article · Frontiers in Environmental Science
Over a thirty-year period in Burayu sub-city, Ethiopia, rapid urbanisation and infrastructure growth have substantially altered the landscape and reduced ecosystem service values. Satellite imagery analysis combined with community interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations tracked changes across four time periods at ten-year intervals. The findings show that settlement areas expanded dramatically from 2.5 percent to 46.9 percent of the land area. In contrast, cropland shrank from 51.2 percent to 30.3 percent, forest cover dropped from 32.9 percent to 15 percent, and grassland declined from 12.7 percent to 6.1 percent. Driven by population growth, urban expansion, agricultural shifts, and infrastructure projects, these changes caused the estimated annual natural capital value of the area to drop from 368.7 million dollars to 227.0 million dollars. Addressing these trends requires integrated urban planning, stronger law enforcement, and heightened public awareness.
Rapid urban growth often occurs at the expense of vital natural ecosystems and productive land. By measuring thirty years of landscape transformation alongside economic losses in natural capital, this research illustrates the environmental cost of rapid city expansion. These findings highlight the need for local authorities to establish balanced land use policies that safeguard critical ecosystem services while managing urban growth.
The abstract does not describe a commercial product, focusing instead on municipal land use evaluation. The underlying approach, combining satellite mapping with ecosystem valuation models, could be applied by urban planners, environmental consultancies, and municipal authorities to design zoning plans and conduct environmental impact assessments. As presented, the work constitutes early-stage analytical research aimed at guiding public policy rather than a commercialised solution.
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Land use and land cover (LULC) change represents a critical environmental challenge that significantly impacts the Earth’s systems and ecosystem services and leads to environmental degradation and economic loss. The main objective of this study was to investigate the trend of LULC change, drivers, and its impacts on ecosystem services in the Burayu sub-city, Shager City, Ethiopia. The study used satellite images from four time periods, Landsat Series sensors’ 4, 5, and 8, at 10-year intervals to understand the spatial and temporal dynamics of LULC by using the integration of GIS and RS techniques under a supervised classification system. Respondent interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), and field observations were employed. In addition, to address the drivers of LULC changes in the study area, a multifaceted method was followed using field observations. A modified benefit transfer method was used to evaluate ecosystem service value (ESV) changes in response to LULC change. The study revealed that population growth, urbanization, agricultural expansion, and infrastructure development were driving the change in the LULC composition of the study area over the past 30 years. Croplands have decreased from 51.2% to 30.3%, forest cover has dropped from 32.9% to 15%, and grassland has fallen from 12.7% to 6.1%. On the other hand, settlement areas have expanded from 2.5% to 46.9%, and the total natural capital value has decreased from $368.7million to $227.0 million per year. Therefore, it is possible to conclude that a significant change in LULC and declining ecosystem service values has occurred in the study area. The local government should develop a comprehensive land use plan, balance urban development with ecosystem service preservation, strengthen law enforcement, and increase public awareness to minimize the significant impacts of urbanization on ecosystem services.
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DOI: 10.3389/fenvs.2025.1557000
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