Land Use and Cover Change in Watersheds within Mining Tenements in Agusan Del Norte, Philippines

Abstract

Mining is widely regarded as a key driver of land use and land cover changes, especially in watersheds where it operates. However, when conducted responsibly, mining can also contribute to landscape conservation and protection. This study analyzed land use and cover changes within watersheds in mining tenements from 2000 to 2020 using a combination of supervised and unsupervised satellite image classification techniques. Results indicated that water bodies, croplands, and forestlands decreased by 5.87%, 84.95%, and 4.08%, respectively, while built-up areas expanded by 577.33%. Water bodies showed an increase where areas near drainage systems were opened or repurposed. Barren land surged, largely due to road construction and development activities. Binary logistic regression identified distance from roads and elevation as the most influential factors driving these changes, with coefficients of -3.729 and 2.775, respectively. Interestingly, mining activities were found to be non- significant contributors to land use and cover change during the study period.