ANALYSIS OF ECO-ENVIRONMENTAL VULNERABILITY: IMPLICATION FOR BUSH ENCROACHMENT AND LIVESTOCK POPULATION DYNAMICS OF THE TELTELE RANGELAND, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

摘要

Eco-environmental vulnerability is one of the challenges of Teltele rangeland Southern, Ethiopia. This research aimed to analyzing change of grassland area to bush covered area via remote sensing method using NDVI values, temperature, perception, land use change and the local community background knowledge from 1990-2015. The eco-environmental Vulnerability Integrated Index (EVSI) for each class,1990-1995, 1995-2000, 2000-2005, 2005-2010 and 2010-2015 shows an upward trend. That is 1.59, 2.61, 2.91, 2.67 and 2.8 respectively for each interval. The higher EVSI value, is the more serious impact of eco-environmental vulnerability or encroachment of the bush plant coverage. Based on the NDVI data, the net change in open bare grazing area to bush covered vegetation over the past 25 years was 43.2%. The key factor in the rapid encroachment of bush vegetation was the frequency of drought (El Ni?o), causing a decline in the population of pastoralist community of Teltele were faced with poverty due to their livelihood. As a result, trend of livestock population dynamics shows a decreasing in the pattern. Based on the current results, the design of the scientific management techniques for ecoenvironmental vulnerability and raising awareness in the local community will be the priority area for further studies.