Contribution Mining Activities and Vegetation Dynamics in Gishwati-Mukura National Park, Rwanda

Clement KARANGWA, Christophe Mupenzi

Abstract


Gishwati-Mukura National Park (GMNP) is a protected area of Afromontane Forest ecosystem in western part of Rwanda that serves purposes of biodiversity conservation and regulation of climate and watershed but mining has been noted to be one of the major pressures within the park. This study was carried out to investigate the impact of mining operations on the vegetation cover in GMNP and the surrounding areas through a mixed methodological approach of field surveys, questionnaires and interviews together with GIS and remote sensing technology. There were 106 valid respondents who participated in the survey data analyzed. They included the community members, local authorities, mineworkers and GMNP officers from the selected areas of Rutsiro and Ngororero districts. Deforestation and loss of vegetation cover emerged as the most commonly mentioned vegetation change (40 respondents), with the reduction of forest vegetation cover being the most commonly cited impact (34 respondents). Geospatial analysis revealed forest cover of 89.8%, 86.9%, and 98.7% in the years 2015, 2020, and 2025 respectively, revealing a temporary reduction but significant recovery of the landscape. Further, through change detection analysis, 3,059.2 ha of the land retained its forest cover, while 118.0 ha and 196.3 ha of the land, previously occupied by cropland and grassland respectively, converted into forests. All in all, the results indicate that landscape recovery and forest recovery may proceed hand in hand with mining disturbance in specific localities.

Keywords


Artisanal mining; Vegetation degradation; Gishwati-Mukura National Park; GIS; Remote Sensing; LULC and Restoration.

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.52155/ijpsat.v59.2.8754

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