Land Cover Dynamics in the Northwestern Virunga Landscape: An Analysis of the Past Two Decades in a Dynamic Economic and Security Context

A study reveals that the northwestern Virunga landscape, including parts of Virunga National Park, has shown resilience to land cover changes despite socioeconomic and security challenges. Between 1995 and 2021, agricultural expansion slowed post-2000s, while forested areas fluctuated—declining by 2.90% during stable periods (1995–2005) but increasing by 2.07% amid refugee returns and insecurity (2005–2021). Savannah regions, particularly in the rift valley near Butembo, faced greater human impact than forests. The landscape's apparent stability is attributed to protected areas, notably Virunga National Park. Researchers used cartographic methods and ecological-landscape analysis to compare protected and unprotected zones, assessing composition, transitions, and spatial transformations.

Musavandalo, C. M., Sambieni, K. R., Mweru, J.-P. M., Bastin, J.-F., Ndukura, C. S., Nguba, T. B., Balandi, J. B., & Bogaert, J. (2024). Land Cover Dynamics in the Northwestern Virunga Landscape: An Analysis of the Past Two Decades in a Dynamic Economic and Security Context. Land, 13(5), 566. https://doi.org/10.3390/land13050566