Assessing Climate Impacts on Forage Availability in the Somali Region of Ethiopia Using Remote Sensing

Abstract

Forage conditions in the Somali Region of Ethiopia are a critical concern due to the area’s dependence on livestock and pastoralism. This region contributes significantly to Ethiopia’s total livestock population, with pastoralism making up an estimated 42% of the national livestock economy (Tenaw et al.). However, forage availability is increasingly diminishing, posing risks to food security and livelihoods. Over 80% of Ethiopia’s land is estimated to be moderately to severely degraded (Solomon et al.), with the Somali Region being especially vulnerable. This study investigates the impact of changes over time in land surface temperature (LST) and precipitation on the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), which reflects the general condition of forage in the area.. Temporal trends of NDVI, LST, and precipitation in selected grassland areas of the Somali Region were derived using satellite remote sensing data. A multiple regression analysis was conducted to quantify the significance of the relationships between these climate variables and the NDVI. The resulting findings provide vital understanding of the key elements influencing forage degradation in the Somali Region, aiding in more informed pastoral planning and land management strategies for this vulnerable area.

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