Abstract
Tree rich homegardens as Tree Resources Outside Forests (TROF) consider as one of the major land use systems in the Upper Mahaweli Catchment (UMC). Homegardens play a significant role in reducing negative impacts and protecting the catchment in areas where lack of forest cover. The main objective of this study was to analyze spatial and temporal changes of homegarden land use of UMC and to analyze determents for the major change. A multi-temporal spatial assessment was carried out using geospatial tools and techniques utilizing Landsat images acquired in 1992 and 2017. Eight prominent land uses in the catchment were classified to prepare land use maps and for change detection. Determinants for the major land use change was assessed by employing a multiple regression model using environment, spatial, demographic, and socioeconomic variables. Results revealed that forest area remains the same for the past 25 years in UMC while area under homegardens has been increased by 60%. The major land-use change was the other agricultural crops-based land use into homegardens. Elevation, proximity to main road, proximity to town centers, population density, education level, and poverty were significant determinants for the change. The negative and significant (p<0.01) relationship between land use change from other agricultural crops into homegardens and elevation implies that there is a low tendency for change into homegardens in higher elevations. Therefore, effective measures should be taken to control unsustainable land uses at higher elevations and incentives should be introduced to enhance the quality of homegardens to maintain the sustainability of the UMC.
Highlights
Homegardens as Tree Resources Outside Forests (TROFs) are becoming eminent land uses in Sri Lanka due to their ecological, environment and socio-economic significance
An increment of homegardens in the catchment is favorable for the sustainability of the catchment since homegardens provide most of the ecosystem services despite occur in small extents
It was observed during field investigations that unproductive tea lands and abandoned degraded lands covered by grasses for sometimes have been converted into tree rich homegardens in both Kandy and Badulla district which have been occupied by people later for residing purposes
Summary
Homegardens as Tree Resources Outside Forests (TROFs) are becoming eminent land uses in Sri Lanka due to their ecological, environment and socio-economic significance. FAO (1998) defines TROF as trees and tree systems that occupy lands that are not defined as forest and other woodland They provide a wide range of ecosystem services including catchment protection functions as a forest already do (FAO, 2013). Homegardens located in the UMC play a vital role in maintaining the sustainability of watershed functions while providing other various biophysical and socio-economic benefits to the country Considering these factors, policies, and legislations such as forest policy, agriculture policy and soil conservation act have identified importance of homegardens as a multifunctional land use system (Pushpakumara et al, 2012). Quality of homegardens has been changed due to conversion, fragmentation and changing the species composition These changes resulting loss of ecosystem services derived from homegardens in the UMC as well as reduced environmental and socio-economic benefits of the watershed
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