ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACTS OF LAND-USE CHANGE ON THE DUTHUNI MARSH STREAM USING REMOTE SENSING, GIS AND SOCIAL RESEARCH: A CASE STUDY IN LIMPOPO PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA. Lack of knowledge was also identified as one of the factors of the environmental impacts of land use changes in this area.
Background to the study
The purpose of this study is to assess the impacts of land use cover change in a wetland ecosystem using remote sensing; ArcGIS and social research in the Duthuni Wetland Ecosystem. In this study, the effects of land-use change in the Duthuni wetland ecosystem were assessed based on the integration of remote sensing/GIS and social survey.
Problem statement
The integration of remote sensing data and social data will provide great detail and deep understanding of the impacts of land use/cover change in a wetland ecosystem. Thus, this research will focus on assessing land use change impacts in aquatic ecosystems using remote sensing/ArcGIS and social research.
Research aim and specific objectives
Research aim
Specific objectives
Research questions
Hypothesis
Operational definitions
Justification of the study
The problem of not integrating different techniques such as remote sensing/GIS and social survey to detect wetland ecosystem changes can lead to a poor assessment of the effects of land use changes in a wetland ecosystem. Agriculture is carried out without due regard for sustainable land use methods, with large areas being cleared for agriculture and infrastructure development in the wetland.
Study area
- Study Sites Description
- Vegetation and Landscape features
- Geology and Pedology
- Population and Human settlement
It is important to intervene as soon as possible because the various land use activities taking place in the Duthuni wetland may destroy the wetland ecosystem that includes endemic species and all the benefits of the wetland ecosystem will be lost. The study area lies along the Soutpansberg mountain range and most slopes are 32⁰ to 45⁰.
Dissertation outline
The Duthuni wetland area is supported by Precambrian basalts from the Sibasa Formation of the Soutpansberg Group to the north and leukocratic biotite gneiss, leukocratic granite and pegmatite, gray biotite gneiss and migmatite from the Sand River Gneiss from the central zone of the Limpopo Belt to the south (Rubidge, 2015). The study area is characterized by loamy (red-brown) soil that can support the different land use and vegetation.
Characteristics of wetlands
This chapter provides an overview of the existing core literature regarding the major causes of land use/cover change in wetland ecosystems around the world, key functions and values of wetland ecosystems, and impacts of land use change on wetland ecosystems. The different methods used to detect land use/cover change in wetlands and their effectiveness are discussed.
Significant functions and values of wetlands ecosystem
- Erosion control by wetland vegetation
- Harvesting of wild food and provisions of medicines
- Valuable land for cultivation
- Harvesting of raw materials
- Livestock grazing
- Water purification
The slower the water travels, the lower the erosive power of the water (Traynor et al., 2010). Wetlands have been used for millennia and provide valuable materials for products such as mats, baskets and paper produced from papyrus, which is a sedge (Traynor et al., 2010).
Major causes of land use/cover change in wetlands ecosystem around the globe
- Increase of human population
- Agriculture and industrial activities
- Heavy grazing
- Overexploitation and over-harvesting of wetland resources
- Infrastructure development and urbanization
The Bali wetland has been affected by hotel development and human settlement expansion over 22 years of observation (Wsandi et al., 2006). 15| P a g e A study conducted in Mfuleni (Turpie et al., 2010) reveals that agriculture has been practiced in the wetland itself, affecting its ecosystem.
Effects of different land use activities on wetland ecosystem
- Mining impact
- Loss of biodiversity and habitat
- Water pollution
- Effects on Streamflow regulation
- Over – grazing
- Roads and bridges constructions
It was found that construction activities result in water quality change, indirect modification of the hydrological system and habitat loss (Ajibola et al., 2012). 20| Groundwater contributions to streams, and soil moisture, as well as water availability affect ecosystem services (Hundecha et al. 2004).
Research design
This chapter describes the methodology used to conduct the study using a remote sensing, ArcGIS and social survey approach and aims to describe the research design, ethical considerations and overall research methodology, detailed procedures for sampling and sample size, methods of data collection and methods of data analysis.
Ethical considerations
Research Methodology
Method of sampling and sampling size
The head and municipality were selected because they have valid and accurate information on land use changes in the study area. Examine the impact of current and past land-use change dynamics on the wetland;
Social survey data collection
The main purpose of the field survey/observations was to observe what is actually happening in order to complement the specific objectives of the study which are to investigate the impact of the current and land use change dynamics on the wetland; determine the trends and spatial extent of land use change; determine the main drivers of land use change; assessing the current utilization of wetland resources by the local people; assess the environmental and socio-economic impacts of land use change. It was crucial to conduct a field survey to observe the extent of the impact of land use change.
Remote sensing and GIS data collection
In this study, SPOT 4 images displayed a combination of Band 1, 2 and 3 (Red, Blue, Green) for the purpose of visual interpretation of land use. Change detection was done from images from 1999-2005 and 2012 to obtain information on changes in land use and land cover in the study area.
Data analysis methods
Cambell et al., (2011) defined change detection as an assessment of changes in the type or condition of the surface properties. The land use change recording method was performed using cross-tabulation by classification in ERDAS imagine software and Microsoft office excel 2010.
Summary
Data obtained from the questionnaires were captured in Microsoft excel and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Scientific Solution (SPSS).
Introduction
Examination of the impacts of current and historic land use dynamics
Imagery classification results using Remote Sensing/GIS technique
- Image classification of 1999
- Image classification of 2005
- Image classification of 2012
Change detection analysis shows that by 2012 Duthuni Wetland has undergone a drastic change in terms of land use/cover pattern. Water decreased to 9.0432 ha compared to previous years due to increase in land use activities.
Results of Social survey techniques regarding the current and historic impacts on
- Duration of stay and land cover changes over the years
- Duration of stay and changes in population
- Change in land cover/use and its previous state
- Land use changes for human settlement over time
- The results of agriculture, grazing land, and residential land use change
93% of respondents indicated that they had noticed land use/cover changes in the area. Of the 146 people who responded to both questions, only 4 indicated that the land use in agriculture remained unchanged and all pointed to the period 0 to 10 years back refer to table 4.10 and Figure 4.7 below and figure 4.7 for cross tabulation of changes in land used for agriculture over time.
Trends and spatial extent of land use changes
Results of Trends and spatial extent of land use changes (Remote sensing/GIS)
It also shows that agricultural land has decreased tremendously compared to pasture and residential land.
Results of Trends and spatial extent of land use changes using social survey
- Frequency and percentage of land use/cover change over the years
Major drivers of land use changes in the wetland
Assessment of socio-economic and environmental impacts of land use change
Household characteristics
56 | Page indicated that various land use activities such as clearing vegetation, road development, car washing and laundry have negatively affected the wetland.
The local perception and knowledge on environmental impacts in wetland
- Role played by the wetland
- Educational level and knowledge on environmental impacts of different land uses
- Major environmental impacts on the wetland
Since .000 < .05 (in Table 4.15), this does represent a statistically significant relationship between the two variables (level of education and response to question 30(A) about participants). swamp area) in the. During field observation, pit toilets have been observed in the wetland and the respondents indicated that they dig another hole when it is full.
The current utilisation of wetland resources by the local people
Resources Communities get from the wetland
Most of the respondents said that access to the wetland was necessary because it provides the possibility of obtaining fodder for the household. In terms of the type of resources that the community obtains from the wetlands, food is the most common resource that the community obtains from the wetlands.
Summary
The discussions include the aspects of the impact of the past and current land use change dynamics on the wetland. In addition, the chapter discusses the assessment of the environmental, socio-economic impacts of land use change on wetland ecosystem in the study area.
Examination of the impact of the past and present land use change dynamics on the
Impact of the present and past land use change dynamics on the wetland using
Results of the similar studies by Butt et al., 2015 found that the increased soil erosion in the bare soil in Pakistan was due to rapid deforestation in the adjacent wetland area which removed the vegetation cover of the land and made it barren and exposed. . The land use change in residential areas in Duthuni Wetland was due to an increase in population which led some members of the community to settle in the wetland area without permission from the authority.
Examination of the present and past land use change dynamics using social survey
This finding is consistent with the analysis of Mulatu et al., 2015) which indicated that unsustainable use of wetland for cultivation and other anthropogenic activities causes degradation or loss of wetland system and other precious resources. 68 | Page with the analysis of Akhtar et al. 2011) who indicated that Hokar Sar wetland in the Doodhganga watershed of the western Himalayas in India increased the cropland area due to the conversion and encroachment of wetland area into agricultural land by the local farmers.
Trends and spatial extent of land use cover change
GIS and Remote sensing techniques
In addition, it was also highlighted during a focus group with local farmers who were found to be engaged in subsistence farming in the wetland area that agricultural yields have decreased due to the increase in population in the area. During the field survey, cattle and goats were observed as the main grazers in the wetland area, and overgrazing does not have major impacts on the wetland area.
Social survey
In general, the trend and spatial extent of land use/cover change in Duthuni Wetland was investigated and the study found that the residential land use cover was the most important land use type with (39.6%) in the study area due to increase in population followed by health vegetation (28 .3%) and dry vegetation (26.3%). This study is consistent with the analysis by Murungweni (2015) who indicated that wetlands have been lost either due to cultivation, human settlement, recreational activities or construction leading to adverse effects on wetland biodiversity.
Major drivers of land use change in the study area
However, in the area in question, the use of wetlands is carried out without control and proper management, and the result of uncontrolled use is the degradation of wetlands and the loss of wetland resources. This study agrees with the analysis in the study conducted by Musamba et al. 2011) on the Victoria Wetlands in Musona Municipality and the study showed that the wetland has been converted to other land uses such as crop production which is more dominant for the local population to meet their basic needs.
Socio-economic impacts and environmental impacts of land use change in wetland
Socio-economic impacts
This finding is also consistent with an analysis by Begg (1987) who found that in the United States, more than 54% of wetlands are degraded and that 87 million acres of wetlands have been converted for development purposes such as settlements and agriculture. purposes and similar trends in wetland loss have occurred in South Africa. 71 | Page in a study by Mulatu et al. 2015), which indicated that the wetland is the most important resource for the survival of wetland resource communities.
Environmental impacts of land use change in Duthuni wetland
This finding is also consistent with Malatu et al. 2015) research which showed that the main source of pollution in the wetland area was agricultural runoff and organic waste. This finding is consistent with the analysis conducted by Adaya et al. 1997) who showed that lack of information can result in unclear decisions leading to land use change and lack of knowledge leads to unsustainable development.
Current utilization of wetland resources by the local people
Investigate the impact of the current and past land use change dynamics in the study area;. Assess the socio-economic and environmental impacts of land use change in the study area; and;.
Chapters summary
Conclusions
- Utilization of wetland resources by local people
- Major drivers of land use change in the study area
- Socio-economic and environmental impacts of land use change in the study area
- Trends and spatial extent of land use change
- Examination of the impacts of present and past land use change dynamics in the
The current use of wetland resources in the study area was studied and the most resources that the community gets from the wetlands are food and crafts. The survey found that most of the respondents in the study area earned low income and unemployment which is one of the factors affecting the wetland ecosystem.
Recommendations
What do you think will happen in the future of Duthuni wetland stream due to land use change? Are you aware that there is a problem of land cover change in Duthuni area?
