Multi-Temporal Landsat Remote Sensing for Forest Landscape Fragmentation Analysis in the Yoko Forest, Kisangani, DRC

Multi-Temporal Landsat Remote Sensing for Forest Landscape Fragmentation Analysis in the Yoko Forest, Kisangani, DRC

Jean-Fiston Mikwa Ngamba (University of Kisangani, DRC), Ewango Corneille Ekokinya (World Conservation Society, DRC), Cush Ngonzo Luwesi (CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE), Ghana), Yves-Dady Botula Kahindo (University of Kinshasa, DRC), Muhogwa Jean Marie (University of Kisangani, DRC) and Hyppolite Nshimba Seya (University of Kisangani, DRC)
Copyright: © 2018 |Pages: 26
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-5225-2719-0.ch008

Abstract

This study assessed the impact of human activities on deforestation and sustainability of water resources and livelihoods in the Congo Basin. It mainly aimed to assess forest degradation in the Yoko reserve from 1976 to 2015 and investigate the compatibility of Landsat imagery for forest monitoring. Digital Image processing for unsupervised classification was done using ENVI software while supervised classification was done by means of ArcGIS 10. Results show that forest landscape faced large scale human induced fragmentation over the last 40 years. If these trends continue, they will affect the sustainability of water resources and livelihoods in the Congo Basin of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Hence, policy makers need to look at key drivers and address impacts that may threaten the future of Hydrological Ecosystems Services, including water and land resources in the Congo Basin. Authorities have to apply an Integrated Management of Water, Land and Ecosystems.
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Study Area

Yoko Forest Reserve covers a total area of 6,975 ha divided into two blocks, the northern Yoko (3,370 ha) and the southern Yoko (3,605 ha). It is a private property of the Institut Congolais pour la Conservation de la Nature (ICCN) pursuant to Order - Law No. 75-023 of July 1975 establishing a state owned company responsible for managing certain environmental public institutions as amended and supplemented by Ordinance - Act No. 78-190 of 5 May 1988 (Lomba, 2007). The Reserve is located in the administrative sector of Bakumu - Mangongo, to the south of Kisangani. It is geographically bound by the village Banango (kilometer 21; 00 ° 21.439 ‘N, 025 ° 13.979’ E) and village Bagão (Kilometer 57; 00 ° 06.653 ‘N, 025 ° 17.622 ‘E) on the Kisangani-Ubundu road, to the left bank of the Congo River (Figure 1). Yoko Forest Reserve is bordered to the east and south by the River Yoko, which is a subsidiary of River Biaro Yoko (Mikwa, 2012).

Figure 1.

Location of the Yoko Forest Reserve in the map of DRC

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