Contextualizing land‐use and land‐cover change with local knowledge: A case study from Pokot Central, Kenya

Abstract

Rural communities in the drylands of sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) derive their livelihoods primarily from their natural resource base. Unprecedented changes in these environments over the past few decades are likely to intensify in the future and land users need to develop sustainable adaptation strategies. This study aims to identify land‐use and land‐cover (LULC) changes and their drivers in a sub‐Saharan dryland, between 1986 and 2017, by integrating local knowledge and remote sensing. Local knowledge and environmental perception are used as the basis for defining LULC classes and for training and validation of change detection. This study detects significant LULC changes in 41% of the investigated area, and identifies bush encroachment into former pastures as the dominant LULC change with an increase of woodland by 39% and a decrease of grassland by 74%. This process is perceived as severe degradation by local respondents and is linked to changing management regimes and unreliable rainfall patterns. Deforestation and woodland thinning account for 44% of the detected changes, and can be traced back to increased habitation and farming, although the local community also identifies charcoal production as a driving factor. The integration of remote sensing and local knowledge provides a holistic view on LULC change in Pokot Central, Kenya and offers a solid base for site‐specific and actor‐centred management approaches necessary for sustainable pathways of drylands. Our results emphasize the need to include local actors in the development of adaptation strategies and management guidelines for drylands.

Impact of disturbance on biomass, carbon, and nitrogen storage in vegetation and on soil properties of tropical dry deciduous forest in Chhattisgarh, India

“…The degradation of these resources alters the functional traits of forest ecosystem and agroecosystem. Thus, assessing the impact of disturbance on these reserves is key aspect to plan and design the management strategy of the particular ecosystem (Petersen et al, 2021; Solano et al, 2021).…”

“…Thus, assessing the impact of disturbance on these reserves is key aspect to plan and design the management strategy of the particular ecosystem (Petersen et al, 2021;Solano et al, 2021).…”

Desertification in the Sahel Region: A Product of Climate Change or Human Activities? A Case of Desert Encroachment Monitoring in North-Eastern Nigeria Using Remote Sensing Techniques

“…Very small land area (394 ha) vegetated land was converted to built-up. This is because vegetation often serves as a shelter, carbon sink, sources of oxygen, and windbreak around areas of human habitation in most settlements in Sub Sahara Africa [60]. Most residents therefore do not remove trees during residential constructions.…”

Using an unmanned aerial system to analyse environmental impacts of charcoal production on tropical savanna ecosystems in northwestern Kenya

“…Improved access to urban markets, displacement and resettlement of people affected by violent events in the 1990s are relevant factors in the rise of charcoal production in the study area. Socio-economic changes and environmental dynamics are interwoven, as intensive bush encroachment within the area has altered the availability of natural resources over the past 30 to 40 years (Conant, 1982 ; Petersen et al, 2021 ). Small-scale production is organized at household level with an average monthly output of approximately 500 kg per household (own assessments, field measurements) as compared to large-scale production sites where one producer yields over 3800 kg per month (Kambewa et al, 2007 ).…”

“…Since the 1970s, researchers have been debating on the existence of a “wood fuel crisis” caused by the high demand for charcoal 1 (Dewees, 1989 ; Eckholm, 1975 ). More recently, however, these views are increasingly questioned as studies in several areas found the environmental impact of charcoal production to be less distinct than previously thought (Chidumayo & Gumbo, 2013 ; Doggart et al, 2020 ; Petersen et al, 2021 ). In the context of deforestation, charcoal is rather regarded as a side product of agricultural expansion than the primary cause for the complete removal of trees (Iiyama et al, 2017 ; Mwampamba et al, 2013 ).…”