Abstract
In many respects, river basins are extremely convenient natural resources management units and hence calls for an integrated approach in case of transboundary nature. Environmental resources in Kagera basin are under great threat due to demographic factors leading to wide spread environmental degradation. Land degradation and biodiversity loss are central issues in the basin, but the extent and severity of the degradation pressures are not yet clearly illustrated and their implications largely unknown. To date, natural resource mapping in Kagera basin has been based on isolated case studies for specific purposes and not much has been done in mapping resources and classification of resources degradation by remote sensing applications considering the whole basin. In this study, basin-wide mapping approach was adopted and hot spot areas associated with natural resources use in the basin identified and trends over time established. However, this paper presents results from Kagera River sub-basin, Uganda. Mapping exercise was done by using landsat images and aerial photos of Kagera basin covering the years 1984-2002. Overall, bushland in Kagera sub-basin, Uganda increased by 78% and woodland cover showed mere 6% gain; but a 53% decrease in open woodland sub-type and 29% decrease in closed woodland. Significant shift occurred in cultivation with herbaceous crops (mainly banana) from year 1984-2002 moving from east to west of Kagera sub-basin, Uganda representing 167% increase. Area occupied by permanent swamp decreased 31%. Over the same period, land cover change detection matrix indicates main land cover changes include conversion to bushland (59.34%) followed by conversion to grassland (7.29%) and cultivated land (7.16%), with only 24.19% of the land cover remaining unchanged. It is concluded that the observed changes are, a result of human-induced factors and show unsustainable utilization of natural resources as most of the changes make the land susceptible to degradation.
Highlights
The Kagera River Basin (KRB) is spread over Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda with a total area of 59,800 km2
Natural resource mapping in Kagera basin has been based on isolated case studies for specific purposes and not much has been done in mapping resources and classification of resources degradation by remote sensing applications considering the whole basin
This section of the paper, presents mapping results of Kagera river basin, which was aimed at identifying hotspots of natural resources use and degradation and establish trends in natural resources status
Summary
The Kagera River Basin (KRB) is spread over Burundi, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda with a total area of 59,800 km. The Kagera River (400 km long) is formed by two headstreams, which rise in the East Central African highlands The Ruvubu rises just north of Lake Tanganyika in Burundi and the Nyabarongo rises in north-west Rwanda. These two main headstreams converge at Rusumo Falls, close to the Rwanda-Tanzania border, from where the Kagera flows north along the border and abruptly east through the lowland floodplain in Tanzania and Uganda, before entering Lake Victoria The Kagera River is estimated to contribute 10% of the outflow from Lake Victoria to the Nile, and is important for sustaining the flow of the Nile [2]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
