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The Fate of Taita Hills Forest Fragments: Evaluation of Forest Cover Change between 1973 and 2016 Using Landsat Imagery

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dc.contributor.author Wekesa, Chemuku
dc.contributor.author Kirui, Bernard Kibet
dc.contributor.author Maranga, Elias Kingoina
dc.contributor.author Muturi, Gabriel Mukuria
dc.date.issued 2020-10
dc.date.accessioned 2021-06-28T08:44:50Z
dc.date.available 2021-06-28T08:44:50Z
dc.identifier.issn 2163-0429
dc.identifier.uri http://41.89.96.81:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/2627
dc.description.abstract Landsat images were used to evaluate changes in forest cover of five forest fragments (Chawia, Fururu, Mbololo, Ngangao and Vuria) between 1973 and 2016. The forest fragments are part of the Eastern Arc Mountains, a global biodiversity hotspot that boasts outstanding diversity of flora and fauna and a high level of endemism. Landsat imageries of 1973, 1987, 2001, 2012 and 2016 were analyzed using ArcGIS version 10.0 to provide information on forest cover change of the fragments between 1973 and 2016. Results showed that the annual rate of deforestation was 0.5% and was similar to global stimates. The forest fragments lost 23.2% of forest cover between 1973 and 2016. The forest area lost was higher in Vuria (43.0%) and Chawia (32.7%) which are non-gazetted forests managed by the County government of Taita Taveta but lower in Fururu (3.2%), Mbololo (13.7%) and Ngangao (16.8%) which are gazetted forests managed by Kenya Forest Service. Fururu and Mbololo forest fragments gazetted in early 1990s suffered less loss in forest cover compared to Ngangao, which was gazetted 12 years later. Gazettement of forests could preclude further forest degradation and loss by improving their management for effective provision of ecosystem services and conservation of biodiversity. en_US
dc.language.iso en en_US
dc.publisher Open Journal of Forestry en_US
dc.relation.ispartofseries ;22-38
dc.subject Diversity, Forest Cover Change, Forest Fragmentation, Landsat Imagery en_US
dc.title The Fate of Taita Hills Forest Fragments: Evaluation of Forest Cover Change between 1973 and 2016 Using Landsat Imagery en_US
dc.type Article en_US


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