Dynamique de l’occupation du sol autour des sites miniers le long du gradient urbain-rural de la ville de Lubumbashi, RD Congo

Abstract

Land cover dynamics around mining sites along urban-rural gradient of Lubumbashi city (DR Congo) Description of the subject. In Lubumbashi city, rapid (more than 5% per year) and unplanned spatial urban growth is contributing to important land cover changes, especially around mining sites where high concentrations of heavy metals in soils have enormous environmental and health consequences. Objectives. This study aimed to evaluate the landscape anthropization process around the mining sites of Lubumbashi city from 1989 to 2014. Method. Using a mapping approach and the application of landscape ecology analysis tools, land cover changing trends were quantified through the percentage of landscape in the buffer zone, located at 0-500 m, 500-1,000 m, 1,000-1,500 m, 1,500-2,000 m and 2,000-2,500 m from the mining sites. Results. The periphery of mining sites registered a rapid built-up expansion accompanied by bare soil and vegetation regression, particularly after the liberalization of the mining sector in 2002. This effect was much more pronounced around mining sites located in the urban zones. These disturbances, which were due to rapid population growth, increased over time and were observable within all the studied distances from the mining sites. Conclusions. The anthropization of the landscape around the mining sites could lead to land saturation, and is likely to amplify environmental degradation and human exposure to heavy metals.

Keywords

• anthropogenic factors
• land degradation
• polluted soil
• urban development
• remote sensing/gis
• revegetation