Wetlands are important environmental resources for rural livelihoods in Ethiopia. The study investigated spatiotemporal change of wetlands, drivers and effects in North Central Ethiopian Highlands. Landsat satellite imageries of 1984, 1993, 2000, and 2013 were used to analyse wetland changes over the last three decades. Practical observations, interviews and discussions with local communities and officers were also conducted to address the main objective. Furthermore, secondary data on crop yields were collected to supplement the primary data. The study shows that wetlands have been converted into built‐up areas and farmlands. Wetlands in the study area experienced annual loss across the entire study period. Consequently, the area size of wetlands decreased from 7.4 per cent in 1984 to 2.6 per cent in 2013. About 66 per cent of the total wetlands was lost within 30 years mainly due to farmland encroachment and urban expansions. The highest rate of wetland change was recorded between 2000 and 2013. Such wetland changes increased conflicts among land users. However, the converted wetlands increased short‐term benefits due to wetland recession agriculture. To conclude, wetland resources are under enormous threats, and challenge the sustainability of livelihoods. Thus, integrated and adaptive wetland restoration policies could improve the degraded wetlands.

中文翻译：

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埃塞俄比亚中北部高地的时空湿地变化及其威胁

湿地是埃塞俄比亚农村生计的重要环境资源。该研究调查了埃塞俄比亚中部北部高地湿地的时空变化，驱动因素和影响。1984年，1993年，2000年和2013年的Landsat卫星图像用于分析过去三十年中的湿地变化。为了实现主要目标，还进行了与当地社区和官员的实际观察，访谈和讨论。此外，收集了有关作物单产的辅助数据以补充原始数据。研究表明，湿地已转变为建成区和农田。在整个研究期内，研究区的湿地每年遭受损失。因此，湿地的面积从1984年的7.4％减少到2013年的2.6％。30年之内，约有66％的湿地丧失，这主要是由于农田被侵占和城市扩张所致。2000年至2013年间，湿地变化率最高。这种湿地变化加剧了土地使用者之间的冲突。但是，由于湿地衰退农业，转换后的湿地增加了短期收益。总而言之，湿地资源正面临着巨大的威胁，并挑战着生计的可持续性。因此，综合和适应性的湿地恢复政策可以改善退化的湿地。由于湿地衰退农业，转换后的湿地增加了短期收益。总而言之，湿地资源正面临着巨大的威胁，并挑战着生计的可持续性。因此，综合和适应性的湿地恢复政策可以改善退化的湿地。由于湿地衰退农业，转换后的湿地增加了短期收益。总而言之，湿地资源正面临着巨大的威胁，并挑战着生计的可持续性。因此，综合和适应性的湿地恢复政策可以改善退化的湿地。