Starting with the intensification of irrigation activities in the beginning of 1980s in Abaya andrnChamo lakes area, the decreasing water inflow to the lakes caused relatively denudation of thernwetlands of Abaya and Chamo. The ecological situation in the lake region changed significantlyrnduring last four decades. This research is geared with major objectives to map and assess the spatialrnand temporal variability of these changes with respect to the driving forces. It also aimed torndetermine wetlands priority area for conservation based on the direction and magnitude ofrndenudation using RS and GIS techniques. To accomplish the objectives data were collected andrnanalyzed utilizing field observations, satellite image analysis, hydro-meteorological data analysis andrninterviews. Five basic methods of wetlands variability analysis were used namely; Satellite imagernanalyses and change detection, Lakes morphomotric property analysis, Lake level fluctuationrnanalysis, water balance analysis and sediment load analysis. Wetland and non-wet areas werernidentified and mapped using criteria and satellite images. Based on the TCT and classified imagesrnthe temporal and spatial variability of the wetlands have been analyzed from the digital image.rnThe change detection showed that permanent wetland portions from 1973 to 1986 have beenrnreduced by 12.9 km2 in both lakes Abaya and Chamo. The change is from permanent wetland tornother seasonal wetlands ecosystems. But from 1986 to 2000 a significant decrement has beenrnobserved but lesser than the previous decades (6.4 km2). The reason behind this change is that thernfree settlement and shoreline cultivation of the wetlands and uplands, land use land cover changesrnthat fasten the soil erosion and eventually adds the sediment to the permanent wetlands. However therngreater lion share of this temporal and spatial variability of the lakes comes from extreme wastefulrnutilization of the water from the rivers entering to the lakes and onshore cultivation. The time seriesrnanalysis and water balance of the permanent lake in this research result shows that the wetlands arernin danger and the outlook is bad. To safeguard wetland degradation or loss, a possible solution couldrnbe awareness creation to change the attitudes of the resident communities by linking the economicrnand social benefits of wetlands to its conservation for its protection.rnKey Words: Wetlands, Spatial and temporal variability, GIS/RS, LU/LC change, lakes Abaya andrnChamo