serious threat from intensive monoculture plantations of Eucalyptus. This has resulted in transformation of the cultural landscapes and a loss of biodiversity. The problem in turn calls for designing appropriate ecological improvement programs. Thus, the current study examined the preferences of residents concerning this area and estimated their willingness to pay (WTP) for the proposed ecosystem improvement programs using a Choice Experiment approach. Data were aggregated from 388 residents using a questionnaire survey in January 2020. The survey contained ecological improvement schemes and a hypothetical event by which respondents expressed their willingness to pay a yearly utility fee as a compensation for the improvement programs. Results showed significant differences in resident preferences towards the proposed ecological improvement attributes. The findings also indicated that the socioeconomic backgrounds of residents contributed for the heterogeneity in their WTP for ecological improvement schemes. Accordingly, the marginal willingness to pay of residents was USD 205/person/year for the respective ecological improvement attributes. The findings suggest that policy makers should consider such attribute-based public preferences while planning landscape development and conservation programs. This study can provide vital policy implications and contribute to knowledge as it presents how the non-market valuations of ecosystems help maximize social welfare.
