Detecting Land Use Modification and Its Influence on Resident Communities

Abstract The study intended to detecting the land use land cover changes, trends and their magnitude between 1986 and 2019 years by using GIS and remote sensing in Fagita Lekoma District, Amhara region, Ethiopia. Three satellite data set of Landsat Thematic Mapper for 1986, Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus for 2002 and Operational Land Imager for 2019 were used generate land use and land cover maps of the study area. Post classification comparison changed detection method was employed to identify gains and losses between Land Use Land Cover classes. Socioeconomic survey, key informant interview and field observation were also used conclude the encouragement of land use /land cover change in the study area. The result shows that cultivated land and wetland similarly decline in the entire study periods. In the 33 years, forest lands expanded by upon 200% of the original forest cover what was existed on the base year. Whereas, a result of the socioeconomic analysis the expansion of Acacia decurrens tree plantations and agricultural land are main causes of land use land cover change in the study area. The impact of this land use land cover change is more significant on the livelihood condition and status of the study area. The land use system of the study area highly converted cultivation land into forest/tree plantation. Mainly, the expansion of Acacia decurrens tree plantation on farmland is increasing the income of local residence when compare with the previous living condition in the study area.