Hindawi

Applied and Environmental Soil Science

Volume 2021, Article ID 6669438, 10 pages
https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6669438

Review Article
Impacts of Land Use and Land Cover Change on Soil Erosion and
Hydrological Responses in Ethiopia

Ajanaw Negese
Department of Soil and Water Resource Management, Woldia University, P.O. Box: 400, Woldia, Ethiopia

Correspondence should be addressed to Ajanaw Negese; ajanawnegese@gmail.com

Received 16 November 2020; Revised 23 January 2021; Accepted 29 January 2021; Published 16 February 2021

Academic Editor: Teodoro M. Miano

Copyright © 2021 Ajanaw Negese. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License,
which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics, in general, and the conversion of the natural vegetation cover into cultivated land, in
particular, are major human-induced problems in Ethiopia, which have played a significant role in increasing the rate of soil
erosion and altering the hydrological balance in the country. The main aim of this review was to view previous studies in Ethiopia
that quantify the change in the rate of soil erosion and hydrological responses as a result of the change in land use and land cover in
the country. From the past researches reviewed in this paper, the expansion of cultivated land at the expense of forest land,
shrubland, and grassland in Ethiopia has increased the mean rate of soil erosion, sediment yield, surface runoff, mean wet monthly
flow, and mean annual stream flow in the last four decades. On the other hand, the change has reduced the dry average monthly
flow, groundwater recharge and groundwater flow, and evapotranspiration (ET) in the country. Future research works should pay
more attention to the investigation of the impacts of land use and land cover change on groundwater hydrology and the prediction
of future soil loss and hydrological imbalance under the changing land use and land cover in the country since little information is
available from past researches on these issues. Research works are also required in lowland arid and semiarid areas in Ethiopia to
effectively manage soil and water resources in all parts of the country.

1. Introduction socioeconomic, institutional, and biophysical factors [1].

Studies have shown that population pressure [6, 8–11],
Land use and land cover (LULC) change triggered by the widespread agricultural expansion [6, 10–12], expansion of
interaction between demographic and socioeconomic settlement [10, 12], rural poverty [9], inadequate manage-
changes as well as biophysical conditions [1, 2] is one of the ment of common property resources, and land tenure in-
main driving forces on global and local environmental security due to institutional and policy reforms
changes [3, 4]. It exerts multidimensional consequences on [3, 8, 9, 11, 13] and demand for fuel wood and construction
essential Earth’s ecosystem functions and services at local, materials [10–12] were recognized as the major drivers of
regional, and global scales [2]. land use and land cover change in the country. The level of
In sub-Saharan African countries, land use and land land cover conversion is particularly higher in the highland
cover change, in general, and conversion of the natural land areas of the country mainly due to demographic pressures
cover into agricultural land, in particular, are major con- and consequent expansion of croplands and household
tinuous phenomena mainly caused by anthropogenic ac- energy demands [6, 14].
tivities [5]. Like other sub-Saharan African countries, Different studies indicated that land use and land cover
human-induced conversion of the natural land cover into change triggered by the aforementioned factors in the
cultivated land is the major problem in different areas of country have led to severe soil erosion [6, 11, 15], loss of
Ethiopia where agricultural activity serves as the backbone of biological diversity [8, 11, 15, 16], decline of agricultural
the economy [6, 7]. production and productivity [8, 15–17], and decline of
Land use and land cover (LULC) change in Ethiopia is ecosystem service values (ESV) due to changes in individual
triggered by the interaction of various demographic, ecosystem service functions such as erosion control,
2 Applied and Environmental Soil Science

provision of raw material, nutrient cycling and climate drivers of LULC change and land management activities
regulation [18–21], and change of rural livelihood [11]. vary from place to place.
The problem of soil erosion is one of the major envi- In Ethiopia, land use and land cover (LULC) change is
ronmental constraints to agricultural sustainability and food mainly dominated by the conversion of natural vegetation
security in Ethiopia particularly in the highlands [22, 23]. cover to use for agriculture activities [9, 42]. According to
The overall soil loss of the country is estimated at about 1.5 FAO [49], the forest cover in Ethiopia has decreased from
billion tons per year with a mean erosion rate of 13.3% of the total area of the country (14.69 million ha) in
42 t·ha−1·year−1 [9, 24, 25]. The rate of soil erosion has been 1993 to 11.4% of the total area (12.54 million ha) in 2016 with
accelerating in the country due to land use and land cover an estimated annual rate of change 0.8% (104,600 ha·year−1)
(LULC) change and inappropriate land use and manage- (Figure 2).
ment practices [22, 26]. On the contrary, as shown in Figure 2, the agricultural
The change in land use and land cover in Ethiopia also land of the country has increased from 27.66% of the total
played a substantial role in changing hydrological processes area of the country (30.54 million ha) in 1993 to 32.83% of
such as an increase in surface runoff volumes, reduction of the total area (36.26 million ha) in 2016 [49].
infiltration, and reduction of groundwater recharge in the Several research works [2, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 48, 50–58]
country [27–30]. Furthermore, LULC change is one of the were undertaken on the spatial and temporal land use and
factors responsible for the sedimentation or siltation of lakes land cover change at watershed and district level in Ethiopia
in the country. For instance, the extinction of Lake Alemaya and have shown that there has been a significant LULC
in the eastern highland of Ethiopia due to siltation caused by change in different parts of the country dominated by the
LULC change in the upper catchment area of the lake expansion of cultivated land and built-up areas at the ex-
[31, 32]. pense of natural vegetation cover, shrublands, and grass-
In recent years, the spatial and temporal change of land lands particularly in the highlands.
use and land cover (LULC) and its impacts on soil erosion A study by Bewket and Abebe [9] reported the consistent
and hydrological processes have gained increased attention expansion of cropland and settlement at the expense of forest
in the country. Several previous studies [7, 23, 24, 26, 33–38] and dense tree cover over the period between 1957 and 2001 in
have quantified the impact of land use and land cover dy- Gish Abay Watershed, Blue Nile Basin of Ethiopia. A similar
namics on soil erosion at the watershed level through the study by Hassen and Assen [13] reported that farmlands and
integration of revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) settlement areas were expanded at the expense of forest area,
with geographic information system (GIS) and remote shrublands, and grasslands over the study period between 1957
sensing techniques. Other research works [1, 27–30, 39–47] and 2014 in Gelda catchment, Lake Tana Watershed of
also investigated the impact of land use and land cover Ethiopia. Tesfaye et al. [57] reported a significant increase in
change changes on watershed hydrological processes in the cultivated land and settlement and a decrease in vegetation
country using Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), cover between 1976 and 2008 in Gilgel Tekeze Catchment,
Hydrologiska Byråns Vattenbalansavdelning (HBV), and Northern Ethiopian Highlands. According to Shawul and
Water and Energy Transfer between Soil, Plants, and At- Chakma [56], cropland and urban area replaced a large area of
mosphere (WetSpa) hydrological models applied in GIS and forest cover and shrublands in Upper Awash Basin, Ethiopia,
remote sensing techniques. over the years between 1972 and 2014. Dibaba et al. [15] also
As indicated in Figure 1, different studies on how LULC found an expansion of agricultural land and built-up area at the
dynamics affect the rate of soil erosion and hydrological expense of forest land in Finchaa Catchment, Northwestern
balance were undertaken in different areas of the country, Ethiopia, over the period between 1987 and 2017.
particularly in the highlands. Despite comprehensive re- Similarly, Aneseyee et al. [18] reported the expansion of
view and documenting of past studies on the change in soil cultivated land, built-up area, and bare land at the expense of
erosion and hydrological processes due to the change in forest land and shrubland between 1988 and 2018 in Winike
LULC is essential for future resource management, a Watershed of Omo Gibe Basin, Southwest Ethiopia. A study
comprehensive review of these past fragmented studies to conducted by Demissie et al. [51] also reported the con-
aid future soil and water resource management is scarce in tinuous expansion of cultivated lands at the expense of forest
Ethiopia. Hence, the main objective of this review was to area and grasslands over 42 years (1973–2015) in Libo
view previous studies in Ethiopia that quantify the change Kemkem District of Northwestern Ethiopia. An increase in
in the rate of soil erosion and hydrological processes as a farmland area at the expense of forest land was also observed
result of the change in land use and land cover in the in Bale Mountain Eco-Region of Ethiopia from 1985 to 2015
country. [48]. Another study by Wubie et al. [11] found a significant
increase in cultivated land and settlement and a decrease in
2. Land Use and Land Cover Change in Ethiopia forest land, shrubland, grassland, and wetland over 48 years
(1957–2005) in Gumara Watershed of Lake Tana basin,
Land use and land cover (LULC) change is the human Northwestern Ethiopia. Yesuph and Dagnew [2] reported
modification of Earth’s terrestrial surface from existing the consistent increase in farmland and settlement area at
management of the land or land cover to new management the expense of Afro-alpine and sub-Afro-alpine vegetation
of land or new land cover type [48]. The nature of LULC areas between 1973 and 2017 in Beshillo Catchment of Blue
dynamics significantly differs from country to country as the Nile Basin, Northeastern Highlands of Ethiopia.
Applied and Environmental Soil Science 3

35°0′0″E 40°0′0″E 45°0′0″E

15°0′0″N

15°0′0″N
10°0′0″N

10°0′0″N
5°0′0″N
5°0′0″N

0 90 180 360 540 720

km

35°0′0″E 40°0′0″E 45°0′0″E

Studies on LULCC impact on soil erosion Elevation
Studies on LULCC impact on hydrology High

Major river basins boundary Low

Figure 1: Study sites of the impact of LULC change on soil erosion and hydrological responses in Ethiopia. LULCC: land use and land cover
change.

37.00 15.00
36.00
14.50
Agricultural land (million hectare)

35.00
14.00 Forest area (million hectare)
34.00
33.00 13.50

32.00 13.00
31.00
12.50
30.00
12.00
29.00
28.00 11.50

27.00 11.00
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016

Year
Agricultural land
Forest area
Figure 2: Forest cover decline and agricultural land expansion in Ethiopia between 1993 and 2016 [49].

A study conducted by Deribew and Dalacho [14] observed between 1957 and 1986 in Derekolli Catchment of
revealed that forest area was converted into agricultural land the South Wollo Zone of Ethiopia.
and barren land between 1957 and 2017 in the Central The expansion of farmlands at the expense of other land
Highlands of Ethiopia. Ayele et al. [59] also found that use and land cover types has occurred not only in the
farmland expansion was the major cause for the reduction of highlands of Ethiopia but also in lowland arid and semiarid
forest area between 2000 and 2015 in Delomena District, areas of the country. According to Alemu et al. [12], the
Bale Zone of Ethiopia. Belay [50] reported a significant expansion of agricultural land and bare land and the re-
conversion from natural vegetation cover to cropland was duction of woodland cover were observed between 1985 and
4 Applied and Environmental Soil Science

2010 in the Northwestern lowlands of Ethiopia. Tsegaye et al. from 198 million t·year−1 in 1973 to 221 million t·year−1 in
[58] also found a rapid reduction in the size of woodland and 1995 and 239 million t·year−1 in 2015 in Guder Sub-
grassland cover, and more than the eightfold increment in watershed, Blue Nile basin of Ethiopia. The conversion of
the size of cultivated land took place between 1972 and 2007 forest and shrubland into cultivated land in the watershed
in arid and semiarid Northern Afar range lands of Ethiopia. has also increased the mean sediment yield from
Gebreslassie [60] reported cultivated lands and open lands 6.79 t·ha−1·year−1 in 1973 to 8.65 t·ha−1·year−1 and
have shown continuous expansion at the expense of forest 9.44 t·ha−1·year−1 in 1995 and 2015, respectively [35]. An-
lands, shrublands, and grasslands in Huluka Watershed, other recent study by Aneseyee et al. [66] in the Winike
Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia, between 1973 and 2009. Watershed, Omo Gibe Basin of Ethiopia, reported that total
Cropland expanded at the expense of forest, woodlands, and soil loss and sediment export of the watershed increased by
grasslands between 1973 and 2014 in the Central Rift Valley 176.35 and 3.85 thousand tons, respectively, over the periods
of Ethiopia [8]. In the Northeastern Somali Rangelands of between 1988 and 2018 due to the change in land use and
Ethiopia, grassland cover was converted into cultivated and land cover.
settlement areas between 1985 and 2017 [61]. Another study in Andassa Watershed, Upper Blue Nile
Contrary to the findings of the aforementioned studies in Basin of Ethiopia, revealed that the rapid expansions of
different parts of the country, Bantider et al. [62] reported cultivated land and built-up area at the expense of forest,
the expansion of forest area and shrubland and the decline of shrubland, and grasslands for three decades (1985–2015)
the area of cropland since the mid-1980s in the Eastern have increased the average soil erosion rate of the watershed
Escarpment of Wollo, Northeastern Ethiopia. Asmamaw from 35.5 t·ha−1·year−1 in 1985 to 55 t·ha−1·year−1 in 2015
et al. [63] have also shown the expansion of forest land and the sediment yield from 14.8 t·ha−1·year−1 in 1985 to
during the study period between 1958 and 2006 in Gerado 22.1 t·ha−1·year−1 in 2015 [34]. Likewise, Esa et al. [33] also
Catchment of Northeastern Ethiopia. reported that expansion of cultivation practices has in-
creased the mean annual soil loss rate by 16.3 t·ha−1·year−1,
3. Impacts of Land Use and Land Cover and the amount of mean sediment transported at the outlet
Change in Ethiopia increased by 16% between 2004 and 2014 in Gelda Catch-
ment, Northwestern Highlands of Ethiopia. The research
3.1. Impact on Soil Erosion. LULC change exerts negative conducted by Tadesse et al. [23] on land use and land cover
impacts on ecosystem services, in general, and on biodi- changes and soil erosion in Yezat Watershed, Northwestern
versity, climate, soil, water, and air, in particular [48]. Soil Ethiopia, showed that the expansion of cultivated land and
erosion is affected by LULC change despite other factors decline of sparsely wooded land, grassland, and shrubland
such as climate, soil characteristics, and topography. Land during the period between 2001 and 2010 have increased the
cover plays a significant role in controlling soil erosion by estimated average soil loss from 7.2 t·ha−1·year−1 in 2001 to
reducing the direct impacts of raindrops on the soil, en- 7.7 t·ha−1·year−1 in 2010 in the watershed. However, the
hancing the organic matter content in the soil, increasing the implementation of integrated watershed management de-
infiltration rate of water, reducing the velocity of runoff, and velopment programs in the watershed between 2010 and
reducing the transportation of sediments on the surface 2015 increased the extents of woodland, grassland, and
[64, 65]. Hence, a change in land use and land cover due to homesteads by 101.69 ha (0.67%), 610.69 ha (4%), and
anthropogenic activities significantly affects the rate of soil 126.6 ha (0.83%), respectively, and consequently, the esti-
erosion. mated average soil loss of the watershed decreased from
Different studies (Table 1) undertaken in different parts 7.7 t·ha−1·year−1 in 2010 to 4.8 t·ha−1·year−1 in 2015 [23].
of Ethiopia indicated the impacts of land use and land cover Another recent study by Mariye et al. [36]in Legedadi
change on soil erosion. Among these, a recent study made by Watershed, Berhe District of Ethiopia, reported the mean
Woldemariam and Harka [26] at Erer Subbasin, Northeast annual soil loss of the watershed has increased from
Wabi-Shebelle Basin of Ethiopia, indicated that the ex- 54.19 t·ha−1·year−1 in 1997 to 66.21 t·ha−1·year−1 in 2013, and
pansion of cropland, bare land, and settlement from 47.92%, the maximum estimated annual soil loss of the watershed
8.03%, and 0.20%, respectively, in 2000 to 64.36%, 9.71%, has increased from 257.1 t·ha−1·year−1 in 1997 to
and 0.61%, respectively, in 2018 and the decline of forest- 330 t·ha−1·year−1 in 2013 due to the increment of cultivated
land, shrubland, and water body from 2.99%, 40.67%, and land and settlement area by 18.3% and 14.34%, respectively.
0.18%, respectively, in 2000 to 1.42%, 23.87%, and 0.03%, Similarly, a study by Moges and Bhat [37] in Rib Wa-
respectively, in 2018 increased the mean soil loss rate of the tershed, Northwestern Highland of Ethiopia, reported that
subbasin from 75.85 t·ha−1·year−1 in 2000 to the expansion of cultivated land at the expense of shrubland
−1 −1
107.07 t·ha ·year in 2018. Similarly, Kidane et al. [35] and grassland was the most detrimental factor for the in-
revealed that the expansion of cultivated land at the expense crement of annual soil loss in the watershed from 0 to
of forest and shrubland increased the mean rate of soil 236.5 t·ha−1·year−1 in 1986 to from 0 to 807 t·ha−1·year−1 in
erosion from 25.8 t·ha−1·year−1 in 1973 to 28.7 t·ha−1·year−1 2016 and increment of average annual soil loss of the entire
in 1995 and 30.3 t·ha−1·year−1 in 2015 and the total soil loss watershed from 40 t·ha−1·year−1 in 1986 to 68 t·ha−1·year−1 in
Applied and Environmental Soil Science 5

Table 1: Previous studies on LULC change impact on soil erosion in Ethiopia.

LULC change impact
Major LULC change Change
Study Area Study Model
Basin between between References
catchments (km2) period used Impact indicators
study period study
period
Cropland increased by
16.44%, and forest area Mean rate
Wabi Woldemariam
Erer 3860.00 2000–2018 RUSLE and shrubland decreased of soil loss +31.22
Shebelle and Harka [26]
by 1.57% and 16.8%, (t·ha−1·year−1)
respectively
Mean rate of soil loss
+4.5
(t·ha−1·year−1)
Forest loss by 5.43%; and
Total soil loss (million
Guder Blue Nile 466.54 1973–2015 RUSLE cropland increased by +41 Kidane et al. [35]
t year−1)
4.42%
Mean Sediment yield
+2.65
(t·ha−1·year−1)
Forest area decreased Mean rate of
+19.5
by 1.59%, and soil loss (t·ha−1·year−1) Gashaw et al.
Andassa Blue Nile 587.60 1985–2015 RUSLE
cropland increased Mean sediment [34]
+7.3
by 14.11% yield (t·ha−1·year−1)
Total soil loss
Forest area decreased by +176.35
Omo InVEST (thousand tons) Aneseyee et al.
Winike 1091.8 1988–2018 3.4%, and cropland
Gibe SDR Sediment yield [66]
increased by 13.59% +3.85
(thousand tons)
Mean rate of soil loss
(t·ha−1·year−1) +0.5
Shrubland decreased by
(2001–2010) Tadesse et al.
Yezat Blue Nile 150.85 2001–2015 RUSLE 3.95%, and cropland
Mean rate of soil loss [23]
increased by 2.6%
(t·ha−1·year−1) −2.9
(2010–2015)
Mean rate of soil loss (t
Cropland increased by +12.02
ha−1·year−1)
Legedadi Awash 203.18 1985–2013 RUSLE 18.3% and grazing land Mariye et al. [36]
Maximum annual soil
decreased by 25.74% −1 −1 +72.9
loss (t ha ·year )
Cropland increased by Mean rate of soil loss
+28
13.38%, and shrubland (t·ha−1·year−1)
Moges and Bhat
Rib Blue Nile 1975.00 1986–2016 RUSLE and grassland decreased
Maximum annual [37]
by 5.92% and 6.28%, +570.5
soil loss (t·ha−1·year−1)
respectively
Mean rate of soil loss
+20.9
(t·ha−1·year−1) Chimdessa et al.
Didessa Blue Nile 9981.00 1986–2015 SWAT —
Average monthly river [24]
+10.6
flow (m3/s)
Mean rate soil loss
Farmlands increased by +16.3
(t·ha−1·year−1)
Gelda Blue Nile 262.64 2004–2014 RUSLE 1.44% and forestland Esa et al. [33]
Mean sediment yield
decreased by 1.1% +16
(%)

2016. A study in Didessa River Catchment, Southwest Blue In general, Table 1 summarizes the results of previous
Nile of Ethiopia, by Chimdessa et al. [24] has shown that the studies in Ethiopia which were undertaken to estimate the
average soil loss of the river catchment increased by impacts of LULC change on the mean rate of soil loss and
9.6 t·ha−1·yr−1, 11 t·ha−1·yr−1, and 20.9 t·ha−1·yr−1 due to sediment yield in different watersheds. From the results, a
LULC change between 1986 and 2000, 2001 and 2015, and significant increase in the mean rate of soil loss and sediment
1986 and 2015, respectively. yield with a decreasing trend in forest cover and shrublands
6 Applied and Environmental Soil Science

can be noticed. However, a decreasing trend in the mean rate Chimdessa et al. [24] reported that land use and land cover
of soil loss has been shown in Yazat Watershed of the Blue change which occurred between 1986 and 2001, 2001 and
Nile basin, Northwestern Ethiopia, between 2010 and 2015 2015, and 1986 and 2015 have increased the average
despite the decline of shrublands and expansion of cultivated monthly river flow by 4.9 m3/s, 5.7 m3/s, and 10.6 m3/s,
lands due to the implementation of integrated watershed respectively, in Didessa River Catchment, Southwest Blue
management development programs in the watershed. Nile Basin of Ethiopia.
Another study on the hydrological impact of land use
change by Getachew and Melesse [44] in Angereb Water-
3.2. Impact on Hydrological Responses. Watersheds hydro- shed of Ethiopia reported that the mean wet monthly flow
logical processes are affected by a multitude of factors such for 2011 land cover has increased by 39% compared with the
as land use and land cover, climate, soil properties, geology 1985 land cover, and the dry average monthly flow reduced
of the land, and topography. Land use and land cover change by 46% in 2011 compared with the 1985 land cover due to
mainly caused by anthropogenic interference modifies wa- the expansion of cultivated land and built-up areas and
tershed hydrological processes by altering the balance be- decline of forest and grassland areas over the years between
tween rainfall, evaporation, and runoff response of an area 1985 and 2011. Fufa et al. [41] found that the mean wet
[24]. The change in LULC alters infiltration, groundwater monthly flow of the catchment for 2010 land cover had
recharge, surface runoff, and river flow within a watershed increased by 3.8% compared with the 1986 land cover, and
[45]. Therefore, a better understanding of LULC change and the average monthly flow in the dry season decreased by
its effect on hydrological processes in Ethiopia is highly 12.3% in 2010 compared with the 1986 land cover due to the
indispensable for the management of water resources in the rapid expansion of agricultural land and settlement and
country. reduction of forest land and grassland in Ketar Watershed,
LULC change contributes to the change in the hydro- Lake Ziway Catchment, Ethiopia. Addisu and Tolosa [27]
logical system in Ethiopia. Quantifying the effects of LULC also reported that the increment of cultivated land from
change on watershed hydrological processes has recently 10.8% to 39.1% and settlement area from 12.8% to 30.8% and
been given much attention by the researchers, and previous the reduction of forest cover from 32.5% to 9.4% and
studies (Table 2) in the country have quantified watershed grassland from 20.9% to 12.3% in Weib Catchment of
hydrological responses as a result of the change in land use Ethiopia between 1986 and 2010 caused an increase in the
and land cover. A study in Gilgel Tekeze Catchment, mean wet monthly flow for the 2010 land cover by 40.7%
Northern Highlands of Ethiopia, by Haregeweyn et al. [46] compared with 1986 land cover, and the dry average
found that the increment of cultivated land by 15.4% and monthly flow for the 2010 land cover and 1995 land cover
settlements by 9.9% at the expense of shrubland and grazing decreased by 45.2% and 26%, respectively, when compared
lands triggered the increment of annual surface runoff by with that of 1986 land cover.
101 mm, reduction of groundwater recharge by 39 mm, and A study on the impact of land use dynamics on the
reduction of annual evapotranspiration by 91 mm over the base flow responses by Gessesse et al. [43] reported that
period between 1976 and 2003. Similarly, Gashaw et al. [42] the expansion of cultivated land by 29.6% and urban areas
reported the continuous expansion of cultivated land and by 0.53% and reduction of shrubland by 11.9% and
built-up area and diminishing of forestland, shrubland, and grassland by 18.1% caused a decrease in the base flow (the
grassland, which have occurred from 1985 to 2015, had low flow) in the dry season by 0.73 m3/year at Suha and by
increased the annual flow by 2.2%, wet seasonal flow by 0.37 m3/year at Muga Subwatersheds between 1985 and
4.6%, surface runoff by 9.3%, and water yield by 2.4%. On the 2015 in Choke Mountain Range of Upper Blue Nile Basin,
other hand, the observed changes had reduced dry season Ethiopia.
flow by 2.8%, lateral flow by 5.7%, groundwater flow by 7.8%, As summarized in Table 2, the results of previous studies
and evaporation and transpiration (ET) by 0.3% in the in Ethiopia on the impacts of LULC dynamics on watershed
Andassa Watershed, Blue Nile Basin of Ethiopia. hydrological responses have shown a decreasing trend in the
Another study by Welde and Gebremariam [30] in dry average monthly flow, groundwater flow and recharge,
Tekeze Dam Watershed, Northern Ethiopia, also reported and evapotranspiration (ET) and an increasing trend in the
that the increment of cultivated land by 8.51% and bare surface runoff, mean wet monthly flow and mean annual
land by 0.9% and the reduction of shrubland by 5.62% and stream flow with a considerable loss of forest cover and
grassland by 3.33% between 1986 and 2008 caused an shrublands and expansion of cultivated lands in different
increase of the mean annual stream flow from 129.20 m3/s watersheds. However, no significant change in hydrological
in 1986 to 137.74 m3/s in 2008 and the annual sediment components such as surface runoff, groundwater recharge,
yield from 12.54 t/ha in 1986 to 15.17 t/ha in 2008. A similar and evapotranspiration (ET) has been observed despite the
study in Gojeb Watershed, Omo-Gibe basin of Ethiopia, by significant expansion of cultivated land from 70% in 1986 to
Choto and Fetene [40] found that an increase of cultivated 82% in 2015 and reduction of forest land from 11% in 1986
land by 14.97% at the expense of forest land and shrubland to 5% in 2015 and grassland from 18% in 1986 to 10% in 2015
between 1985 and 2015 resulted in an increase of stream in Gumara Watershed, Blue Nile Basin of Northwestern
flow by 8.6 m3/s and sediment yield by 41.07 tons/km2. Ethiopia [1].
Applied and Environmental Soil Science 7

Table 2: Previous studies on LULC change impact on hydrological responses in Ethiopia.

Major LULC LULC change impact
Study Area Study Model
Basin change between Change between References
catchments (km2) period used Impact indicators
study period study period
Mean wet monthly
Forest loss by 23.1% +40.7
Genale flow (%) Addisu and
Weib 7407.42 1986–2010 SWAT and crop and
Dawa Dry average monthly Tolosa [27]
increased by 28.3% −45.2
flow (%)
Annual river
+300
discharge (mm/year)
Forest loss by 6%,
Evapotranspiration No significant
grassland decreased
Blue (ET) change Birhanu et al.
Gumara 1413.00 1986–2015 HBV by 8% and
Nile Groundwater No significant [1]
cultivation
recharge change
increased by 12%
No significant
Surface runoff
change
Cropland increased Mean wet monthly
+39
by 7.26%, forest loss flow (%)
Blue Getachew and
Angereb 69.42 1985–2011 SWAT by 2.69%, and
Nile Dry average monthly Melesse [44]
pasture land −46
flow (%)
decreased by 8.39%
+2, +13, +14, and
Conversion of
+7 in June, July,
Melka forest, grassland, Daily mean stream Getahun and
Awash 4456.00 1986–2003 HBV August, and
Kuntrie and shrubland to flow (%) Haj [45]
September,
cultivated land
respectively
Cropland increased Mean annual stream
+8.54
by 8.51%, grassland flow (m3/s)
Welde and
Tekeze Dam and shrubland
Tekeze 29404.00 1986–2008 SWAT Gebremariam
Watershed decreased by 3.33%, Annual sediment
+2.63 [30]
and 5.61%, yield (t ha−1)
respectively
Forest loss by
14.38%, cropland
Blue increased by Dry season flow Chakilu and
Gumara 1271.86 1973–2013 SWAT −0.1
Nile 16.63%, and (m3/s) Moges [39]
grassland decreased
by 6.57%
Forest loss by Stream flow (m3/s) +8.6
Omo 11.88% and Choto and
Gojeb 7325.67 1989–2013 SWAT Sediment yield (tons/
Gibe cropland increased +41.07 Fetene [40]
km2)
by 14.97%
Annual flow (%) +2.2
Wet seasonal
+4.6
flow (%)
Expansion of
Surface runoff (%) +9.3
cultivated land and
Water yield (%) +2.4
Blue built-up area and Gashaw et al.
Andassa 587.60 1985–2015 SWAT Dry season flow (%) −2.8
Nile diminishing of [42]
Lateral flow (%) −5.7
forest, shrubland,
Groundwater
and grassland −7.8
flow (%)
Evapotranspiration
−0.3
(ET) (%)
Annual surface
Shrubland +101
runoff (mm)
Gilgel decreased by 18.8% Haregeweyn
Tekeze 352.00 1976–2003 WetSpa Groundwater
Tekeze and cropland −39 et al. [46]
recharge (mm)
increased by 15.5%
Annual ET (mm) −91
Forest loss by 53%, Mean wet monthly
+3.8
grassland decreased flow (%)
Rift
Ketar 3225.30 1986–2010 SWAT by 33.7%, and Fufa et al. [41]
Valley Dry average monthly
cropland increased −12.3
flow
by 27.7%
8 Applied and Environmental Soil Science

4. Conclusions Highlands of Ethiopia,” Environmental Systems Research,

vol. 8, no. 1, 2019.
In Ethiopia, land use and land cover changes are accelerating [3] E. Elias, W. Seifu, B. Tesfaye, W. Girmay, and M. Tejada
by anthropogenic factors, and the change intern affects Moral, “Impact of land use/cover changes on lake ecosystem
humans and other natural resources in general and soil and of Ethiopia central rift valley,” Cogent Food & Agriculture,
water resources in particular. Hence, the main objective of vol. 5, no. 1, 2019.
this paper was to review the impacts of land use and land [4] A. C. Guzha, M. C. Rufino, S. Okoth, S. Jacobs, and
R. L. B. Nóbrega, “Impacts of land use and land cover change
cover changes on the rate of soil erosion and hydrological
on surface runoff, discharge and low flows: evidence from East
processes in the country. Africa,” Journal of Hydrology: Regional Studies, vol. 15,
From the past researches reviewed in this paper, the ex- pp. 49–67, 2018.
pansions of cultivated land at the expense of forest land, [5] K. Näschen, B. Diekkrüger, M. Evers, B. Höllermann,
shrubland, and grassland in the country have increased the rate S. Steinbach, and F. Thonfeld, “The impact of land use/land
of soil erosion, sediment yield, annual surface runoff, mean wet cover change (LULCC) on water resources in a tropical
monthly flow, mean annual stream flow, and water yield in the catchment in Tanzania under different climate change sce-
last four decades. On the other hand, the change has reduced the narios,” Sustainability, vol. 11, no. 24, 2019.
dry average monthly flow, groundwater recharge, groundwater [6] M. L. Berihun, A. Tsunekawa, N. Haregeweyn et al., “Ex-
flow, lateral flow, and evapotranspiration (ET) in the country. ploring land use/land cover changes, drivers and their im-
From the review, it was understood that the past studies plications in contrasting agro-ecological environments of
on the impacts of LULC change on hydrology did not Ethiopia,” Land Use Policy, vol. 87, 2019.
[7] G. Gebresamuel, B. R. Singh, and Ø. Dick, “Land-use changes
sufficiently show the change in groundwater recharge and
and their impacts on soil degradation and surface runoff of
groundwater flow as a result of a change in LULC in the two catchments of Northern Ethiopia,” Acta Agriculturae
country. Hence, future research works should pay more Scandinavica, Section B - Plant Soil Science, vol. 60, no. 3,
attention to the investigation of the impacts of LUCC change pp. 211–226, 2010.
on groundwater hydrology in the country. [8] A. T. Ariti, J. van Vliet, and P. H. Verburg, “Land-use and
Little information is available on the impact of land use land-cover changes in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia:
and land cover change on soil and water resources in arid assessment of perception and adaptation of stakeholders,”
and semiarid areas of the country from past researches. Applied Geography, vol. 65, pp. 28–37, 2015.
Accordingly, long-term historical research on land use and [9] W. Bewket and S. Abebe, “Land-use and land-cover change
land cover change and its impact on soil and water resources and its environmental implications in a tropical highland
in lowland arid and semiarid areas of the country are re- watershed, Ethiopia,” International Journal of Environmental
Studies, vol. 70, no. 1, pp. 126–139, 2013.
quired to manage the degradation of soil and water resources
[10] A. Fasika, T. Motuma, and T. Gizaw, “Land use land cover
across all parts of the country.
change trend and its drivers in somodo watershed South
From the review, it was also understood that previous western, Ethiopia,” African Journal of Agricultural Research,
studies in the country have concentrated more on the effect vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 102–117, 2019.
of past LULC change on soil erosion and hydrological [11] M. A. Wubie, M. Assen, and M. D. Nicolau, “Patterns, causes
processes and did not show the likely effect under the and consequences of land use/cover dynamics in the Gumara
changing LULC in the future. Hence, future research works watershed of lake Tana basin, Northwestern Ethiopia,” En-
should pay more attention to forecast future soil loss and vironmental Systems Research, vol. 5, no. 1, 2016.
hydrological imbalance under the changing land use and [12] B. Alemu, E. Garedew, Z. Eshetu, and H. Kassa, “Land use and
land cover in the country. land cover changes and associated driving forces in north
western lowlands of Ethiopia,” International Research Journal
of Agriculture and Soil Science, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 28–44, 2015.
Data Availability [13] E. E. Hassen and M. Assen, “Land use/cover dynamics and its
drivers in Gelda catchment, Lake Tana watershed, Ethiopia,”
The data used to support this review paper are from pre- Environmental Systems Research, vol. 6, no. 1, 2017.
viously reported studies, which have been cited. [14] K. T. Deribew and D. W. Dalacho, “Land use and forest cover
dynamics in the North-eastern Addis Ababa, central high-
lands of Ethiopia,” Environmental Systems Research, vol. 8,
Conflicts of Interest no. 1, 2019.
[15] W. T. Dibaba, T. A. Demissie, and K. Miegel, “Drivers and
The author declares that there are no conflicts of interest. implications of land use/land cover dynamics in Finchaa
catchment, northwestern Ethiopia,” Land, vol. 9, no. 4, 2020.
References [16] E. Garedew, M. Sandewall, U. Söderberg, and B. M. Campbell,
“Land-use and land-cover dynamics in the central rift valley of
[1] A. Birhanu, I. Masih, P. van der Zaag, J. Nyssen, and X. Cai, Ethiopia,” Environmental Management, vol. 44, no. 4,
“Impacts of land use and land cover changes on hydrology of pp. 683–694, 2009.
the Gumara catchment, Ethiopia,” Physics and Chemistry of [17] A.-m. A. Agidew and K. N. Singh, “The implications of land
the Earth, Parts A/B/C, vol. 112, pp. 165–174, 2019. use and land cover changes for rural household food inse-
[2] A. Y. Yesuph and A. B. Dagnew, “Land use/cover spatio- curity in the Northeastern highlands of Ethiopia: the case of
temporal dynamics, driving forces and implications at the the Teleyayen sub-watershed,” Agriculture & Food Security,
Beshillo catchment of the Blue Nile Basin, North Eastern vol. 6, no. 1, 2017.
Applied and Environmental Soil Science 9

[18] A. B. Aneseyee, T. Soromessa, and E. Elias, “The effect of land [33] E. Esa, M. Assen, and A. Legass, “Implications of land use/
use/land cover changes on ecosystem services valuation of cover dynamics on soil erosion potential of agricultural
Winike watershed, Omo Gibe Basin, Ethiopia,” Human and watershed, northwestern highlands of Ethiopia,” Environ-
Ecological Risk Assessment: An International Journal, vol. 26, mental Systems Research, vol. 7, no. 1, 2018.
no. 10, pp. 1–20, 2019. [34] T. Gashaw, T. Tulu, M. Argaw, and A. W. Worqlul, “Modeling
[19] M. Kindu, T. Schneider, D. Teketay, and T. Knoke, “Changes the impacts of land use–land cover changes on soil erosion
of ecosystem service values in response to land use/land cover and sediment yield in the Andassa watershed, Upper Blue Nile
dynamics in Munessa-Shashemene landscape of the Ethiopian Basin, Ethiopia,” Environmental Earth Sciences, vol. 78, no. 24,
highlands,” Science of The Total Environment, vol. 547, 2019.
pp. 137–147, 2016. [35] M. Kidane, A. Bezie, N. Kesete, and T. Tolessa, “The impact of
[20] M. G. Markos, D. U. Mihret, E. J. Teklu, and M. G. Getachew, land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics on soil erosion and
“Influence of land use and land cover changes on ecosystem sediment yield in Ethiopia,” Heliyon, vol. 5, no. 12, Article ID
services in the Bilate Alaba Sub-watershed, Southern Ethio- e02981, 2019.
pia,” Journal of Ecology and The Natural Environment, vol. 10, [36] M. Mariye, M. Mariyo, Y. Changming, Z. L. Teffera, and
no. 9, pp. 228–238, 2018. B. Weldegebrial, “Effects of land use and land cover change on
[21] T. Tolessa, F. Senbeta, and M. Kidane, “The impact of land soil erosion potential in Berhe district: a case study of
use/land cover change on ecosystem services in the central Legedadi watershed, Ethiopia,” International Journal of River
highlands of Ethiopia,” Ecosystem Services, vol. 23, pp. 47–54, Basin Management, vol. 18, pp. 1–13, 2020.
2017. [37] D. M. Moges and H. G. Bhat, “Integration of geospatial
[22] D. M. Moges, A. Kmoch, H. G. Bhat, and E. Uuemaa, “Future technologies with RUSLE for analysis of land use/cover
soil loss in highland Ethiopia under changing climate and land change impact on soil erosion: case study in Rib watershed,
use,” Regional Environmental Change, vol. 20, no. 32, 2020. north-western highland Ethiopia,” Environmental Earth Sci-
[23] L. Tadesse, K. V. Suryabhagavan, G. Sridhar, and G. Legesse, ences, vol. 76, no. 22, 2017.
“Land use and land cover changes and soil erosion in Yezat [38] A. Teshome, “Modeling the implication of land use land cover
watershed, North Western Ethiopia,” International Soil and change on soil erosion by using remote sensing data and GIS
based MCE techniques in the highlands of Ethiopia,” Inter-
Water Conservation Research, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 85–94, 2017.
[24] K. Chimdessa, S. Quraishi, A. Kebede, and T. Alamirew, national Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Analysis,
vol. 6, no. 6, pp. 152–166, 2018.
“Effect of land use land cover and climate change on river flow
[39] G. G. Chakilu and M. A. Moges, “Assessing the land use/cover
and soil loss in Didessa River Basin, South West Blue Nile,
dynamics and its impact on the low flow of Gumara water-
Ethiopia,” Hydrology, vol. 6, no. 1, 2018.
shed, upper Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia,” Hydrology: Current
[25] H. S. Gelagay and A. S. Minale, “Soil loss estimation using GIS
Research, vol. 8, no. 1, 2017.
and remote sensing techniques: a case of Koga watershed,
[40] M. Choto and A. Fetene, “Impacts of land use/land cover
Northwestern Ethiopia,” International Soil and Water Con-
change on stream flow and sediment yield of Gojeb watershed,
servation Research, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 126–136, 2016.
Omo-Gibe basin, Ethiopia,” Remote Sensing Applications:
[26] G. Woldemariam and A. Harka, “Effect of land use and land
Society and Environment, vol. 14, pp. 84–99, 2019.
cover change on soil erosion in erer sub-basin, Northeast
[41] D. Fufa, Y. Abbulu, and G. V. R. S. Rao, “Hydrological impacts
Wabi Shebelle Basin, Ethiopia,” Land, vol. 9, no. 4, 2020. due to land-use and land-cover changes of Ketar watershed,
[27] T. Addisu and D. Tolosa, “Modeling change of land use on Lake Ziway catchment, Ethiopia,” International Journal of
hydrological response of river by remedial measures using arc Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET), vol. 6, no. 10,
SWAT: case of Weib catchment, Ethiopia,” International pp. 36–45, 2015.
Journal of Innovative Technology and Exploring Engineering, [42] T. Gashaw, T. Tulu, M. Argaw, and A. W. Worqlul, “Modeling
vol. 8, no. 11, pp. 2381–2390, 2019. the hydrological impacts of land use/land cover changes in the
[28] W. Bewket and G. Sterk, “Dynamics in land cover and its Andassa watershed, Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia,” Science of The
effect on stream flow in the Chemoga watershed, Blue Nile Total Environment, vol. 619-620, pp. 1394–1408, 2018.
basin, Ethiopia,” Hydrological Processes, vol. 19, no. 2, [43] A. A. Gessesse, A. M. Melesse, and A. Z. Abiy, “Land use
pp. 445–458, 2005. dynamics and base and peak flow responses in the Choke
[29] G. Tesfaye, A. Assefa, and D. Kidane, “Runoff, sediment load mountain range, Upper Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia,” Interna-
and land use/cover change relationship: the case of Maybar tional Journal of River Basin Management, vol. 17, pp. 1–13,
sub-watershed, South Wollo, Ethiopia,” International Journal 2019.
of River Basin Management, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 89–101, 2016. [44] H. E. Getachew and A. M. Melesse, “The impact of land use
[30] K. Welde and B. Gebremariam, “Effect of land use land cover change on the hydrology of the Angereb watershed, Ethiopia,”
dynamics on hydrological response of watershed: case study International Journal of Water Sciences, vol. 1, 2012.
of Tekeze Dam watershed, northern Ethiopia,” International [45] Y. S. Getahun and V. L. Haj, “Assessing the impacts of land
Soil and Water Conservation Research, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 1–16, use-cover change on hydrology of melka Kuntrie subbasin in
2017. Ethiopia, using a conceptual hydrological model,” Journal of
[31] D. T. Meshesha, A. Tsunekawa, M. Tsubo, S. A. Ali, and Waste Water Treatment & Analysis, vol. 6, no. 3, 2015.
N. Haregeweyn, “Land-use change and its socio-environ- [46] N. Haregeweyn, S. Tesfaye, A. Tsunekawa et al., “Dynamics of
mental impact in Eastern Ethiopia’s highland,” Regional land use and land cover and its effects on hydrologic re-
Environmental Change, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 757–768, 2013. sponses: case study of the Gilgel Tekeze catchment in the
[32] S. Setegn, F. Yohannes, S. Quraishi, V. M. Chowdary, and highlands of Northern Ethiopia,” Environmental Monitoring
B. C. Mal, “Impact of land use/land cover transformations on and Assessment, vol. 187, no. 1, p. 4090, 2015.
Alemaya lake, Ethiopia,” Journal of Indian Water Resources [47] W. Kebede, M. Tefera, T. Habitamu, and T. Alemayehu,
Society, vol. 29, no. 3, 2009. “Impact of land cover change on water quality and stream
10 Applied and Environmental Soil Science

flow in lake Hawassa watershed of Ethiopia,” Agricultural Geografisk Tidsskrift—Norwegian Journal of Geography,
Sciences, vol. 5, no. 8, pp. 647–659, 2014. vol. 65, no. 1, pp. 42–53, 2011.
[48] S. Hailemariam, T. Soromessa, and D. Teketay, “Land use and [63] L. B. Asmamaw, A. A. Mohammed, and T. D. Lulseged, “Land
land cover change in the Bale mountain eco-region of use/cover dynamics and their effects in the Gerado catchment,
Ethiopia during 1985 to 2015,” Land, vol. 5, no. 4, 2016. northeastern Ethiopia,” International Journal of Environ-
[49] FAO, “Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Sta- mental Studies, vol. 68, no. 6, pp. 883–900, 2011.
tistical Database (FAOSTAT),” 2020, http://www.fao.org/ [64] Q. Feng, W. Zhao, J. Wang et al., “Effects of different land-use
faostat/en/#data. types on soil erosion under natural rainfall in the loess plateau,
[50] T. Belay, “Land-cover/land-use changes in the Derekolli China,” Pedosphere, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 243–256, 2016.
catchment of the South Welo Zone of amhara region, [65] N. Zhang, Q. Zhang, Y. Li et al., “Effect of groundcovers on
Ethiopia,” Eastern Africa Social Science Research Review, reducing soil erosion and non-point source pollution in citrus
vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 1–20, 2002. orchards on red soil under frequent heavy rainfall,” Sus-
[51] F. Demissie, K. Yeshitila, M. Kindu, and T. Schneider, “Land tainability, vol. 12, no. 3, 2020.
use/Land cover changes and their causes in Libokemkem [66] A. B. Aneseyee, E. Elias, T. Soromessa, and G. L. Feyisa, “Land
District of South Gonder, Ethiopia,” Remote Sensing Appli- use/land cover change effect on soil erosion and sediment
cations: Society and Environment, vol. 8, pp. 224–230, 2017. delivery in the Winike watershed, Omo Gibe Basin, Ethiopia,”
[52] A. Fetene, T. Hilker, K. Yeshitela, R. Prasse, W. Cohen, and Science of the Total Environment, vol. 728, Article ID 138776,
Z. Yang, “Detecting trends in landuse and landcover change of 2020.
Nech sar National park, Ethiopia,” Environmental Manage-
ment, vol. 57, no. 1, pp. 137–147, 2016.
[53] D. A. Mengistu, D. K. Waktola, and M. Woldetsadik, “De-
tection and analysis of land-use and land-cover changes in the
Midwest escarpment of the Ethiopian Rift Valley,” Journal of
Land Use Science, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 239–260, 2012.
[54] T. W. Meshesha, S. K. Tripathi, and D. Khare, “Analyses of
land use and land cover change dynamics using GIS and
remote sensing during 1984 and 2015 in the Beressa Wa-
tershed Northern Central Highland of Ethiopia,” Modeling
Earth Systems and Environment, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 1–12, 2016.
[55] A. Sewnet, “Land use/cover change at Infraz watershed by
using GIS and remote sensing techniques, northwestern
Ethiopia,” International Journal of River Basin Management,
vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 133–142, 2015.
[56] A. A. Shawul and S. Chakma, “Spatiotemporal detection of
land use/land cover change in the large basin using integrated
approaches of remote sensing and GIS in the Upper Awash
basin, Ethiopia,” Environmental Earth Sciences, vol. 78, no. 5,
2019.
[57] S. Tesfaye, E. Guyassa, A. Joseph Raj, E. Birhane, and
G. T. Wondim, “Land use and land cover change, and Woody
vegetation diversity in human driven landscape of Gilgel
Tekeze catchment, northern Ethiopia,” International Journal
of Forestry Research, vol. 2014, Article ID 614249, 10 pages,
2014.
[58] D. Tsegaye, S. R. Moe, P. Vedeld, and E. Aynekulu, “Land-use/
cover dynamics in Northern Afar rangelands, Ethiopia,”
Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, vol. 139, no. 1-2,
pp. 174–180, 2010.
[59] G. Ayele, H. Hayicho, and M. Alemu, “Land use land cover
change detection and deforestation modeling: in Delomena
district of Bale Zone, Ethiopia,” Journal of Environmental
Protection, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 532–561, 2019.
[60] H. Gebreslassie, “Land use-land cover dynamics of Huluka
watershed, Central Rift valley, Ethiopia,” International Soil
and Water Conservation Research, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 25–33,
2014.
[61] F. Zerfu, A. Mektel, and B. Bogale, “Land use and land cover
dynamics in the North-eastern Somali rangelands of eastern
Ethiopia,” International Journal of Geosciences, vol. 10, no. 9,
pp. 811–832, 2019.
[62] A. Bantider, H. Hurni, and G. Zeleke, “Responses of rural
households to the impacts of population and land-use changes
along the Eastern Escarpment of Wello, Ethiopia,” Norsk