Abstract:
Wetlands are one of the most important natural resources on the earth. They provide a wide range of benefits to the human being as well as the environment. In the study area, the livelihood of the surrounding community was largely depending on wetland. However, despite its immense importance, currently the wetland was threatened by human induced problems. The main objective of the study was to investigate the effects of land use dynamics of Berga wetland. The concurrent triangulation research design was employed. Probability and non-probability sampling techniques were used. Questionnaires, key informant interview, focus group discussion and filed observation were used to gather all the necessary data quantitatively and qualitatively. Both primary data from respondents and secondary data from satellite image and compiled documents were generated. A total of 214 households were selected from three kebeles by using systematic random sampling. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze quantitative data. The qualitative data organized thematically and narrated. The finding of the study indicates that, the land use / land cover result revealed that Berga wetland has shown spectacular decline in its size between the years 1986 to 2016 due to expansion of farming land, residential areas, planting of eucalyptus tree, overgrazing and excessive harvesting of grass and sedge. In response to the land use dynamics and over exploitation of the wetland resource, Berga wetland has exhibited changes in spatial dimension, hydrological characteristics and fauna and flora. The study findings strongly recommend that soil and water conservation practices such as terracing, reforestation, stream rehabilitation, habitat protection measures through collaborative works of different stakeholders should be required.
