A community-GIS supported dryland use and cover change assessment: The case of the Njemps flats in Kenya

Land use and Cover Changes (LULCC) are a major cause of environmental degradation in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) drylands hence serious problem to sustainable utilization development those lands. Involving communities their detection identification can empower convince them the importance adopting practices that minimize undesirable impacts. In this study, we applied GIS assisted community participatory approach detect LULCC, drivers effects mid rift valley Kenya. Focus group discussions, key informant household head interviews were corroborated with three Landsat images for periods 1980, 1995 2019. Results from focus discussion reported increasing trends cropland shrubland, Declining trend livestock mobility, herd size, forest land natural grasses. The analysis increase 370 Ha 2889 Ha, shrubland by 4.2%, expansion Lake Baringo 1.4%, decrease cover 1.2% grass pastures 1.1%. Major driving forces LULCC identified as population growth, insecurity caused cattle rustling, government policies interventions, poor agricultural practices, drought climate change. From outcomes recommended policy strategies interventions support adoption mitigate adverse including grazing schemes, rehabilitation already degraded land, participation watershed management soil water conservation measures.