QUANTIFICATION OF LAND USE CHANGE IMPACT ON ECOSYSTEM SERVICE VALUE IN SOUTHERN ETHIOPIAN RIFT VALLEY LAKE BASIN AT BIODIVERSITY HOTSPOT AREA

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Quantifying the Ecosystem Services Value(ESV) is essential to make socioeconomic activities environmentally sustainable in Ethiopia, where natural ecosystems are deteriorating, including in Protected Areas(PAs) due to increased anthropogenic pressures, Although ESV studies show progress, ESV coefficients for ecosystem services (ES) in Ethiopia have not yet been established. This study is the first to develop equivalent factors at the national level and coefficients at the district level for 23 ES types, following a unit value approach. It also quantified the total ESV and changes therein linked with land use change observed in Nechsar National Park between 2002 and 2040. Different datasets: land use/cover, ES valuation, empirical ESV studies, per unit area price of food crops, ESV of cultivated land for food production services, various statistical formulas, geospatial tools, price standardization indices and difference adjustment indices (ecological, economic, and social) were used in different steps of the study. The results (<0.5) of the sensitivity analysis indicated that the developed coefficients are adequately reliable to estimate ESV along with the area of land types in the study area. The results showed that NNP has experienced a continued reduction in its total ESV with US$ 4.08x10⁶ and 1.01x10⁶ net loss in the first- and second-time intervals, respectively. Forest land and woodland are the leading resources to provide essential ES. For 67.93% reduction in total ESV was attributed to the land loss from these land types from 2002 to 2020. Apart from the magnitude, the direction of land transitions considerably affects the spatiotemporal change/gain and loss/ ESV. The study provides site-specific and long-term evidence that can help stakeholders to understand the consequences of LUC, resolve interest conflicts over land use, and implement practicable interventions.

Keywords: ecosystem service flow, Net gain, equivalent coefficient