Impact of Land Use and Land Cover Change on Soil Erosion in Dondor Watershed, Blue Nile Basin, Northwestern Ethiopia
Liyew Birhanu, Y. Mekonen, Abineh Tilahun, Nigussie Amsalu, Heiko Balzter
Abstract
Understanding how land use and land cover (LULC) changes affect soil erosion is essential for effective management of watershed areas. This study used Geographic Information Systems (GISs) and the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model to analyze the impact of LULC changes on soil erosion in the Dondor Watershed. Remote sensing data, including Landsat and Sentinel-2 satellite images, alongside field surveys, topographic data, rainfall, and soil data were used. The results showed agricultural land as the primary LULC type, increasing from 43.49% in 2002 to 59.10% in 2023. Forest and built-up areas also expanded, while grassland decreased. Soil erosion estimates revealed that more than 85% of the watershed experienced very slight erosion though the average annual soil loss increased from 4.98 t ha⁻1 year⁻1 in 2002 to 7.96 t ha⁻1 year⁻1 in 2023. Agriculture and built-up areas were identified as the primary contributors to erosion. This study underscores the importance of monitoring LULC dynamics for responsible land management and conservation efforts in the watershed.