Mapping Land Cover Changes and Identification of Drivers of Degradation to Inform Rehabilitation Strategies in Wenje, Tana River County

Abstract

Land degradation is a global issue that needs to be addressed with greater concern. Land rehabilitation is an expensive exercise but very important for reducing ecosystem degradation and increasing the productivity of the rangelands. Sustainable use of vegetation is necessary because it helps to address the effects of climate change by reducing the amount of carbon (iv) oxide in the atmosphere. Rangelands are also a critical biome that is a source of livestock feed, but with the recent challenges of increased loss of productivity from degradation leading to biodiversity loss. This study aimed to work with the communities, use satellite images, and ecological studies in understanding land degradation and land cover changes over the years, identifying the best approaches to land degradation mitigation and the best-suited rehabilitation strategies and species of interest to the communities for rehabilitation efforts. This study had three objectives. 1. Evaluate community perception on drivers of vegetation cover changes, land degradation, land rehabilitation, and the impacts on their livelihood 2. To assess the land cover changes 3. To evaluate vegetation species composition, cover, and density. A semi-structured questionnaire was needed to conducting household interviews. The number of the household interviews was 180 out of 2946 households. SPSS and Microsoft excel were used in the data analysis. The majority of the respondents (60%) indicated that vegetation cover had declined by 80%. The main effect of land degradation indicated by the communities was declined livestock feed (38.3%)...