GIS AND REMOTE SENSING BASED SUITABILITY ANALYSIS FOR URBAN GREEN SPACE DEVELOPMENT IN NAKAMTE TOWN, WESTERN OROMIYA REGION, ETHIOPIA.

Abstract

Land Suitability analysis is the process to determine whether the land resource is suitable for some specific uses. Hence, this paper gives an analysis on suitable sites for green space development in Nakamte town. Mixed research design used for collecting, presenting and analyzing data. Data obtained from primary and secondary sources. The rate of LULC change for 2000, 2010, 2020 years was assessed using GIS tools and Remote sensing technique. The result shows built-up area have been covering majority of the study area within the time frame of 2000 to 2020. In 2020 built-up area covered the largest land use with a change of 912.67 ha (16%), agriculture land decreased by 1190 ha (21.78%), forest land decreased by 398 ha (7%). The suitability analysis was done using GIS based multi-criteria analysis. Simple random sampling employed to draw 137 sample households. Seven factors (slope, distance to main road, LULC, elevation, geology, soil, river) that affect the Urban Green Space suitability level were used. As study result shows High suitable area of the town Green Space decreased from 2462ha (45%) to1244.7ha (22.77%) and built-up area increased from 873ha (15.97%) to 1786ha (32%) within 2000-2020. Moreover, based on GIS based multi-criteria analysis, 1244.7ha (22.77%) was highly suitable and 1665ha (30%) was moderately suitable for green space development in study area. Descriptive statistics applied to look perception of community towards development and benefit of green space. The study result indicates community perceived the social, environmental, ecological benefits of green space than its health and economic benefit because green areas in the town does not managed and structured well with infrastructure. The result shows decrement of urban green space in the town and major challenges of urban green space development were illegal building, lack of comprehensive planning and implementation, irresponsibility of community to conserve green space. Generally based on the result, Nakamte town urban green space development has been challenged by social, economic and institutional constraints. So researcher recommended city administration particularly beautification, environmental protection, park and sustainable administration office of the town should update LULC using Remote sensing and GIS technologies and give special attention in saving the existing green space and planting trees, comprehensive planning and implementation, outlining other possible strategies for green space development. The researcher invited for further studies.