The main objective of this thesis is to explore the determinants of LULCC in smallrnholder mixed crop-livestock farming systems. To achieve this objective Quhar Michaelrnkebele, which represent typical small holder mixed farming system in Ethiopianrnhighlands, is selected for the case study. The study covers the period since 1972. Therndevised information for the study is gathered from satellite images, household survey,rnkey informant interviews, focus group discussions, related literatures, and relevantrnlegal documents.rnThe results reveal that the kebele has gone through fundamental LULCCs in the pastrnfour decades. The major change is the expansion of crop land and the concomitantrnshrinking of other categories of LULe. In the period, crop land witnessed an increase ofrn34%, whereas grazing, forest and bare land show a decrease. Five major driving forcesrnbehind the observed LULCCs are identified. These are: population growth, irrigationrnintensification, consumption, land degradation, and rules and regulations. The studyrnalso finds that these driving forces are proximate causes in the sense that other factorsrnwhich are deep rooted in the nature of production system that use land as a majorrnresource are inherent determinants of these driving forces and their impact on LULCCrnas well. Tluee state intervention, market peneh'ation, and nature of social networks andrninstitutions are the major determinants that operate interactively and shape drivers ofrnLULCe. State intervention in terms of agricultural modernization, property rightrndefinition and surplus extraction shape both the intensity and direction of land usernchanges which directly transfer into changing land cover. Market peneh'ationrnaggravated demand land products. Notably, market driven demand for croprnproduction interacted with prevalent social and political environment determined thernintensity of crop land expansion. Social institutions play an intermediary role betweenrnpressure on land resources and availability of land resources. Specifically the diversernsocial institutions in the kebele determine the observed LULCC by their impact onrnresource use change tluough optimal allocation of factors of inputs over time.rnviiirnCHAPTER ONErnINTRODUCTIONrnThis chapter gives an overview on the central theme of the research. It further presentsrna statement of the research problem, the research objective, research questions, andrnsignificance of the research, scope and organization of the thesis.rn1.1 IntroductionrnCurrently about 840 million people in the world are estimated to be undernourished, ofrnwhich some 210 million live in sub-Saharan Africa (McCartney, n.d). Problems of foodrnavailability as well as improving the living standard of the people have directrnrelationship with land utilization (Mandai, 1982). However, at present land usernpractices in many developing countries are resulting in land, water, and forestrndegradation, with significant repercussions for the counhÂ·ies agriculture sectors, naturalrnresource base and eco- environmental balances (World Bank; 2006).