Changing Land Use Patterns and Their Impacts on Wild Ungulates in Kimana Wetland Ecosystem, Kenya
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Date
2014
Authors
Nyamasyo, Stephen Kitina
Kihima, Bonface Odiara
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Abstract
In Kenya, wildlife numbers have drastically declined due to land use changes (LUCs) over the past three decades.This has affected
wildlife habitats by converting them into farmlands and human settlements. This study used remote sensing data from landsat
satellite to analyze the changing land use patterns between 1980 and 2013 and their impacts on wild ungulates in KWE.The objective
of the study was to map out LUCs, determine the possible causes of LUCs, and examine the effects of LUCs on wild ungulates. The
results showed a noticeable increase in the size of farmland, settlement, and other lands and a decline in forestland, grassland,
wetland, and woodland.The main possible causes of LUC were found to be agricultural expansions, human population dynamics,
economic factors, changing land tenure policy, politics, and sociocultural factors. The main effects of LUCs on wild ungulates in
KWE include a decline in wild ungulate numbers, habitat destruction, increased human-wildlife conflicts, land degradation, and
displacement of wild ungulates by livestock. The study recommends land use zoning of KWE and establishment of an effective and
efficient wildlife benefit-sharing scheme(s).
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Citation
International Journal of Biodiversity Volume 2014, Article ID 486727, 10 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/486727