Comparing Spatial Determinants of Forest Landscape Degradation based on Experts’ Perceptions and GIS Analysis: The Case of Kilimanjaro World Heritage Site, Tanzania

Abstract

The awareness of spatial determinants of forest degradation is crucial to adequately equip human capacity and inform decision-makers when implementing institutional instruments, including the World Heritage Convention (WHC) and other strategic policies for forest protection. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate and contrast experts’ perceptions and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) outcomes on spatial determinants of forest landscape degradation in the Kilimanjaro World Heritage Site (WHS), Tanzania, to create awareness and support strategic policies for forest landscape protection and natural heritage sustainability. In doing so, Matrix questionnaire was designed to generate data and deployed a descriptive analysis of response to summarise the questionnaires’ data characteristics. The findings were used to contrast the GIS outcomes on spatial determinants of forest degradation. The key findings showed that most experts perceived distances to tourist routes, campsites, picnics, historical sites, and degrees of slope as positively associated with forest degradation but with contradicted opinions on the level of elevation. Also, key findings showed contradictions between the GIS outcome and experts’ perceptions of the degrees of slope. However, the findings on distances to campsites, tourist routes, and picnics showed that experts’ opinions are in line with the GIS outcomes as both indicated positive associations. The awareness provided in this study is crucial for experts and other decision-makers in implementing WHC and other strategic policies for forest protection in the Kilimanjaro WHS and other natural WHS found in the Global South in general and Sub-Saharan Africa in particular