SCHOOL OF POST GRADUATE STUDIE

COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE AND HUMANITIES

DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Urban Land Use and Land Cover Change and Challenges of

Land Management in Robe Town of Arsi Zone, Oromia
Regional State, Southeastern Ethiopia

By: Taye Tamiru Mamo

A Thesis Report Submitted to School of Graduate Studies at Madda Walabu University,

college of social sciences and humanities, department of geography and environmental
studies for in partial fulfillment of the requirements of master‟s degree of arts in geography
and environmental studies

Advisor: Hussein Hayicho (PhD)

SEPTEMBER, 2022
ROBE, ETHIOPIA
 APPROVAL SHEET

MADDA WALABU UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE AND HUMANITIES
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

As this research advisor, I hereby certify that I have evaluated this thesis report prepared
under my guidance by Taye Tamiru entitled “Urban Land Use and Land Cover Change and
Challenges of Land Management in Robe Town of Arsi Zone, Oromia Regional State,
Southeastern Ethiopia”. I recommend that it can be submitted as fulfillment of thesis report
requirement.

______________________________ ________________ _________

Advisor Signature Date

As member of the Board of Examiners, we certify that we have read, evaluated the thesis
report produced by Taye Tamiru and examined the candidate. We recommend that the thesis
report meet and comply with the requirements for the degree of Art in Geography and
Environmental Studies.

____________________________________ _______________ _____________

Chairperson Signature Date

____________________________________ ______________ ___________

Internal Examiner Signature Date

____________________________________ _____________ ___________

External Examiner Signature Date

Final approval and acceptance of the thesis report is contingent upon the submission of the
final copy of the thesis proposal to Council of Graduate Studies (CGS) through the
department or school of Graduate Council (GDC or SGC).

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to express my deep thanks to all people and institutions who gave me invaluable
assistance to accomplish this research report. It is difficult to mention all of them, but only
few are acknowledged below.

Then, I am grateful to my advisor Hussein Hayicho (PhD) for his critical effort, corrections,
assistance, encouragement, academic stimulation as well as productive and constructive
comments starting from research proposal title identification to the preparation of this thesis
report and kindly assistance in analyzing and processing remotely sensed satellite imageries
by investing his precious time. His continuous encouragement and critical comments have
decisive roles to come out with the current shape of the paper and realization of the study,
which otherwise would have been unthinkable to work on the topic. Still, professional
assistance rendered by Ato Ahmad Ami in processing and analyzing remotely sensed satellite
imageries need special thanks and acknowledgement without whom this thesis is hardly
thinkable in the present format.

My deep appreciation and thanks also go to all members of the Department of Geography and
Environmental studies and its workers for their friendly treatment and corporation in various
steps of this research thesis work, especially I need to express my heartfelt thanks and due
acknowledgements to Dereje Demissie.

It is also my pleasure to take this opportunity to thank my beloved family; my Wife W/o
Yewbdar Hailu and my lovely children for their support, encouragement and patience. In
addition, I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to Robe Town Municipality,
Health office and Kebele administration and all people who participate in this research
proposal by giving important preliminary information.

Lastly, I would like to address my deepest thanks to my friends to Dereje Mulu for his idea,
moral and material support.

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 Table of Contents
APPROVAL SHEET ................................................................................................................. i
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ...................................................................................................... ii
LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................. vi
LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................. vii
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS .............................................................................. viii
ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................. ix
1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................1
1.1. Background of the Study .................................................................................................1
1.2. Statement of the Problem ................................................................................................3
1.3. Objective of the Study .....................................................................................................5
1.3.1. General Objectives ...................................................................................................5
1.3.2. Specific objectives ....................................................................................................5
1.4. Research Questions .........................................................................................................5
1.5. Significance of the Study ................................................................................................5
1.6. The scope of the Study ....................................................................................................6
1.7. Limitations of the Study ..................................................................................................6
1.8. Operational Definitions of Key Terms ............................................................................7
1.9. Organization of the Thesis ..............................................................................................7
2. LITERATURE REVIEW ......................................................................................................9
2.1. Concepts of Urban LULC Changes and Land Management Challenges ........................9
2.2. Detection and Analysis of Urban Land Use and Land Cover Changes ........................12
2.2.1. Detection Methods of Land Use and Land Cover Change .....................................12
2.3. Urban Land Use and Land Cover Change Management Challenges ............................13
2.4. Review of Findings of Empirical Studies .....................................................................18
3. MATERIALS AND METHODOLOGY .............................................................................23
3.1. Description of the Study Area .......................................................................................23
3.2. Research Methodology..................................................................................................25
3.2.1. Research Approach and Design ..............................................................................25
3.2.2. Types and Sources of Data .....................................................................................25
3.2.3. Sampling Techniques and Sample Sizes Determination ........................................26
3.2.4. Sampling Procedures (Techniques) ........................................................................27
3.3. Methods of Data Collection ..........................................................................................28

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Appendix II: Household Survey Questionnaire ...................................................................92
Appendix III: Administrators‟ and Key Informants‟ Interview Questions ..........................96
Appendix IV: Interview Schedule with Robe town Physical Planning Office ....................98
Appendix V: Field Observation, Measurement and Photographing ....................................99
Appendix VI: 1990 to 2021 Corresponding Satellite-based Classified LULC ..................100
Appendix VI.I: The 1990 TM 8 satellite-based classified map of Arsi Robe town .......100
Appendix VI.II: The 2000 TM 8 satellite-based classified map of Arsi Robe town ......100
Appendix VI.III: The 2011 TM 8 satellite-based classified map of Arsi Robe town ....100
Appendix VI.IV: The 2021 TM 8 satellite-based classified map of Arsi Robe town ....100