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Forest Cover Change Detection Using Remote Sensing and GIS in Banja District, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Received: 1 December 2014     Accepted: 18 December 2014     Published: 23 December 2014
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Abstract

Forest cover change analysis between 1973 and 2003 was conducted in Banja district, Awi zone, Amhara region using remote sensing and geographic information system supported with field verifications. Information was extracted from various Satellite images and different digital maps. The objectives of this study were to detect the extent and rate of forest cover change over the last 30 years. Three dates of Landsat image data of the 1973, 1986 and 2003 were used to produce land cover map in general and forest cover map in particular. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), image differencing and post-classification comparison change detection methods were employed. In addition to this, socioeconomic data were used in explaining the drivers of forest cover changes in the study area. The results showed that during the last 30 years, forest cover declined from 6044ha in 1973 to 2855.9ha in 1986 and 2446.9ha in the year 2003. The annual rate of forest cover change between 1973 and 2003 was 120ha/year. The socioeconomic factors like population growth, the demand for the expansion of agricultural land, fuel wood and construction materials were the major driving forces for the observed forest cover changes. Therefore, in order to reduce the problem of forest cover change, remedial actions are recommended.

Published in International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis (Volume 2, Issue 6)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijema.20140206.19
Page(s) 354-360
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2014. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Forest Covers Change, Remote Sensing, Geographic Information System, Satellite Image Analysis

References
[1] ESCAP (1996).Manual on geographic information System, for Planners and Decision makers. United Nation.
[2] EFAP (1993).The challenge for Development. Draft Final Report Volume II. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 78pp.
[3] Azene Bekele, A., Birnie, A., Tengnas (1993). Useful Trees and Shrubs for Ethiopia: Identification, Propagation and Management for Agricultural and Pastoral Communities. Published By Regional SoilConservation Unit, Swedish International Development Authority, Nairobi, Kenya.
[4] Rahman, M.M, Csaolovics,E., Koch, B., & Kohl, M.(2006) . Interpretation of TropicalVegetationUsingLand sat ETM+ Imagery.
[5] Badeg Bishaw (2001).Deforestation and land Degradation in the Ethiopian Highlands: A strategy for Physical Recovery. North East African Studies 8.1, 7-25 New York.
[6] FAO (2005).GlobalForest Resources Assessment progress towards sustainable Forest Management. P.11-12
[7] Singh A. (1989). Digital change detection techniques using remotely sensed data. International Journal of Remote Sensing, Vol. 10, 989–1003,.
[8] WHO, IUCN, and WWF (1993).Guidelines on the Conservation of Medicinal Plants.IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Abyot Yismaw, Birhanu Gedif, Solomon Addisu, Ferede Zewudu. (2014). Forest Cover Change Detection Using Remote Sensing and GIS in Banja District, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis, 2(6), 354-360. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20140206.19

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    ACS Style

    Abyot Yismaw; Birhanu Gedif; Solomon Addisu; Ferede Zewudu. Forest Cover Change Detection Using Remote Sensing and GIS in Banja District, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Int. J. Environ. Monit. Anal. 2014, 2(6), 354-360. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20140206.19

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    AMA Style

    Abyot Yismaw, Birhanu Gedif, Solomon Addisu, Ferede Zewudu. Forest Cover Change Detection Using Remote Sensing and GIS in Banja District, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Int J Environ Monit Anal. 2014;2(6):354-360. doi: 10.11648/j.ijema.20140206.19

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijema.20140206.19,
      author = {Abyot Yismaw and Birhanu Gedif and Solomon Addisu and Ferede Zewudu},
      title = {Forest Cover Change Detection Using Remote Sensing and GIS in Banja District, Amhara Region, Ethiopia},
      journal = {International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis},
      volume = {2},
      number = {6},
      pages = {354-360},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijema.20140206.19},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20140206.19},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijema.20140206.19},
      abstract = {Forest cover change analysis between 1973 and 2003 was conducted in Banja district, Awi zone, Amhara region using remote sensing and geographic information system supported with field verifications. Information was extracted from various Satellite images and different digital maps. The objectives of this study were to detect the extent and rate of forest cover change over the last 30 years. Three dates of Landsat image data of the 1973, 1986 and 2003 were used to produce land cover map in general and forest cover map in particular. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), image differencing and post-classification comparison change detection methods were employed. In addition to this, socioeconomic data were used in explaining the drivers of forest cover changes in the study area. The results showed that during the last 30 years, forest cover declined from 6044ha in 1973 to 2855.9ha in 1986 and 2446.9ha in the year 2003. The annual rate of forest cover change between 1973 and 2003 was 120ha/year. The socioeconomic factors like population growth, the demand for the expansion of agricultural land, fuel wood and construction materials were the major driving forces for the observed forest cover changes. Therefore, in order to reduce the problem of forest cover change, remedial actions are recommended.},
     year = {2014}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Forest Cover Change Detection Using Remote Sensing and GIS in Banja District, Amhara Region, Ethiopia
    AU  - Abyot Yismaw
    AU  - Birhanu Gedif
    AU  - Solomon Addisu
    AU  - Ferede Zewudu
    Y1  - 2014/12/23
    PY  - 2014
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20140206.19
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijema.20140206.19
    T2  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    JF  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    JO  - International Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
    SP  - 354
    EP  - 360
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2328-7667
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijema.20140206.19
    AB  - Forest cover change analysis between 1973 and 2003 was conducted in Banja district, Awi zone, Amhara region using remote sensing and geographic information system supported with field verifications. Information was extracted from various Satellite images and different digital maps. The objectives of this study were to detect the extent and rate of forest cover change over the last 30 years. Three dates of Landsat image data of the 1973, 1986 and 2003 were used to produce land cover map in general and forest cover map in particular. Normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), image differencing and post-classification comparison change detection methods were employed. In addition to this, socioeconomic data were used in explaining the drivers of forest cover changes in the study area. The results showed that during the last 30 years, forest cover declined from 6044ha in 1973 to 2855.9ha in 1986 and 2446.9ha in the year 2003. The annual rate of forest cover change between 1973 and 2003 was 120ha/year. The socioeconomic factors like population growth, the demand for the expansion of agricultural land, fuel wood and construction materials were the major driving forces for the observed forest cover changes. Therefore, in order to reduce the problem of forest cover change, remedial actions are recommended.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 6
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Bureau of Mines and Energy Agency, Amhara National Regional State, Bahir Dar

  • Director for Geospatial Data and Technology Center, Lecturer at College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Department of Natural Resources Management, Bahir Dar University

  • PhD Research Scholar at Andhra University, College of Science |& Technology, Environmental Sciences Department

  • Assistant Professor, at College of Social Sciences, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Bahir Dar University

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