How to Achieve Effective Participation of Communities in the Monitoring of REDD+ Projects: A Case Study in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

BACKGROUND:

The Miombo woodlands of southern Africa represent one of the region's most extensive dry forest ecosystems, spanning several countries and supporting the livelihoods of over 100 million people. These woodlands have undergone significant environmental degradation over recent decades, primarily driven by shifting cultivation, charcoal production, and unsustainable land-use practices. Given their ecological importance and critical role in rural livelihoods, particularly among low-income people, understanding and promoting sustainable management of Miombo woodlands is essential for both environmental conservation and socioeconomic development.

GOALS AND METHODS:

The goal of the paper is to analyze land use and land cover changes (LULCC) in central and southern Malawi's Miombo woodlands and evaluate their effects on ecosystem services over a 27-year period. The study uses remote sensing data from Landsat imagery (1990, 2000, and 2017) combined with supervised classification techniques to map LULC changes. It further applies the InVEST modeling tool to quantify the impacts of these changes on ecosystem services such as carbon storage, water yield, and sediment retention.

CONCLUSION AND TAKEAWAYS:

The study concludes that there has been significant deforestation and degradation of Miombo woodlands in central and southern Malawi between 1990 and 2017, primarily due to agricultural expansion and settlement growth. These land cover changes have led to notable declines in key ecosystem services, including reduced carbon storage and water yield, and increased sediment export. The findings underscore the urgent need for sustainable land management practices and policy interventions to restore and protect the Miombo ecosystem and its services.