Drivers of land-use and land-cover change in rural landscapes; a case in Eastern Sierra Leone

Abstract

This study provides the first attempt at assessing the drivers of LULC change in eastern Sierra Leone where settlement expansion is as eminent as the proliferation of the primary industrial sector, notably agriculture and artisanal mining. For this purpose, using Landsat images at 1986, 2000 and 2020, LULC maps of the study area were obtained. The principal drivers of LULC change were identified based on field observations and interviews with local residents. Additionally, population and climate data were obtained to better understand LULC changes. Vast changes were observed in Shrub/Fallow, Grass/Cropland, Wetland and Built/Barren. Moderate changes were observed in Trees/Forest and Open Water. The drivers of LULC change are attributable to population growth as the main underlying driver and agricultural expansion and infrastructural development as the main proximate or direct drivers. Moreover, the declining rainfall in tandem with rising temperatures can be linked to the shrinking Wetland and Open Water.

Keywords:

• Landsat
• LULC change
• LULC drivers
• population
• agriculture

Acknowledgement

Authors wish to express their sincere thanks and appreciation to the field enumerators who played a pivotal role in data collection and to the respondents for their willingness to provide their perceptions on the drivers of LULC change. Gratitude is also expressed to CHRSiRain and the Daru Meteorological Station for providing the climate data, and to Statistics Sierra Leone for providing the population data, used in the current study. This paper further benefited from the expert comments of editors and peer reviewers who provided the technical advice for improving on the content and structure of this article.

Author contributions

MK Lahai and VTS Kabba conceived the original idea of the study and developed the research design. MK Lahai led the data collection and assisted by VTS Kabba in data analysis, and LR Mansaray assisted in satellite data processing and map generation. Authors made equal contributions in the preparation and review of the manuscript.

Data availability statement

All the raw data collected by this study will be made available to third parties upon formal request without compromising the privacy of respondents or data providers.

Ethical statement

All ethical issues were considered, following guidelines of the host institution of authors.

Informed consent

All respondents agreed to participate in field surveys and also gave their consent for the wider dissemination of their information.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research work was supported by the Special Fund for Higher Degree Research (Doctoral Studies) at Njala University.