Background Resettlement has been conceived as a viable solution to the continual impoverishment and destitution of Ethiopian rural communities. However, it has considerable impacts on natural resources of the environment at destination areas. This study was carried out to evaluate impact of resettlement scheme on vegetation cover and its implications on conservation in Chewaka district of Ethiopia. Methods The study utilized ArcGIS10.3, ERDAS Imagine 9.1, Landsat imageries of 2000, 2009, 2018 and socio-economic data to analyze the LULC of the district. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index was employed to detect vegetation cover changes of the area. The study was conducted on the seven kebeles of Chewaka district and the total households of the sample kebeles are 3340. Through multistage sampling procedure a total of 384 households were selected from sample kebeles. Data were collected using questionnaires, GPS, interviews, focus group discussions and field observations. The collected data were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Results The results showed that Chewaka district has undergone substantial LULC change since population resettlement in the area. A rapid reduction of woodland (34.6%), forest (59.9%), grassland (50.5%) and bareland (46.8%) took place between 2000 and 2018, while built-up areas and cultivated lands have expanded at an average rate of 90.7 and 1515.7 ha/year respectively. The results of NDVI revealed that the extent of dense and sparse vegetation cover have decreased by 26.1% and 20.6% respectively, whereas non-vegetation cover has increased by 14,340.2 ha during the study period. It was found that rapid population growth following resettlement program, farmland and settlement expansion, deforestation, human-induced forest fire, lack of land use plan, unwise utilization and low management practices were the major factors that underpin the observed changes in the area. Conclusions Resettlement scheme has resulted in the depletion and dynamics of vegetation cover in Chewaka district. Therefore, the study suggests urgent attention on conservation of the remaining vegetation resources for sustainable utilization.

中文翻译：

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埃塞俄比亚切瓦卡地区移民安置计划对植被覆盖的影响及其对保护的影响

背景 重新安置被认为是解决埃塞俄比亚农村社区持续贫困和贫困的可行解决方案。然而，它对目的地地区的环境自然资源有相当大的影响。本研究旨在评估重新安置计划对埃塞俄比亚 Chewaka 地区植被覆盖的影响及其对保护的影响。方法本研究利用ArcGIS10.3、ERDAS Imagine 9.1、2000年、2009年、2018年的Landsat影像和社会经济数据来分析该地区的LULC。采用归一化差异植被指数来检测该区域的植被覆盖变化。研究在 Chewaka 区的 7 个 kebeles 上进行，样本 kebeles 的总户数为 3340。通过多阶段抽样程序，共从样本kebeles中抽取了384户。使用问卷调查、全球定位系统、访谈、焦点小组讨论和实地观察收集数据。对收集到的数据进行了定量和定性分析。结果 结果表明，Chewaka 区自该地区人口重新安置以来，LULC 发生了实质性的变化。2000年至2018年间，林地（34.6%）、森林（59.9%）、草地（50.5%）和裸地（46.8%）迅速减少，建成区和耕地平均扩大90.7%和 1515.7 公顷/年。NDVI 的结果显示，密集和稀疏植被覆盖程度分别减少了 26.1% 和 20.6%，而非植被覆盖程度增加了 14,340。研究期间2公顷。结果发现，移民安置计划后人口快速增长、农田和定居点扩张、森林砍伐、人为森林火灾、缺乏土地利用计划、不明智的利用和低管理做法是支撑该地区观察到的变化的主要因素。结论 移民安置计划导致了 Chewaka 区植被覆盖的枯竭和动态。因此，该研究建议紧急关注保护剩余植被资源以实现可持续利用。不明智的利用和低管理做法是支撑该地区观察到的变化的主要因素。结论 移民安置计划导致了 Chewaka 区植被覆盖的枯竭和动态。因此，该研究建议紧急关注保护剩余植被资源以实现可持续利用。不明智的利用和低管理做法是支撑该地区观察到的变化的主要因素。结论 移民安置计划导致了 Chewaka 区植被覆盖的枯竭和动态。因此，该研究建议紧急关注保护剩余植被资源以实现可持续利用。