Land cover changes along the coastal marine ecosystems of Zanzibar

Abstract

The coastal marine ecosystem of Zanzibar is experiencing a decline of natural habitats and biodiversity. due to the changes in land use and land cover caused by increasing human. This study investigates the changes that have occurred between 2001 and 2011. Landsat ETM+ images were used to locate and quantify the changes. The intensity analysis method was employed to get quantitative information at interval and category levels only. The interval level examined how the size and speed of change vary across time intervals, and the category level examined how the size and intensity of gross losses and gross gains in each category vary across categories for each time interval. Results show that between 2001 and 2011, mangrove, cultivated land/shrubs and bareland covers declined by 127.4 ha, 46.0 ha and 10.2 ha respectively while mixed trees, “jangwa la bahari” and water increased by 147.2ha, 35.8ha and 0.6 ha respectively in Kisakasaka. Between the same time, cultivated land/shrubs, mangrove and mixed trees covers declined by 262.2 ha, 86.3 ha, 49.4 ha respectively while rice pads, barelends, “jangwa la bahari” and water has been increased by 165.6 ha, 109.7 ha, 103.9 ha and 18.7 ha respectively in Bumbwini.