Impacts of Land Cover Change on Conservation, a Linkage of Spatial Analysis and Anthropogenic Activities in Tanzania

Between 1998 and 2015, the buffer zone of Tanzania’s Selous Game Reserve (SGR) experienced a sharp decline in forest cover—driven primarily by charcoal burning and shifting cultivation linked to population growth and poverty. Spatial analysis revealed that while wooded grassland expanded during this period, forest loss accelerated between 2011 and 2015, with minimal crop cultivation suggesting alternative land-use pressures. The study highlights a critical linkage between anthropogenic activities, land-cover change (LULC), and conservation outcomes in rural wards adjacent to protected areas. Integrating spatial data from three time points (1998, 2011, 2015) with socio-economic metrics from Vikumbulu Ward, researchers demonstrate that unchecked LULC transformation threatens both biodiversity and local livelihoods. The findings underscore the need for coordinated strategies to balance conservation goals with rural development in Tanzania.

Nyanda, H. N., Kegamba, J. J., & Sangha, K. K. (2018). Impacts of Land Cover Change on Conservation, a Linkage of Spatial Analysis and Anthropogenic Activities in Tanzania. Open Journal of Forestry, 08(03), 344–361. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojf.2018.83022