Land cover and land use change and variability: Evidence from longitudinal Geographic Information System data in Shashemene and Tehuledere

This chapter provides an assessment of climate variability and land cover changes in north and central Ethiopia. The assessment focuses on changes over a period of roughly 40 years as well as on the factors shaping such changes. It does so through an analysis of remote sensing and climate data on temperature, rainfall and land cover change. An observed increase in trees outside of forests is discussed in depth. This is a new development in rural livelihoods, and the chapter explores how it has been shaped by both the governance context and households’ livelihood strategies, as well as its implications for local environments and mobility options. Together, Chapters 2 and 3 provide background information for the rest of the book.