Environment and Natural Resources Research; Vol. 13, No. 1; 2023 ISSN 1927-0488 E-ISSN 1927-0496 Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education 1 Spatiotemporal Dynamic of Land Use/Land Cover Changes and Their Drivers in the Fincha’a-Neshe Sub-Basin, Southeastern Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia Habtamu Abebe 1,3, *, Asfaw Kebede 1 , Tena Alamirew 2 & Gizaw Desta 2 1 Harmaya Institute of Technology, Haramaya University, Ethiopia 2 Water and Land Resources Center, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia 3 Natural Resource and Environmental Engineering, Wollega University, Ethiopia *Correspondence: Wollega University, Shambu Campus, Technology Faculty, Ethiopia Received: January 10, 2023 Accepted: March 20, 2023 Online Published: March 30, 2023 doi:10.5539/enrr.v13n1p1 URL: https://doi.org/10.5539/enrr.v13n1p1 Abstract It is paramount to evaluate the spatiotemporal dynamics of land use and land cover (LULC) changes and their drivers. This is because it helps generate information on biodiversity, land productivity, ecology, and livelihoods for decision-making. Due to land degradation, deforestation, shifting cultivation, high population pressure, and the three national megaprojects (NMPs), the Fincha'a Neshe sub-basin (FNSB) LULC, changes may be unprecedented. This study aimed to investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics of LULC changes and their drivers using remote sensing (RS) data and geographic information systems (GIS). Landsat images 5, 7, and 8 were used for the discrete periods of 1986, 2000, and 2016, respectively. Field observations (Ground control points) and interviews were conducted with key participants to validate the data. Supervised classification with a maximum likelihood algorithm was used to classify the Landsat imagery. The results showed that the FNSB experienced substantial changes in LULC between 1986 and 2016, of which 13.8% (457.3 km 2 ) were due to NMPs. The cropland cover has expanded by 694.4 km 2 (57.81%) at a rate of 24.60 km 2 year -1 at the expense of shrubland, forest, wetland, and grassland. In contrast, shrubland, forest, wetland, and grassland have declined at the rates of 16.8, 3.9, 3.4, and 1.7 km 2 year- 1 over the entire study period. Population growth and NMPs were the principal drivers of the changes in the LULC of the sub-basin. Thus, the LULC transformation rate observed in the sub-basin requires due attention and mitigation strategies, as it might seriously threaten the sustainability of natural resources and NMPs. Keywords: land use/land cover change, change drivers, change detection, Fincha’a Sub-basin, Ethiopia 1. Introduction Ethiopia is Africa’s second-most populated country and has experienced significant LULC changes (Genet, 2020). However, the problem of land cover dynamics is more severe in the Ethiopian highlands. These highlands account for 44% of the country’s landmass and have been cultivated for millennia (Hurni et al., 2005), as in the study sub-basin (Ayana et al., 2014). These highlands have greater potential for cultivation and are preferred for settlements. The greatest potential of highland areas for agricultural production and their suitability for settlement may accelerate the transformation of natural vegetation into agricultural land and human settlements. Population growth, resettlement programs, and climate change are the primary causes of the fast-changing LULC in the Ethiopian highlands (Regasa et al., 2021). Furthermore, other human and natural driving forces may also play a significant role (Yesuph & Dagnew, 2019). Therefore, changes in LULC affect life support functions and human lives (Othow et al., 2017; Regasa et al., 2021). It has diverse environmental impacts, negatively affecting the water supply, reservoir storage capacity, agricultural productivity, and regional ecology (Chen et al., 2021; Tadesse et al., 2017). Changes resulting from anthropogenic (human activities) and natural (earthquakes, landslides, droughts, and floods) factors may have influenced the LULC dynamics (Solefack et al., 2018) and are principal drivers. Anthropogenic activities are main factors affecting the natural conditions of landscape resources and have detrimental effects on the environment and