The impact of land use and cover changes on river flows in Wundanyi Catchment of Taita Hills, Kenya (1970–2030)
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Date
2024
Authors
Obando, Joy A.
Luwesi, Cush N.
Akombo, Rose Adhiambo
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Abstract
Taita hills are one of the most important biodiversity hotspots of Kenya but
experiencing a high rate of deforestation due conversion of its original forestland to
agriculture and settlement during the last century. These landscape dynamics coupled with
rainfall fluctuations in these critical ecosystems may significantly affect water resource
distribution and food security in Taita Taveta County and its environs. This study aimed to
establish the trends of land use/cover change (LUCC) in Wundanyi catchment from 1970 to
2030 and predict their specific and combined effects on surface runoff and stream flow in the
same period. The analysis was based on statistical trend analysis and dynamic landscape
modeling using both historical and primary data from Wundanyi catchment, and Landsat TM
and ETM+ imagery of Taita Hills for 1990, 2000, and 2010. Results show highly variable
mean seasonal and annual values of discharge in Wundanyi catchment probably attributed to
environmental changes affecting Taita Hills in general and Wundanyi catchment in particular.
Compared to 1990, major land use/cover changes in 2010 were featured by the expansion of
built-up area (250%), plantation forest (23.7%), broadleaved forest (17.4%), and thicket
(15.9%). Was also notable the decrease in woodland (−30.3%), cropland (−21.6%), and
shrubland (−0.8%)...
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Article
Keywords
catchment management, land-use and land-cover (LULC) change, river flow, seasonality, Taita Hills
Citation
Obando JA, Luwesi CN, Akombo RA. The impact of land use and cover changes on river flows in Wundanyi Catchment of Taita Hills, Kenya (1970–2030). Sustainable Social Development. 2024; 2(3): 2507. https://doi.org/10.54517/ssd.v2i3.250 7