International Journal of Land Research Article
Rescuing the Giants: An Integrated Environmental Baseline Assessment for Climate Adaptation, Biodiversity, and Carbon Storage in the Gobele Watershed, Ethiopia
Abstract
Global ecosystem integrity and human well-being are at risk due to the interconnected triple planetary catastrophe of climate change, biodiversity loss, and land degradation. Ethiopia faces significant vulnerability, particularly in the Babile Elephant Sanctuary and Gobele Catchment, due to poor land management, rapid population growth, and increased agriculture. The study aimed to evaluate carbon storage, climate adaptation indicators, and biodiversity status and to establish baseline statistics for integrated landscape management. Using ABC-Map, Earth Map, Google Earth Engine, and ArcGIS 10.8 mapping tools across five kebeles in the Gobele Catchment, the study identified high climatic risk (score = 2.9), substantial warming (0.324°C per decade), a decrease in precipitation (−28.7 mm per decade), and a lack of permanent water sources. Biodiversity trends indicate alarming agricultural growth (49,860% increase) and over 99% woodland loss, with biodiversity declining by 28.6% primarily due to human encroachment. Carbon stocks rose from 3.1 to 3.3 million tons between 1992 and 2022, with social values increasing correspondingly. Overall, the study highlights critical climate change impacts, biodiversity loss, and land degradation that necessitate integrated management strategies in these regions. The baseline assessment provides a valuable means of evaluating subsequent restoration program outcomes and guiding evidence-based, climate-resilient landscape management in Eastern Ethiopia. In addition, the approach used may be applied to other data-scarce areas of Ethiopia to provide scientific evidence for conservation, climate resilience, and sustainable management.
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