Impact of population pressure on land resources as reflected in land-use/land-changes in Ethiopia: leasons learned from west Gurageland
2001
Muluneh Woldetsadik (Addis Abeba Univ. (Ethiopia))
The link between population and the environment, on the one hand, and population and the economy, on the other hand, has been one of the most critical issues hotly debated among academics, statesmen and government and non-government organizations. Many people consider degradation and poverty as the results of population growth. But there is a new emerging idea that, all other things remaining normal, population growth. But there is a new emerging idea that, all other things remaining normal, population growth can induce environmental recovery, growth in the economy and technological innovation. This paper assesses the changes observed in the land use/land cover of Ethiopia, especially that of the West Gurageland, in the last four decades. Aerial photographs of forty years, including data from secondary sources on the state of environmental resources and degradation were used to evaluate the changes. the survey shows that Ethiopia has a diversified and huge natural resource base but the resources have been very degraded and are found in a critical state. deforestation takes place at the rate of 200,000 hectars per annum and forest cover decreased from about 4% in 1900 to less than 3% at the moment. Estimated amount of soils washed away from the highlands ranges from 1.5 to 1.9 billion tons every year. Furthermore, the land-use survey result in the west Gurageland shows that cropped area and settlement increased by about 25% and 38%, respectively, in the last three to four decades, Eucalyptus tree plantations expanded by 186%. hence the state of 'more people, more trees' holds true in this case. Grazing area and shrub land decreased by about 34% and 16%, respectively. While wastelands have increased by about 71%, about 8% of the forest cover was destroyed either for settlement or fuel wood and construction purposes.
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