ABSTRACT
Spatiotemporal variability in Land Use/Cover (LULC) patterns can exert a powerful influence on the hydrological processes of semi-arid areas like the Upper Tekeze basin. Accurate information about the land use/land cover change is a prerequisite for improved land and water management. Natural vegetation cover, including forests, reduced drastically with the rapid expansion of crops, grazing areas and bare lands. Understanding land and water management in a basin require detailed information on LULC management practices. LULC change in combination with unsustainable land management directly impacts biodiversity, ecosystem services, crop productivity, hydrology, and may even influence local climate if it occurs at relatively larger scales. The literature shows that anthropogenic factors are the main drivers of changes in land management practices and variability in water availability in Ethiopia. Land use in the basin is dominated by rainfed agriculture followed by shrubs, bare land, grassland, forest and residential areas.
