GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS OF WETLAND DYNAMICS, DRIVING FORCE, AND MITIGATION MEASURES IN MUGA WATERSHED, UPPER ABAY BASIN, NORTH EAST OF ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Wetland resources are crucial for sustaining human, plant, and animal life and maintaining climatic and hydrological cycles. However, wetlands have diminished over time. This study examined wetland dynamics, driving forces, and mitigation measures of wetland depletion over 35 years (1986-2021) in the Muga watershed, upper Abay basin, North East Ethiopia.. Landsat images from 1986, 1998, 2010, and 2021 and supervised classification methods were used to assess changes. Focus group discussions (FGDs), Key informants and household surveys through interviews and questionnaires identified the driving forces and mitigation activities of wetland depletion. Findings revealed significant land cover changes, with wetlands, forests, and grasslands declining by 12.42%, 9.62%, and 5.58% respectively, while agricultural land and built-up areas increased by 26.54% and 1.09%. Surveys, FGDs, and key informants indicated that 98.1%, 92.5%, and 93.8% attributed wetland depletion to population growth, farmland expansion, and overgrazing. Mitigation measures were largely absent, with 100%, 92.5%, 95%, 91.3%, and 78.8% of respondents indicating a lack of buffer zones, sediment control structures, wetland and floodplain protection, grazing management, and awareness programs. The study’s findings recommend that government and other stakeholders should establish policies, rules, informed decision-making, land use planning, effective wetland management practices, awareness initiatives, and family planning education to promote sustainable wetland resource use and management