The dynamics of land use-land cover changes for the years 1984, 1992, 2001 and 2014 in Mutasa district, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Tropical woodlands in southern Africa are a primary focus of conservation efforts because they are currently under threat from rapid clearing for agriculture and human settlements. A study was carried out in Mutasa district (18°35′0″S and 32°45′0″E) in northern Eastern Zimbabwe using data that spanned the period 1984 to 2014 in order to quantify the spatial and following the conversion to agricultural lands. The land cover changes analysis for the district showed a marked decline in land areas under woodland and considerable increase in area devoted to cultivation. Temporal land-use and land cover changes in Mutasa district on the woodland and plantation forests cover.