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Rangelands are of great importance since they provide valuable grazing lands for livestock and wildlife, open space for recreational purposes such as hiking and economic means for agriculture. In this project, focus was laid on studying rangeland degradation hotspot areas the study area being Laikipia County. The aim of the study was to evaluate some of the factors that lead to decline of rangelands productivity such as climatic factors which include rainfall and temperature, soil factors which include bare soil and vegetation factor. Areas susceptible to high rate of degradation were to be modeled. In my study I used Landsat images to map the extent and degree of rangeland degradation. First stage was to preprocess the images, for instance geometric and radiometric correction. The images were then classified into rangelands, bare lands, forest, built up and open water. In order to determine the hotspot areas for rangeland, various physical indices such as NDVI and tasseled cap; wetness index and brightness, baresoil index and land surface temperature were determined. General results showed that most parts of rangelands in study area have been degraded. Conservation on degraded rangelands should be done based on current degradation. Rangelands will continue to be an essential factor of production and should be protected. The only way to do this is through proper research so that information is provided in the appropriate temporal and spatial resolution. Studies should be done in all places in order to determine rates of degradation and to come up with preventive measures. From the rangeland degradation maps that there has been an increase in the area experiencing rangeland degradation. Most of the areas that were rangelands are now barelands. The climatic,vegetation and soil factors all contribute to a great level in rangeland degradation. |
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