Examining the Drivers of Land Use /Land Cover Change: A Case of the Kavango River Basin and its Immediate Environments in Namibia

Abstract

Understanding the drivers of land cover changes (LULCC) is very crucial for the development of management strategies as well as policy improvement and the sustenance of ecosystem services. This is crucial in preventing further degradation and proper planning of sustainable natural resources management. In this study, an attempt has been made to identify the drivers of LULCC in the Kavango East and West Regions of Namibia, from 1990 to 2018. Remotely Sensed Images were used to compute indices. Socio-economic surveys were conducted using structured interviews to share the past experiences of the local people, some key informants, and other stakeholders in the region. A combination of this information together with the Remote Sensing data was then used to derive the drivers of LULCC in the study area. Results of the study showed that changes were triggered by the interplay of more than five drivers identified and related to the environment, socio-economic, and other technical factors. In particular, the establishment and expansions of agricultural land, settlement, urbanization, and lumbering (for timber and crafting) were viewed by local people as the leading cause of deforestation. Other factors such as drought, flooding, and lumbering (for construction and firewood) cannot be undermined. Future studies will be targeted at assessing these drivers to evaluate their impacts on achieving sustainable development in the Kavango River Basin of Namibia and its immediate environments.