아프리카ㆍ중동

Forest cover changes in southwest Ethiopia have significant social and environmental implications. This study explored the primary drivers and effects of forest cover changes from 1986 to 2019 in the region. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining socioeconomic data, geospatial data, and both global and locally adapted ecosystem services value (ESV) coefficients. The findings indicated a significant decline in forest cover attributed to its conversion to human-modified land types, with approximately 87.3 percent of respondents acknowledging this reduction in the study area. The intricate factors driving forest cover changes include agricultural expansion, population growth, land grabbing, fuelwood collection, and illegal logging, highlighting the necessity for a multifaceted approach to tackle these challenges. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that various sociodemographic factors significantly influenced (p < 0.05) respondents’ perceptions regarding the drivers of forest cover change. The ESV over three timeframes indicated a decrease from around US$226.75 million to US$172.81 million, equating to a total loss of approximately 23.79%. The ESV of shrublands fell by 46.35%, wetlands by 32.63%, dense forests by 23.77%, and open forests by 17.29% during the evaluation period. In contrast, cropland rose by 38.06% and agroforestry by 20.03%. Significant ecosystem services, like water supply and disturbance regulation, faced reductions of over 30%. Correlation analysis reveals that forest conservation strategies are linked to the drivers of deforestation, suggesting that integrated approaches can mitigate deforestation and promote sustainable resource management. Positive attitudes toward afforestation, enhanced enforcement, community forest management, and improved agricultural practices highlight opportunities for collaborative conservation efforts. Achieving sustainable conservation requires increased community engagement and governance, along with comprehensive policies to address changes in forest cover and their impacts on ecosystem services.