Peri urban land transformation in Ethiopia a study of Bahir Dar city using geospatial technology

Abstract

The present research is about the Peri-urban land transformation in Bahir Dar city, Ethiopia, using geospatial technology. The aim was to: delineate the peri-urban area, assess the patterns and drivers of peri-urban land transformation in the last 30 years, assess the spatial implications of ongoing land transformation and predicting the future peri-urban land transformation up to the year 2029. In the study, it was found that the total area of peri-urban Bahir Dar covers 225.4 sq. km. The land transformation process of the last three decades showed the expansion of built-up areas at the expense of fertile farmland. It was mainly caused by urban expansion, population growth, and government policies. Land transformation contributed to the change in land acquisition, fragmentation and value. The predicted map for 2029 showed that the conversion of farmland into built-up area will continue at a more rapid pace and on a much larger scale which necessitates the collective actions of all actors for sustainable urban and regional development. newline