Impact of land use/land cover changes on ecosystem service values in the cherangany hills water tower, Kenya

Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) changes alter the ecosystem structure and function, resulting in variations of Ecosystem Service Values (ESVs). This study investigated impacts LULC on ESVs over 37 years Cherangany Hills Water Tower (CHWT) Kenya. Landsat images from 1985 2022 were used to examine historical CHWT. Supervised classification was carried out using Random Forest (RF) classifier R-Studio while ArcGIS desktop software for mapping evaluate changes. Accuracy assessments also conducted each reference year. The estimation done Benefit Transfer Approach (BTA), employing modified local value coefficients. Six types (Forest, Cropland, Grassland, bodies, Bareland, Built-up area) successfully classified, with overall accuracies more than 92.5% Kappa coefficients greater 0.91. Our findings showed an expansion built-up areas (201.63%), cropland (36.78%), water bodies (40.05%) whereas grassland, forest, bareland experienced a reduction their land by 28.26%, 13.38%, 24.15% respectively between Consequently, there increase ESV forest grassland registered decrease ESVs. Overall, total CHWT declined 7.16% 121.22 million United States Dollars (USD) year 112.54 USD 2022. As individual ESVs, 15 17 Services (ES) negative Food production biological control two ES positive period. There is need curb current drivers within tower, especially croplands, stop further degradation optimum delivery ES.