Assessment of forest cover change and its environmental imacts using multi-temporal and multi-spectral satellite images

Abstract

Ethiopia has a large number of species of flora and fauna in general and forest resources in particular with a significant rate of endemism. Ethiopian forest cover once was 40 per cent of the country’s land area. Reduction in forest cover results in soil erosion, reduced capacity for watershed protection, reduced capacity for carbon sequestration, threats to biodiversity, dwindling and instability of ecosystems and shortage of various wood and non-wood forest products and services. The invention of satellite remote sensing techniques and the introduction of affordable, powerful computing devices in such areas are getting deserved inter -national attention with detailed studies as well as mapping. The objective of this study was to assess the spatial and temporal changes of forest cover and to identify the driving forces and the impacts on the environment. It is hoped that this study will provide information for decision-makers and development practitioners about the magnitude and dimensions of long-term forest cover changes, its drivers and impacts, in the study area and surrounding areas.