This study was conducted in Albaja area in North Kordofan State, Sudan, and aimed to assess, classify, and map land use and land cover changes (LULC). Remotely sensed data were based on temporal satellite imagery (TM 1985, ETM+ 1995, and Landsat8 2015). The images were enhanced and classified using a maximum likelihood approach with conduction of 200 ground control points. The accuracy assessment and Kappa statistics for all classified images were performed. Remote sensing data were analyzed using ERDAS 9.1 and ArcGIS 10.3. The LULC in Albaja area was identified into five classes: sandy soil, agricultural lands, shrub lands, woody lands, and range lands. The result indicated an increase in range lands from 30% to 46% during 1985-1995, an increase of agricultural land from 15.1% to 37.3% during 1995-2015. Results revealed an increase in sandy soil and shrub lands during 1995-2015 from 9.7% to 16.6% and from 15.5% to 17.0%, respectively. The overall accuracy of the classified images was estimated at 85.39% for TM (1985), 89% for ETM+ (1995), and 84.85% for Landsat 8 (2015). The over-grazing and the expansion of large-scale mechanized agriculture on marginal grazing lands in Albaja deteriorated the rangelands and caused changes in the vegetation composition. The study recommended the provision of extension services to the local communities to increase the role of awareness among the farmers and the pastoralists to protect the natural resources
