Remote sensing

1
Integrating Remote sensing and GIS for mapping
community rangelands

• Lucy Waruingi
• African Conservation Centre
• KENYA

2
Objectives of Study

• Objective 1 Integrating remote sensing and GIS
  to analyse the land cover/land-use on community
  rangelands
• Objective 2 Determining areas of biological
  importance with regard to wildlife in community
  rangelands
• Objective 3 Selecting areas suitable/viable for
  monitoring by community game scouts

3
Community rangelands

• Dry lands make up 40 of the earths land mass
  and support nearly 2 billion people (White et
  al., 2002).
• Well endowed with flora and fauna and scenic
  landscapes with major tourism potential
• In Kenya they are set up as group ranches,
  members share the natural resources
• Maasai have long history of co-existence
• Occupation mainly pastoralism or mixed farming

4
Threats to rangelands

• Population growth
• Sedenarisation
• Land subdivision
• Habitat fragmentation
• Conflicting land uses
• Human-wildlife conflict
• Competition for resources
• Drought
• Climate change

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Mapping of rangelands

• Collection and compilation of biological data and
  mapping of resources has been the preserve of
  scientists
• In Kenya remote sensing research has been
  generally focused on land cover changes and
  habitat distribution in and around national parks
  (Serneels et al. 2001 Oindo et al. 2003).
• Involvement of the local people in collecting and
  mapping information of their own rangelands is
  critical for sustainable use of their resources
• Use of landsat imagery, various GIS techniques,
  with other biological data provides a framework
  for mapping of community rangelands

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Why use maps?

• Maps provide a common language for communities to
  participate in managing of their lands

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Landsat ETM 2000 2001False color
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Classified Landsat ETMland cover/use
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GIS analysis of Wildlife Resources

• Wildlife census on 55 km grid (30 years of data)
  analysed for wet and dry seasons
• Use remote sensing to get a snapshot of landscape
  (landcover/landuse)
• Use GIS to summarise historical ecological and
  biological data
• Train scouts on basic ecology, human-wildlife
  conflict, tourism, map reading, use of GPS and
  environmental management

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Landcover Wildlife distribution (WET)
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Landcover Wildlife distribution (DRY)
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Scientists - Scouts

• Community scouts
• Unschooled unskilled
• No equipment / tools
• Foot/bicycle patrols
• Knowledge of their landscape
• Have co-existed with for decades with nature

• Conventional mapping of resources
• field biologists to collect data regularly for
  years
• Special equipment
• Set of tools and methods

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Engaging the local people

• Modified monitoring sheets translated
• to local languages
• Use remote sensing to get a snapshot of
  landscape (landcover/landuse)
• Use GIS to summarise historical ecological and
  biological data
• Train scouts on basic ecology, human-wildlife
  conflict, tourism, map reading, use of GPS and
  environmental management

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Simplified monitoring sheets WEEKLY

2 Early ShootsEmpilili Short GreenOlari
Ngejuk Long GreenOlari Olperesso Long
BrownAmeyu Short Brown Ameyu
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Community Scouts - Transects
Viewshed analysis
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Community Scouts Network

• On predetermined walking transects
• Selected habitats from classified image
• Use of DEM and visibility to determine suitable
  sampling areas for each habitat

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Crop damage, Human death, injury, property damage
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(No Transcript)
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Joint management plan
Tourism (facilities and activities) Livestock
(grazing patterns) Security (communication,
patrols) Agriculture Infrastructure Marketing Cons
ervation area Settlements
Map B
Map A
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Achievements

• Monitoring over the last 2 years has enhanced
  understanding of the area and resource use and
  conflict
• Information of wildlife numbers, habitat
  conditions, impact of drought and poached species
  available
• Joint participatory landuse zoning brings
  ownership to the agreed on landuse plans
• Joint security operations and anti-poaching
  patrols
• Environmental protection charcoal burning

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More achievements.

• Engaging in eco-tourism enterprises
• Setting aside of conservation areas

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Challenges

• Current satellite imagery quite costly, this
  study used data of 2000, 2001
• Technical expertise is required in interpretation
  of images
• Establishing consistent classes for landcover
  interpretation

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Conclusion

• GIS and Remote sensing can be used as tools to
  enhance the monitoring mapping community
  rangelands
• Maps provide a framework for integration of local
  spatial knowledge and provides a common language
• Local communities can learn adapted data
  collection methodologies for management and use
  of their environment and natural resources.

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Asante Sana!

• www.conservationafrica.org
• lucy.waruingi_at_acc.or.ke