The status of wetlands in seasonally flooded plains in eastern part of Lake Tana, Ethiopia

Main Article Content

AKLILU AGIDIE
AYALEW WONDIE
GETACHEW BENEBERU

Abstract

Abstract. Agidie A, Wondie A, Beneberu G. 2024. The status of wetlands in seasonally flooded plains in eastern part of Lake Tana, Ethiopia. Intl J Bonorowo Wetlands 14: 74-82. Understanding the challenges and conditions of wetland ecosystems has become more critical. Wetland area coverage has gone through dramatic change, and multiple anthropogenic and natural processes threaten it ever so now. To this end, the study aims to evaluate the changes in wetland area coverage from 1990 to 2022, assess their current status based on multi-influencing factors, and analyze the drivers and pressures within a Driving-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework. Data were gathered through transect walks, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and household surveys. The wetland area's land cover change was examined using the Landsat photos retrieved from Google Earth Engine. The result indicated that wetlands were lost at a higher rate, from 0.55 to 0.17%, while cultivated land expansion has substantially increased from 87.35 to 89.71%, respectively. The primary reason for the area's changing land cover was the population's explosive growth. Decreased production, the loss of biodiversity, and land scarcity were the main drivers. To encourage soil and water conservation, farmers must be trained in sustainable land management techniques, native vegetation plantation, and the restoration of wetlands and riverbanks through thoughtful land use planning.

Article Details

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Articles

Author Biographies

AYALEW WONDIE, College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Science, Bahir Dar University. PO Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Ayalew Wondie Melese (PhD)

General Manager of ANRS Lake Tana and Other Water bodies Protection and Development Agency

Associate Professor of Aquatic and Wetland Sciences at Bahir Dar University

Mobile +251 0918768598

Website: www.ltpda.gov.et

Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

[email protected]

GETACHEW BENEBERU, College of Science, Department of Biology, Bahir Dar University. PO Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Getachew Beneberu (Ph.D.)

Associate Professor, Department of Biology

Coordinator, Aquatic Ecosystem and Environmental Management (AEEM)

Bahir Dar University

Bahir Dar, Ethiopia

Phone: +251922597160

 Orcid Id : https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1261-1920

[email protected]

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