Geospatial Assessment of Habitat Disturbance and Land cover change in a Human-Mediated Ecosystem, Midlands Black Rhino Conservancy, and Zimbabwe.

Abstract

The main purpose of the research was to assess the extent of disturbance and land cover changes using geospatial technology in the Midlands Black Rhino Conservancy, Kwekwe, Zimbabwe which is a human mediated environment. Recent research has established that conservancies are undergoing structural changes mainly characterized by changes in land cover commonly referred to as patch dynamics. There is little knowledge as to how this global phenomenon is being understood (extent and consequences of patch dynamics). This research aims to fill the currently outlined gap in innovative geo-technological ways to determine and assess the occur rence of this disturbance and quantify its extent. An analysis of trends was done and land use land cover maps from 1980, 1990, 2000,2010 and 2020 were created from remotely sensed images. The generated images were classified to detect changes that occurred over time in the human mediated environment where mining activities, agriculture and some other activities are taking place. Patch analyst was used for the landscape assessment and characteristic determi nation; land use land cover statistics were generated for each land cover map for a specific year. Net primary production was estimated using remote sensed imagery to determine the changes in vegetation productivity. The overall transformations in the area of study showed a decrease in forest cover, lake, grassland and increased bare land as well as an increase in the areas occupied by human activities such as agriculture and mining among others. The changes that were detected were predominantly derived by the indiscriminate logging for mining and agricultural purposes. The decrease in habitat sizes resulted in the decrease in habitat richness, heterogeneity, fragmentation and the complexity of form and increased land use intensity. A decrease in net primary productivity was also detected through the computing of NDVI. There is a beneficial trade off that is provided by the approach of this research work especially be tween very expensive ground surveys and the low-priced image processing analysis. Results of this research further the understanding of spatial dynamics in a protected area and its key drivers.