Introduction | Methodology | Results | Conclusions | Recommendations

Eastern Mount Kenya: Methodology

The project employed different methods in collecting both biophysical and social data.These included the following:

1. Vegetation and Soil parameters

Plant and soil surveys in quadrats were conducted along a transect that spanned the agro-ecological gradient from the Afro-Montane Forest to the Tana River in the semi-arid lowlands. Stratified random sampling of 200 quadrats by land use type in each agro-ecological zone permitted examination of how soil chemical and physical characteristics varies by land use, and how plant species diversity varies by land use, within each zone.

2. Land Cover/Use mapping and change analysis

Remote sensing and GIS techniques have been used to define the dynamics of land cover change and land use change, particularly expansion of agriculture and forest losses, between 1987 and 200.

Landsat ETM+ satellite image

Land use/ cover change analysis was done at three scales:

1. At the regional scale for the eastern slopes of Mt. Kenya (1987 to 2001) by visually interpreting Landsat images and conducting ground truthing;
2. At the landscape scale at a site in the tea/coffee zone and a site in the semi-arid millet/sorghum zone (1950s to 2001) by visual interpretation of air photos and satellite images, and in selected woodland areas (1987, 1995, 2000, 2001) by interpretation of satellite imagery; and
3. At the field level in four sites across the agro-ecological gradient (only 1995) with field work (ground and household surveys).

3. Surveys and Group Interviews

Surveys were conducted at the household (166) and field (498) levels. Stratified random sampling permitted representativeness within broad agro-ecological zones. Questions were asked such as the age, gender of head of household, labour availability, economic activities, and changes in soil management. At the field level, questions were asked concerning changes in land use, changes in soil characteristics, and soil management.

Group and key informant interviews were conducted in each broad agro-ecological zone on various topics including the driving forces of land use change, perceptions of changing soil characteristics, changes in plant biodiversity, and feedback workshops.

GIS analysis was conducted of land use/ cover change, and to link the land use/cover data with other information.