Large-scale land acquisitions and ecosystem services: Impacts on natural woodlands, biodiversity, and local livelihoods in Ethiopia

Keywords: Land-use/land cover change, human-environment interactions, ecosystem services, deforestation, large-scale land acquisitions, Africa
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Sunday
Session Start / End Time: 2/27/2022 11:20 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/27/2022 12:40 PM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 56

Abstract

The 2007/2008 global food price crisis spurred a surge of large-scale land acquisitions (LSLAs)—or “land grabs”—in developing countries of the Global South as transnational agribusinesses sought to procure land and water resources for the commercial production of biofuels, food crops, and commodities, usually designated for export. Sub-Saharan Africa has been a primary target of LSLAs with host governments selling or leasing large tracts of land to foreign investors for commercial agriculture, proclaiming the benefits of economic growth, increased agricultural productivity and technology transfer, and improved food security. However, LSLAs represent abrupt changes land tenure and land-use as small-scale farms, grazing lands, and natural woodlands are converted to industrialized agriculture, driving rapid land cover change and tradeoffs in ecosystem services. In Ethiopia, LSLAs often displace local smallholders and agro-pastoralists, and can lead to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and greater food insecurity for local populations. This study uses remote sensing data and techniques to analyze time-series analysis of remote sensing imagery to quantify change in natural woodlands cover in and around LSLAs sites in Ethiopia since the occurrence of LSLAs. NDVI time series data is analyzed with land transaction location and ancillary data for a preliminary assessment of the effects of LSLAs on natural forest cover and woody savanna vegetation. Household survey and ecological field data from seven treatment and control study sites are analyzed to assess impacts on local livelihoods, food security, and biodiversity loss in the context of sustainable natural resource management, ecosystem services, and human well-being.