Land use and land cover changes are derived by natural process and anthropogenic interferencernin ecosystem. Appropriate management of natural resources requires quick and up-to-daterninformation for effective decision making. The aim of this study is to generate such kind ofrninformation using RS and GIS technology to support the land use planning and strategyrnformulation of the newly emerging problem of the study area. The present study has beenrnattempted to identify and quantify the main land use and land cover change that occurred for thernlast three decades. Besides, in this study assessment of the spatial distribution of Prosospisrnjuliflora tree species using geostatistical analysis has been conducted. Three satellite imageriesrnof Landsat MSS 1973, Landsat TM 1986 and ASTER 2002 were utilized for detection of Landrnuse/land cover change. Prior to change detection analysis, land use/land cover map of 1973,rn1986 and 2002 was generated. Eight land use/land cover classes have been identified from thernthree independent image classification processes. Subsequently, post classification changerndetection method was applied to quantify the land use/land cover change and to providerninformation about the source and destination of the change. The change detection analysisrnrevealed the existence of significant land use/land cover change in the study area. The findings ofrnchange detection analysis indicates the continuous spatial increment of cultivated land, bare landrnand water body (Lake Beseka) at the expense of grass land and open shrub land. The rate ofrnexpansion of Lake Beseka and cultivation land was 109.9 ha and 63.8 ha per year from 1973 torn2002, respectively. On the other hand, the rate of decrease in spatial extent of open shrub landrnand grass land was 182.4 ha and 38.5 ha per year from 1973 to 2002, respectively. Usingrngeostatitical analysis it has been possible to map the current invasion of the nuisance plantrnP.juliflora overcoming the problem of getting high spatial and spectral resolution satellite image.rnFrom the geostatistical analysis, the highest and the lowest density of the species has beenrnobserved at the southern and north western part of the study area, respectively. In addition, therernhas been a trend in decrease of P.juliflora density from south to north western and north easternrnpart of the study area. The infestation of P.juliflora has been observed in areas of relativelyrnbetter moisture and lower altitude of the study area. Furthermore, socio-economic survey wasrnconducted to assess the social and environmental impact of P.juliflora and the results of thernsurvey disclosed that 91% of the respondent said that the species has a negative impact on otherrnplants. In addition, 76% of the respondent from high infestation area and 90% from mediumrninfestation area believed that P.juliflora has been threatening the livestock production byrnencroaching the grazing land. In general, significant land use/land cover change in the form ofrnconversion and modification has been occurred in Metehara and its surrounding area. Thernoutcome of land use/land cover change, geostatistical and socio-economic survey analysis canrnserve local and regional planners as a primary source of information for better management ofrnnatural resources in the study area.rnKey words: RS & GIS, LULC Change, Conversion and Modification, Geostatistics, Invasion,rnProsopis juliflora