Quantification and mapping of the spatial landscape pattern and its planning and management implications a case study in Addis Ababa and the surrounding area, Ethiopia

Abstract

Rapid urbanization in Addis Ababa and the surrounding area resulted in the rapid land use/land cover (LULC) change that affected landscape structures and ecological functions. This study aimed at quantifying and mapping the spatial patterns of landscape structure for a sustainable city region landscape conservation planning and management. GIS and statistical tools were used to compute important landscape metrics. Pearson Correlation and factor analysis were also applied to reduce redundant indices and identify underlining factor of the landscape structure by network of hexagonal area. The analysis depicted four landscape and four class-level underlined metrics. Accordingly, as the region overall landscape was characterized by patch size and density, shape and texture (interspersion) index, the forest class also attributed by patch size and density, and shape metrics. The result shows that the region landscape planning and management schemes must emphasize on the level of patch fragmentation and landscape complexity to maintain the natural land cover habitat functioning, the amount of ecological process and extent of human intervention. This research will help scientific base decision-making in conservation planning and management of the tropical highland urban landscape in general, and the study area in particular.