Environmental Vulnerability Evaluation of the Afro-Alpine Ecosystem Using Remote Sensing and GIS: A Case Study in Mountain Abune Yosefe, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the environmental vulnerability of the Mt. Abune yosef Afro-alpine ecosystem in the North Highlands of Ethiopia. Remote sensing, Geographic information system (RS,GIS) and Spatial Principal Component Analysis (SPCA) as well as the structure and semi-structured questionnaire interview were employed to evaluate the environmental vulnerability. The Mt. Abune yosef afro-alpine ecosystem, located in the North part of Amhara Region, is characterized by the complex of different fauna and flora. To analyze environmental vulnerability, remote sensing (RS) and geographical information system (GIS) technologies are adopted, and an ecological numerical model is developed using spatial principal component analysis (SPCA) method. The model contains seven factors including altitude, slope, aspect, land use type, vegetation cover, human and livestock population density. According to the numerical results, the vulnerability is classified into four levels: potential, light, medial, and massive concentration utilizing the cluster principle. The environmental vulnerability distribution and its dynamic change in the past 30 years from 1985 to 2015 are analyzed and discussed. The results show that the environmental vulnerability in the study area is at an intermediate level, and the Integrated Environmental Vulnerability Index (EVSI) value of 2.856, 3.0698 and 2.925 at 1985, 2000 and 2015 respectively and my study shows the driving forcing of dynamic change are mainly caused by human, social and economic activities. To decrease farmland expansion and livestock grazing, alternative income generating activities such as eco-tourism development is better in the surrounding of Mt. Abune yosef Afro-alpine ecosystem.