 This study examined changes in land use and land cover in the Minesa-Shashmin region of Ethiopia over a period of 39 years, 1973 to 2012. It found that the most significant changes occurred in the areas of crops, grasslands and natural forests. These changes were mainly due to human activities such as deforestation, cultivation and urbanization. This article was authored by Thomas Noak, Demoltecate, Thomas Schneider and others.