EthLULC2017_2023

This dataset supports an original research titled as "Quantifying Cropland Dynamics in Ethiopia: A Spatio-Temporal Validation of Global Datasets (2017–2023)".The study aims to evaluate the accuracy of the SPAM 2020 global crop type dataset and the ESRI Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) product in Ethiopia, while quantifying cropland dynamics and spatial trends between 2017 and 2023. The study utilized the high-resolution Ethiopian Crop Type 2020 (EthCT2020) dataset, consisting of 2,793 in-situ sample points, as a validation benchmark. Quantitative accuracy was assessed using Accuracy, Precision, Recall, and F1-score metrics for five major crop types. Cropland change mapping was performed using ESRI LULC data, employing 3rd and 6th-order polynomial functions to model spatial trends in land-use gains, losses, and persistence. Validation results indicate that the SPAM 2020 dataset is of high quality for mapping wheat, though performance was significantly lower and inconclusive for maize, barley, and pulses. Longitudinal analysis revealed a 10.1% net increase in Ethiopian cropland (17,652.0 km2) from 2017 to 2023, with the most rapid expansion (6.2%) occurring during the 2020–2021 period. Conversely, significant localized cropland loss was identified, with the largest reduction (-2.5%) occurring between 2019 and 2020, primarily driven by the expansion of built-up areas and infrastructure in the Oromia and Amhara regions. The findings demonstrate a dual-pressure system on Ethiopian agriculture: significant national expansion alongside critical localized loss due to rapid urbanization. This study highlights the limitations of relying solely on global datasets for diverse crop types while providing a spatial roadmap for land-use planners. On a global scale, this study addresses the critical "uncertainty gap" in food security monitoring by demonstrating how local validation of global datasets is essential for achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in balancing the irreversible conversion of prime agricultural land to urban sprawl across the Global South.