Detecting land-use landcover changes in a protected area conservancy using geospatial technology

Abstract

This paper analyses the present and future changes in land-use landcover of the Midlands Rhino Conservancy which is a protected area with mining activities. A GIS and Remote Sensing approach was used for detecting change in the protected area. A thirty-year time of 1980-2020 shows a major land use change, with agricultural activities increasing within the protected area. The projected results help to detect the future changes that might occur under the same case scenario in the protected area. Agricultural activities increased with 20%., Alternatively, there is a decrease in vegetation cover from 60% to 15%, built up increased from 0.03% to 0,08%. The reasons for the change detection such as (for monitoring habitat disturbance among others) have been discussed.