Spatio-temporal dynamics of Acacia decurrens plantations in Awi Zone highlands, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract This study aimed to assess the Spatio-temporal Acacia decurrens plantation (ADP) cover dynamics and its drivers in the Awi highlands of Northwestern Ethiopia. Landsat imageries (1993, 2007, and 2022) with Support vector machine classification techniques and Normalized difference vegetation index were used to analyze the ADP cover changes from 1993 to 2022. Besides, questionnaires, focused-group discussions, and interviews were employed to identify the drivers of ADP cover changes. The findings revealed that ADP cover witnessed substantial changes between 1993 and 2022 in the study area. ADP cover dramatically increased from 0.05 percent in 1993 to 24.53 percent in 2022, with a total gain of 40,788.97 ha. In contrast, cropland, grassland, and shrubland significantly decreased from 1993 to 2022, with a net loss of 23,111.63 ha, 18,479.23 ha, and 7942.44 ha, respectively. Hence, ADP was expanded considerably in the study area at the expense of cropland, grassland, and shrubland in the past 29 years. Soil infertility/acidity; land degradation; attractive benefits of ADP; increasing fuelwood demand; living condition improvement of ADP growers; and suitability of ADP with other land uses were identified as the top six drivers for ADP expansion. The innovative environmental rehabilitation and tree plantation experiences of the Awi-community should be upgraded and expanded to other areas.