Stimulating Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals and Conservation Action: Predicting Future Land Use/Cover Change in Virunga National Park, Congo

A significant reduction in Virunga National Park's forest and open land areas is projected by 2030, driven primarily by agricultural expansion and urban development. This finding stems from a study that simulated future land cover changes using advanced modeling techniques, including machine learning algorithms and Markov chain analysis. Researchers analyzed satellite images from 2010, 2015, and 2019 to identify key drivers of these changes, such as landscape topography and proximity to human activities. The study provides critical insights for data-driven decision-making, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and offering recommendations to mitigate environmental degradation while supporting sustainable development in the region.

Christensen, M., & Jokar Arsanjani, J. (2020). Stimulating Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals and Conservation Action: Predicting Future Land Use/Cover Change in Virunga National Park, Congo. Sustainability, 12(4), 1570. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12041570