Remote sensing and GIS-based study of land use/cover dynamics, driving factors, and implications in southern Ethiopia, with special reference to the Legabora watershed.

This paper investigates the trends, drivers, and consequences of LULC changes in Legabora watershed, Ethiopia, by utilizing remote sensing and geographic systems. Landsat Maltispectiral scanner (MSS), Thematic Mapper (TM), Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+), and Operational Land Imager (OLI) images of years 1976, 1991, 2001, and 2022, respectively, were used to study the dynamics of LULC. Essential image pre-processing steps were carefully carried out to correct distortions caused by sensor limitations. Eight main LULC categories were identified based on supervised image categorization methods and the maximum likelihood classification algorithm.The findings of change detection and cross-tabulation matrix demonstrate that there has been a significant increase in the area of cropland 345.1 ha/year, settlement 5.9 ha/year, forest 38.2 ha/year, and degraded lands 2.56 ha/year, respectively, over the period between 1976 and 2022. In contrast, considerable decreases were observed in grasslands (-248 ha/year) and shrublands (-144 ha/year), whereas other LULC categories augmented. The results revealed that the overall accuracy rates stood at 88.3 %, 88.4 %, and 85.6 % for 1976, 1991, and 2022, respectively. The overall kappa coefficient demonstrated values of 0.86 %, 0.86 %, and 0.83 % for the same period. Surveyed respondents perceived population growth, settlement, agricultural expansion, and infrastructure development as the most noticeable drivers of these LULC changes. In contrast, deforestation, land degradation, lack of livestock fodder, and biodiversity loss were identified as the main consequences of LULC changes. The factors and implications addressed in this study may be helpful tool for the formulation and implementation of evidence-based land use policies and strategies within in the study area and elsewhere.

Ethiopian Medicinal Plants Used for Respiratory Tract Disorders: Ethnomedicinal Review.

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) refer to infections in any part of the respiratory tract, which are common, with most of the world's population contracting at least one infection annually. These infections are becoming important causes of death and morbidity due to the rapid development of antimicrobial resistance that has resulted in reduced efficacy of existing drugs. Different local societies residing in Ethiopia have been reported to use traditional medicinal plants to treat RTIs. Nevertheless, up-to-date summarized data on the diversity of plants used in the traditional medicine system to treat RTIs in Ethiopia are lacking. The purpose of this review was to assess plant species used in traditional medicine to treat respiratory tract infections in Ethiopia. It attempts to compile available data required for undertaking further scientific investigations. The data were collected by searching for published scientific articles and other grey literature. Following this, medicinal plant (MP) diversity, growth forms, plant parts used, modes of remedy preparation and application, sources and distributions, and frequently treated respiratory disorders were examined. An Excel spreadsheet and SigmaPlot software were used to summarize and present the data. Two hundred twenty-nine (229) plant species that have been used to treat respiratory disorders in Ethiopia were documented. Lamiaceae was the most cited family (27 species), followed by Asteraceae (23 species), and Fabaceae (18 species), whereas cough was primarily cited as being treated by MPs and scored the highest frequency of citation (FOC = 243), followed by the common cold (FOC = 151) and asthma (FOC = 63). The top-cited plant species used in the treatment of RTIs were Eucalyptus globulus (6.8%), Allium sativum (5.5%), Zingiber officinale (4.2%), Ruta chalepensis (3.8%), and Ocimum lamiifolium (2.8%). Herbs were the dominant plant growth form (46%) used to treat respiratory diseases, and the most commonly used MP parts were leaves (37%). The leading traditional method used for preparation was decoction (25.5%), and the remedies were usually administered orally (64.6%). The MP origin reported was mainly from the wild (59%). High diversity of medicinal plants was reported as being used to treat various RTIs in Ethiopia. Information obtained from this review could be used as a reference for the selection of plants for further pharmacological, phytochemical, and toxicological investigations for their possible therapeutic applications and the development of new plant-based drugs.

Socioeconomic determinants of crop diversity in Bule Hora Woreda, Southern Ethiopia.

Crop diversification on the farm is a useful approach, especially in developing countries, where agriculture is the primary source of income. Crop diversity management on the farm is critical for reducing poverty, increasing farm revenue, creating jobs, and ensuring long-term agricultural sustainability by maintaining biodiversity, soil, and water resources. Despite their relevance, several variables are currently affecting farmers' crop production decisions. The purpose of this research was to see how socioeconomic factors influence crop diversification. We chose randomly 84 sample household heads from four kebeles to collect socioeconomic and on-farm data. The Shannon-Wiener index (SWI) and crop species richness were used to assess crop diversity. A multiple stepwise linear regression model was used to evaluate the data. Crop diversity was positively and significantly related to household farm size, animal size and composition, annual income, and the location's altitudinal gradient. A lack of road infrastructure and market connections constrained farmers' crop diversification options. It's vital to connect distant areas with road networks and market ties to promote farm-level crop diversification.

Land use and land cover change, and analysis of its drivers in Ojoje watershed, Southern Ethiopia.

There have been incredible changes that have taken place in the land use pattern globally over the last 50 years, which resulted from environmental degradation and climate change impacts. Quantitative analysis of the LULC dynamics helps in land-use management and ecosystem degradation at large. The study was conducted in the Doyogena district, southern Ethiopia to identify LULC change dynamics, and analyze the driving forces using combined approaches: remote sensing, field observations, in-depth household interviews, key informants, and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). A supervised maximum likelihood image cataloging method was employed in conjunction with feature extraction of satellite images to categorize and map LULC classes of the study area. Satellite image handing out, classification technique, and remotely sensed data were processed using ArcGIS map 10.6, and ERDAS Imagine 2014. Common LULC categories were identified, and a change analysis was conducted. Accordingly, seven LULC categories were determined. The result showed a considerable decline in forestland from 1756.7 ha (38.8%) in 1973 to 71.6 ha (1.6%) in 2020. Similarly, wetlands have declined successively from 16.8 in 2000-2010 to 6.3 in 1986-2020 ha/year over the last three and half decades respectively. On the other hand, cropland has increased from 34.1% in 1986-2000 to 46.3% between 1986-2020, which is linked to population growth, settlement, and expansion of farmlands. The study watershed has experienced a considerable change in LULC change over the last >3 decades. Hence, local and national regimes should implement sustainable land planning, management strategies including integrated land- use planning, and policy reform into development projects and programs.

Effects of climate variability on livestock productivity and pastoralists perception: The case of drought resilience in Southeastern Ethiopia.

This study examines the perception of the pastoral community on climate change and performance, resilience and adaptive capacity of livestock under climatic stress in southeastern Ethiopia. The study used a mixed research approach whereby quantitative and qualitative data were gathered from multiple sources to address the impacts of climate variability on livestock production and livelihood of pastoral-agro-pastoral communities of Guji zone. Data about pastoralist perception on climate change were collected from 198 randomly selected households using a semi-structured questionnaire. Furthermore, climate data were obtained from the national meteorological agency, and climatic water balance was assessed. The household survey result indicated increasing patterns of temperature (82.8%)and drought intensity (84.8%). Majority of respondents perceived decreasing trends of rainfall and feed availability. Similarly, the trend analysis of rainfall showed declining trends of annual (-4.7 mm/year), autumn (-4.5 mm) and winter (-0.54 mm). Rainfall Anomaly Index identifies 13 drought years over the past 32 years, of which 53.85% occurred between 2007- 2017. Significantly higher (p<0.01) cattle and small ruminants than camel per household died during the disastrous drought occurred in 2008/9 and 2015/16. Nonetheless, the result indicated significantly higher (p<0.01) amounts of milk yield (3.32 litre/day) of dairying camel during dry periods than cattle and small ruminants. Camel and goats are perceived as drought-resistant livestock species and cattle keepers shifting to have more camel and goat in response to prevailing drought in the study area. Poor attention is given to identify climate-smart/resilient livestock species and strains. Therefore, extensive investigations are required to select and identify purpose-specific camel and goat strains for drought-prone areas.

The inventory of camel feed resource and the evaluation of its chemical composition in south-east rangelands of Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Evaluations of available camel feed nutritive value are relevant to generate evidence on further camel feed improvements and find out the components to be supplemented. OBJECTIVE: This study aim to evaluate seasonal variations on chemical composition of selected camel feed in semi-arid regions of south-east Ethiopia. METHODS: Samples of edible portions from 15 browse species were collected during the dry and wet seasons, and their chemical compositions were analysed. RESULTS: The crude protein (CP), in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and relative feed value (RFV) of evaluated browse species were higher (p < .01) in wet season than the dry season except for Acacia asak, Ipomoea donaldsonii and Acacia mellifera. Nonetheless, the neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) contents were higher (p < .01) in the dry season except for A. asak and I. donaldsonii. Moreover, A. asak, I. donaldsonii and A. mellifera were the browse species with higher (p < .01) RFV, IVDMD and CP but lower NDF and ADF during the dry season than the wet season, and these species are qualified as good-quality forage. Thus. Barleria spinisepala were better to use in both seasons, but browse species like I. donaldsonii and A. asak in dry season were ranked as best quality roughage. CONCLUSION: At richest level on vital components (CP and fibres), these species can serve as well ruminant diets, like for camel. Further investigations based on animal trials are needed in order to confirm the classification standards of feed quality used in this study.