Obando, Joy A.Luwesi, Cush N.Akombo, Rose Adhiambo2024-07-032024-07-032024Obando 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 7https://doi.org/10.54517/ssd.v2i3.2507https://ir-library.ku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/28410ArticleTaita 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%)...encatchment managementland-use and land-cover (LULC) changeriver flowseasonalityTaita HillsArticle