Weldu Woldemariam, G.; Edo Harka, A. Effect of Land Use and Land Cover Change on Soil Erosion in Erer Sub-Basin, Northeast Wabi Shebelle Basin, Ethiopia. Land2020, 9, 111.
Weldu Woldemariam, G.; Edo Harka, A. Effect of Land Use and Land Cover Change on Soil Erosion in Erer Sub-Basin, Northeast Wabi Shebelle Basin, Ethiopia. Land 2020, 9, 111.
Weldu Woldemariam, G.; Edo Harka, A. Effect of Land Use and Land Cover Change on Soil Erosion in Erer Sub-Basin, Northeast Wabi Shebelle Basin, Ethiopia. Land2020, 9, 111.
Weldu Woldemariam, G.; Edo Harka, A. Effect of Land Use and Land Cover Change on Soil Erosion in Erer Sub-Basin, Northeast Wabi Shebelle Basin, Ethiopia. Land 2020, 9, 111.
Abstract
Land use and land cover change (LULCC) is a critical factor for enhancing the soil erosion risk and land degradation process in the Wabi Shebelle Basin. Up-to-date spatial and statistical data on basin-wide erosion rates can provide an important basis for planning and conservation of soil and water ecosystems. The objectives of this study were to examine the magnitude of LULCC and consequent changes in the spatial extent of soil erosion risk, and identify priority areas for Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) in the Erer Sub-Basin, Wabi Shebelle Basin, Ethiopia. The soil loss rates were estimated using an empirical prediction model of the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) outlined in the ArcGIS environment. The estimated total annual actual soil loss at the sub-basin level was 1.01 million tons in 2000 and 1.52 million tons in 2018 with a mean erosion rate of 75.85 t ha–1 y–1 and 107.07 t ha–1 y–1, respectively. The most extensive soil loss rates were estimated in croplands and bare land cover, with a mean soil loss rate of 37.60 t ha–1 y–1 and 15.78 t ha−1 y−1, respectively. The soil erosion risk has increased by 18.28% of the total area, and decreased by 15.93%, showing that the overall soil erosion situation is worsening in the study area. We determined SWC priority areas using the Multi-Criteria Decision Rule (MCDR) approach, indicates that the top three levels identified for intense SWC account for about 2.50%, 2.38%, and 2.14%, respectively. These priority levels are typically situated along the steep slopes in Babile, Fedis, Fik, Gursum, Gola Oda, Haramaya, Jarso, and Kombolcha districts that need emergency SWC measures.
Copyright:
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.
Received:
3 January 2023
Commenter:
Kalid Hassen
The commenter has declared there is no conflict of interests.
Comment:
After a thorough reading the paper I have come to the conclusion that this paper is an excellent example of research into soil erosion risk and its implications for conservation planning.
The authors have provided a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the Gobele Watershed in Ethiopia, which is a region that is particularly vulnerable to soil erosion. They have used a variety of methods, including geographic information systems (GIS), to assess the risk of soil erosion in the region. The authors have also provided an in-depth discussion of the implications of their findings for conservation planning in the region.
The paper is well-structured and clearly written, making it easy to understand the main points of the research. The authors have also provided a comprehensive review of the relevant literature, which is essential for any research paper.
Overall, this paper is an excellent example of research into soil erosion risk and its implications for conservation planning. The authors have provided a detailed analysis of the Gobele Watershed in Ethiopia and have provided an in-depth discussion of the implications of their findings for conservation planning in the region. I highly recommend this paper for anyone interested in soil erosion risk assessment for conservation planning in other region of the country and elsewhere.
Gezahegn Woldu,Anteneh Derribew,Uttama Reddy,Solomon Tekaligne.
Commenter: Kalid Hassen
The commenter has declared there is no conflict of interests.
The authors have provided a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the Gobele Watershed in Ethiopia, which is a region that is particularly vulnerable to soil erosion. They have used a variety of methods, including geographic information systems (GIS), to assess the risk of soil erosion in the region. The authors have also provided an in-depth discussion of the implications of their findings for conservation planning in the region.
The paper is well-structured and clearly written, making it easy to understand the main points of the research. The authors have also provided a comprehensive review of the relevant literature, which is essential for any research paper.
Overall, this paper is an excellent example of research into soil erosion risk and its implications for conservation planning. The authors have provided a detailed analysis of the Gobele Watershed in Ethiopia and have provided an in-depth discussion of the implications of their findings for conservation planning in the region. I highly recommend this paper for anyone interested in soil erosion risk assessment for conservation planning in other region of the country and elsewhere.
Gezahegn Woldu,Anteneh Derribew,Uttama Reddy,Solomon Tekaligne.