Effects of Long-Term Land Use and Land Cover Changes on Ecosystem Service Values: An Example from the Central Rift Valley, Ethiopia

Changes in land use and cover (LULC) are the leading contributors to decline loss of ecosystem services world. The present study covered Central Rift Valley lakes basin Ethiopia, focusing on valley floor East West escarpments, analyze changes LULC estimate associated losses service values (ESVs). Covering both upstream downstream areas basin, addressed major gaps existing studies by connecting sources sinks material (e.g., sediment water) source-to-lake systems. Additionally, facilitated identification critical for conserving natural resources reversing ESVs Valley. A post-classification comparison approach was used detect between 1973 2020 using four Landsat images from 1973, 1990, 2005 2020. value transfer valuation method due changes. Among seven identified classes, farmlands, settlements, bare lands showed positive changes, while forestlands, grasslands, shrublands waterbodies negative over last 47 years. expansion example, has occurred at expense forestlands shrublands. a period years resulted total US $62,110.4 × 106 ESVs. overall decreasing order provisioning (US $33,795.1 106), cultural $28,981.5 106) regulating $652.9 106). results imply that addressing degradation water is crucial achieving national Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related food security (SDGs 2 6) life (SDG 15).