Mapping and Quantifying Land Degradation in the Omo-Gibe River Basin, South-Western Ethiopia

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to map and analyze the patterns of environmentally vulnerable regions to land degradation in the Omo-Gibe River Basin. The study used GIS techniques to map land sensitivity to degradation. The multifactorial approach-MEDALUS method, which used three quality indicators-soil, climate, and vegetation and nine parameters were used. About 48% of the basin was highly vulnerable to land degradation, and 36% showed clear signs of degradation. 15.8% of the area had a low potential for land degradation. Implementing proper land management strategies should focus on severely degraded areas to achieve sustainable agriculture and hydroelectric energy production.

KEYWORDS:

• Land Degradation
• MEDALUS
• Indicators
• Omo-gibe basin
• GIS

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

“This research received no external funding”

Notes on contributors

Habtamu Dagne

Habtamu Dagne is a senior lecturer at the department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Wachemo University, Ethiopia. He holds BA degree in Geography and Environmental studies from Wollega University, Ethiopia; MA in Geography and environmental Education from Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. His research interest areas are in Land Degradation, Sustainable Land Management, Environment and Development, Environmental Health, and Environmental Impact Assessment.

Engdawork Assefa

Engdawork Assefa is Assistant professor at Addis Ababa University in the Center for Environment and Development. He holds a doctoral degree in Environmental Geography, University of Kiel, Germany. His research interest lies in Landscape dynamics, soil survey, geoarcheology, land degradation, watershed managements, climate dynamics, natural disaster and resilience.

Ermias Teferi

Ermias Teferi is lecturer and researcher at Addis Ababa University in the Center for Environment and Development. He holds a doctoral degree in Hydrology and Water Resources, from UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education, & Technical University of Delft, The Netherlands. His research interest areas lies in Hydrology and Water Resources Management, Remote Sensing and GIS analysis, Landscape Transformation and Land degradation, Climate and Disaster Risk Management.