Spatio-temporal analysis of changes in land use-land cover for conservation efficacy of urban forest reserve: the case of Rau Forest Reserve, Tanzania
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Date
2022-12-01
Journal Title
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Publisher
East African Journal of Forestry & Agroforestry
Abstract
Changes in land use and land cover in different places around the globe have a
significant impact on ecological structure and functions. Analysis of land use and
land cover is useful in management activities, especially forest reserves as it reflects
the interaction between adjacent communities and natural resources. We conducted
a study to explore the changes in land use and land cover in the Rau Forest reserve
to show the management status of this ecosystem which is also located in a nearby
urban locality where management activities have been a challenge. The land use
and cover (LULC) Spatio-temporal changes in the Rau Forest were classified as
Densely Vegetation, Slightly Vegetation, Grassland, Bare land, Built-up, and
Waterbodies to evaluate qualitative and quantitative changes in this reserve through
the use of GIS techniques and tools over time (1990, 2000 and 2019). Landsat
imageries for the year were used to identify the Spatio-temporal changes in
vegetation in the area. We found that forest encroachment has driven changes in
land use and land cover and transformed parts of the Rau Forest reserve into
agricultural area settlements, and grazing lands which has ultimately led to gradual
forest degradation. The results demonstrate the urgent need for strong and more
severe regulations concerning the protecting the forest and involving local adjacent
communities as they provide an extra layer of forest protection for the benefit of
present and future generations.
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
Rau Forest, Encroachment, Land Use, Land Cover Changes, GIS