JSFA

Article http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/ijfsa.2026.03.002

Impact of Land Use and Land Cover Changes of Borana Rangelands, Southern Ethiopia

TOTAL VIEWS: 325

Jaldesa Doyo, Asfaw Ejo, Sisay Taye^*

Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Yabello Pastoral and Dryland Agriculture Research Center, Yabello 170, Ethiopia.

*Corresponding author: Sisay Taye

Published: March 15,2026

Abstract

The study was aimed at understanding land use and land cover change on rangeland diversity, dynamics of land use and land cover, and to estimate the magnitude of different land uses. Time-series satellite images that included Landsat TM, ETM+, OLI, and TIRS, which covered the time frame between 1991, 2001, 2011, and 2021, were used. Data for ground referencing (ground truth) were collected during field work by reading GPS and used for the land use/land classification. In addition, a key informant survey from selected elders was carried out to understand historical trends, and Google Earth and pre-processed (raw) imagery were used for accuracy assessment. Based on this result, mostly the traditional grazing landscapes of study areas were converted to sparse bush degraded land and dense bush land, while grassland was extremely decline than any type of land use of Borana rangeland. The results were similar to the pastoralist response to the main problems of the Borana rangeland. Besides, this pastoralist believed that cultivation plays a great role in the reduction of grassland because most cultivated land is the bottom land, which has good potential for grazing. Generally, to improve the rangeland condition of the study area, indigenous grazing systems, dry season grazing, wet season grazing, and reserving grazing that is used during hard times or drought periods could be strengthened in combination with the government rangeland management plan. In general, land use planning and policy should be developed to separate land use based on its suitability for crop production, grazing lands, and forest land.

Keywords

Land use types; Land use cover change; Dense and sparse bush; Degraded land

References

[1] Camill P. Global change: An overview. Nat. Educ. Knowl. 2010;3(10):49.

[2] Jonckheere S, Liversage H, Rota A. Pastoralism and Land Tenure Security: Lessons from IFAD-supported projects. In: 2017 World Bank Conference on Land and Poverty; 2017. 41 p.

[3] Safriel U, Adeel Z, Niemeijer D, Puigdefabregas J, White R, Lal R, et al. Dryland systems. In: Hassan R, Scholes R, Ash N, editors. Ecosystems and Human Well-being: Current State and Trends. Washington, DC: World Resource Institute; 2005. p. 625-53.

[4] Garedew E. Land Use and Land Cover Dynamics and Rural Livelihood Perspectives in the Semi-Arid Areas of Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia [doctoral thesis]. Umeå: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences; 2010.

[5] Flintan F. The causes, process and impacts of land fragmentation in the rangelands of Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda: Regional learning and advocacy programme for vulnerable dryland communities [Internet]. 2011 [cited 2017 Sep 5]. p. 1-12. Available from:
http://www.disasterriskreduction.net/east-centralafrica/library/?querystring=reglap

[6] Coppock DL, editor. The Borana Plateau of Southern Ethiopia: Synthesis of pastoral research, development and change, 1980-91. Addis Ababa: ILA (International Livestock Centre for Africa); 1994. 393 p.

[7] Oba G, Post E, Syvertsen PO, Stenseth NC. Bush cover and range condition assessments in relation to landscape and grazing in southern Ethiopia. Landscape Ecol. 2000;15:535-46.

[8] Tache B, Oba G. Is poverty driving Borana herder in southern Ethiopia to crop cultivation? Hum. Ecol. 2010;38:639-49.

[9] Mohamed AA. Pastoralism and Developmental policy in Ethiopia: review study. Humanities and Social Sciences. 2019;1-3.

[10] Sisay TG, Debela HF, Gudina LF. Analysis of forest cover change in Yabello Forest, Borana Zone, Ethiopia. Int. J. Biodivers. Conserv. 2020;12(4):350-62.

[11] Solomon TB, Snyman HA, Smit GN. Cattle-rangeland management practices and perceptions of pastoralists towards rangeland degradation in the Borana zone of southern Ethiopia. J. Environ. Manage. 2007;82:481-94.

[12] Desta S. Pastoralism And Development in Ethiopia. Ethiopian Economic Association. 2006;12-13.

[13] Berg MD, Wilcox BP, Angerer JP, Rhodes EC, Fox WE. Deciphering rangeland transformation—complex dynamics obscure interpretations of woody plant encroachment. Landscape Ecol. 2016;31(10):2433-44. doi:10.1007/s10980-016-0412-8.

[14] Godde CM, Boone RB, Ash AJ, Waha K, Sloat LL, Thornton PK, et al. Global rangeland production systems and livelihoods at threat under climate change and variability. Environ. Res. Lett. 2020;15(4):4. doi:10.1088/1748-9326/ab7395.

[15] Herrick JE, Sala OE, Karl JW. Land degradation and climate change: A sin of omission? Front. Ecol. Environ. 2013;11(6):283-4. doi:10.1890/1540-9295-11.6.283.

[16] Liao C, Clark PE, DeGloria SD. Bush encroachment dynamics and rangeland management implications in southern Ethiopia. Ecol. Evol. 2018.

How to cite this paper

Impact of Land Use and Land Cover Changes of Borana Rangelands, Southern Ethiopia

How to cite this paper: Jaldesa Doyo, Asfaw Ejo, Sisay Taye. (2026) Impact of Land Use and Land Cover Changes of Borana Rangelands, Southern Ethiopia. International Journal of Food Science and Agriculture, 10(1), 11-19.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/ijfsa.2026.03.002