Anthropogenic impact on land use land cover: influence on weather and vegetation in Bambasi Wereda, Ethiopia

Abstract

Land Use Land Cover Changes (LULCC) has impacts on a wide range of environmental and landscape attributes including the quality of land, water and air. The main objective of this study was to analysis the impact of anthropogenic activities and LULCC on weather (rainfall and temperature) and vegetation in the study area over a period of 28 years. The study has employed temporal LANDSAT sensors data to identify the changes in LULC and Vegetation Indices through anthropogenic influence. Moreover, statistical analysis of temperature and rainfall data (1985–2015) has also been done of Bambasi station. It has been found that the average temperature has been increased approximately 2.2 °C and the average rainfall amount was declined throughout the period. The drastic changes have been noticed in LULC, vegetation health and its area through NDVI during the first interval (1987–2001) but the land change growth was less in second interval (2001–2015). The increasing population, urbanization and resettlement scheme for refugees were the responsible factors for changes. This case study indicates that the impact of anthropogenic activities leads the change in LULC and the climate has been influenced or vice versa over the time period in this semi-arid region of Ethiopia.