Analysis of land use land cover dynamics and driving factors in Desa’a forest in Northern Ethiopia

摘要: Abstract Understanding the dynamic of land use/land cover (LULC) can assist relevant authorities in implementing them along with management options for natural forests like Desa’a forest Northern Ethiopia. It is worth mentioning that no comprehensive study has been done so far on overall change LULC within surrounding areas. This aimed at analyzing changes and driving factors through Landsat images (i.e., 1973 (MSS), 1986 (TM), 2015 (OLI)) maximum likelihood supervised classification. Post classification pixel to comparison was also performed detect from year year. Finally, focus group discussions were made identify drivers support computer-based classifications accuracy. Results demonstrated both dense (54.11%) open (28.48%) covered almost 83% total area while only 17% by grasslands (10%), farmland (3%), bare (4%). despite fact woody vegetation 39% reserve 2015. During period, 54,000 ha have converted either or farmland, which 48,163 ha previously forests. Continuing such a trend will lead more severe deforestation it necessary modify variables forest. The results showed fire, agricultural expansion, grazing browsing effect, drought, extraction wood, lack government attention are major driver this provide practical perspective use planners manage changes, reduce greenhouse gases, enhance biodiversity conservation region. In addition, findings current could perfect source calculations choosing best policy-making decisions protect plans