Integrating remote sensing data and rapid appraisals for land‐cover change analyses in Uganda

Abstract

Rapid population growth, unsustainable land use, and a pervasively degrading landscape are components of a dominant paradigm regarding African development. While recent work articulating the 'misreading' of the African landscape have begun to challenge this paradigm, much work remains regarding the pervasiveness and character of this misread. A method is presented for investigating mechanisms of land-cover change that combines remotely sensed data, archival data, and rapid appraisals in a way less influenced by dominant paradigms. We present a case where increasing human activity is resulting in accumulation of woody biomass on edaphic grasslands of a forest-grassland mosaic, rather than the expansion of grasslands at the expense of forests as is currently understood in that area. These increases in biomass are stimulated by anthropogenic influences that are shaped by institutional and edaphic factors. We do not claim that resources are being pervasively enhanced across sub-Saharan Africa under conditions of population growth, but that there may be many mechanisms of change, resulting in both degradation and enhancement, occurring simultaneously across sub-Saharan Africa or even intra-regionally within a nation under these conditions. The integration and application of these methods serve to improve applied analyses of land-cover change to better characterize these mechanisms, and avoid the wrong policy prescriptions.

Grasslands changes in the Northern Songnen Plain, China during 1954–2000

“…It may be manifested as a reduction in the extent or density of grass cover, a reduction in the output of forage material, an increase in unpalatable grass species, or even as a denudation of the underlying soil (Feng et al 2008). To bring grassland degradation under control and make grazing practices sustainable, it is necessary to characterize the spatial distribution, monitor spatio-temporal change processes, and find the primary reasons that cause grassland change (Mundia and Aniya 2006;Vogt et al 2006). Many previous studies for the grassland of Songnen Plain have been focused on the effects of grazing, fire disturbance, salinization, remediation methods, and landscape change (Zhou et al 1996;Zhou and Ripley 1997;Guo et al 2001;Wang 2004).…”

Integrated qualitative assessment of wetland hydrological and land cover changes in a data scarce dry Ethiopian highland watershed

“…Sustainable wetland management must consider linkages between wetlands, the hydrology of the catchment, and local human needs and perceptions (Abbot and Hailu, 2001;McCornick et al, 2003;Dixon, 2005). An integrated approach is appropriate to gather the information necessary for better management (Haack, 1996;Vogt et al, 2006).…”

From Science to Applications: Determinants of Diffusion in the Use of Earth Observations

“…Variables included in these studies of land use change include population density, proximity to markets, road access, and the introduction of new agricultural methods, as well as factors that affect rates of cultivation frequency, agricultural expansion, and reforestation (Braimoh and Vlek, 2005;Vogt et al, 2006;Muller and Zeller, 2002;Xu et al, 2005). A theme in several of the articles was abandonment over time of prime agricultural land near population centers, due to over-use and soil degradation, shifting fields farther from village boundaries.…”