Monitoring changes in land-use and land-cover to ascertain the nature, causes and extent of degradation in the savannahs of Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Abstract

Multi-date Landsat images were used to ascertain the nature, causes and extent of degradation in the savannahs of Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa by comparing changes in land-use and land-cover in one commercial farm and two communal areas over a period of 30 years between 1984 and 2014. Results revealed a persistent increase in bush encroachment, persistent decrease in grassland in all areas, and abandonment of arable farming in communal areas. The paper concludes by providing strategies to change the adverse effects of these changes.