The Effect of Urban Expansion on Forest Degradation in Addis Ababa: the case of Yeka Sub City

Abstract

Urbanization certainly cannot be separated from land conversion which reduced land cover of green vegetation that turns into a built-up area. The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of urban expansion on forest degradation in Addis Ababa, particularly  in reference to Yeka sub city. Mixed research approach were utilized. Both probability and non-probability sampling techniques were employed. As a means of data collection tools, questionnaires, interview and observation were used. The data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. The method of data analysis used were descriptive statistics and inferential statistics using SPSS. In addition to analyze the trend of forest degradation and extent of forest degradation Geographical Information System software used. The results indicated that, urban expansion have high effect on forest degradation in the study area. In the last 20 years (from 2000-2020), 1841 hectares of forest land became degraded. Built up area was expanded to about 1858 hectares of lands formerly occupied by forest. The relationship between causes of forest degradation and forest degradation was examined by using Pearson correlation coefficient. As a result, urban expansion was seen to have a strong negative effect on decline of forest coverage by .87** at p=.000. Population growth also had a significant negative effect on shrinking the forest coverage by 0.78** at p=.000. Informal and illegal settlement, migration, illegal wood for charcoal and firewood, weak land use policy and land tenure, agricultural expansion and natural fires had an intermediate effect for forest degradation by having 0.643** at p=.000, .621** at p=.000, 0.607** at p=.000, 0.585** at p=.000, 0.54** at p=.000 and 0.45** at p=.000 respectively in Yeka sub city. Therefore, all the above causes had significant effects on shrinking forest lands. For this,urban expansion was the major cause of forest degradation. The study also showed that rapid urban expansion had high environmental effects such as increased soil erosion, reduced biodiversity, and release of greenhouse gas emissions, disrupted water cycle and climate change.