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

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.