Tropicultura (Jan 2017)

Dynamique des écosystèmes forestiers de l'Arc Cuprifère Katangais en République Démocratique du Congo. I. Causes, transformations spatiales et ampleur

  • Cabala Kaleba, S.,
  • Useni Sikuzani, Y.,
  • Sambieni, KR.,
  • Bogaert, J.,
  • Munyemba Kankumbi, F.

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 35, no. 3
pp. 192 – 202

Abstract

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Dynamics of Forest Ecosystems of the Katangese Copper Belt in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I. Causes, Spatial transformations and Extent. The socio-economic development resulting from the emergence of the mining sector in the Democratic Republic of the Congo causes significant changes in the natural ecosystems. The objective of this study was to evaluate, the deforestation patterns in the Katangese Copper Belt (K.C.B.) caused by the proliferation of mining sites and urban areas using the Landsat images of 2002 and 2015,. A 10 km x 10 km square grid was applied to calculate landscape metrics for forest pattern analysis. The results obtained within the K.C.B. show that the relative area of forests decreases from 49% to 42% between 2002 and 2015. Most squares are characterized by an increase in the number of forest patches and by a reduction of the forest area. Dissection was identified as the dominant spatial transformation process governing the forest cover dynamics. Other processes observed related to anthropogenic effects in landscapes were the suppression and the fragmentation. Aggregation, creation and enlargement dominate those squares situated in private concessions or in which forest conservation initiatives are developed. A link between the overall forest cover declining and the development the urban areas and the mining sites has been mapped. This study can serve as a conceptual framework for the application of policies oriented towards a more sustainable conservation of the Katangese forests, hence inversing the current trends.

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