Assessing the impacts of land use/cover changes on ecosystem service values in Rib watershed, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia

This study aims to assess the impacts of land use/land cover (LULC) changes on ecosystem service values (ESVs) in the Rib watershed of the Upper Blue Nile Basin between 2000 and 2020 periods. Image classifications were carried out using Landsat 5 TM for 2000 and 2010, and Landsat 8 OLI_TIRS for 2020 periods following the supervised classification technique with a Maximum Likelihood Algorithm (MLA) in ERDAS Imagine 2014. The study estimated the effects of LULC changes on ESVs using the modified ecosystem service value coefficients. The result indicated that a reduction of forest (46%), shrubland (44%), grassland (42%), and an increase of cultivated land (23%), settlement (137%), and waterbody (80%) during 2000 and 2020 periods. The total ESVs of the watershed were estimated about US$ 68.6 million in 2000, US$ 59.4 million in 2010, and US$ 59.3 million in 2020. The ESVs lost between 2000 and 2020 periods was about US$ 9.3 million (13.5%). The observed LULC changes during this period have also affected the individual ecosystem services. The reduction of ESVs through 2000 to 2020 periods indicates the effects of LULC changes on ecological degradation. Hence, the authors suggested the use of LULC change and ESVs together during land management decision-making processes.

Automated summary

This study evaluates the effects of land use/land cover changes on ecosystem service values in the Rib watershed of the Upper Blue Nile Basin between 2000 and 2020. The results indicate a decrease in forest, shrubland, and grassland, as well as an increase in cultivated land, settlement, and waterbody. The total ecosystem service values have also decreased, suggesting the impact of land use/land cover changes on ecological degradation. Therefore, it is recommended to consider both land use/land cover changes and ecosystem service values in land management decision-making processes.