Anthropogenic Effects on Green Infrastructure Spatial Patterns in Kisangani City and Its Urban–Rural Gradient

Julien Bwazani Balandi (), Jean-Pierre Pitchou Meniko To Hulu, Kouagou Raoul Sambieni, Yannick Useni Sikuzani, Jean-François Bastin, Charles Mumbere Musavandalo, Timothée Besisa Nguba, Roselande Jesuka, Carlo Sodalo, Léa Mukubu Pika and Jan Bogaert
Additional contact information
Julien Bwazani Balandi: Ecole Régionale Postuniversitaire d’Aménagement et de Gestion Intégrés des Forêts et Territoires Tropicaux, Kinshasa P.O. Box 15373, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Jean-Pierre Pitchou Meniko To Hulu: Institut Facultaire des Sciences Agronomiques de Yangambi, Kisangani P.O. Box 1232, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Kouagou Raoul Sambieni: Ecole Régionale Postuniversitaire d’Aménagement et de Gestion Intégrés des Forêts et Territoires Tropicaux, Kinshasa P.O. Box 15373, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Yannick Useni Sikuzani: Unité Ecologie, Restauration Ecologique et Paysage, Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques, Université de Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi P.O. Box 1825, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Jean-François Bastin: Unité Biodiversité et Paysage, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Université de Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Charles Mumbere Musavandalo: Ecole Régionale Postuniversitaire d’Aménagement et de Gestion Intégrés des Forêts et Territoires Tropicaux, Kinshasa P.O. Box 15373, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Timothée Besisa Nguba: Ecole Régionale Postuniversitaire d’Aménagement et de Gestion Intégrés des Forêts et Territoires Tropicaux, Kinshasa P.O. Box 15373, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Roselande Jesuka: Unité Biodiversité et Paysage, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Université de Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Carlo Sodalo: Ecole Régionale Postuniversitaire d’Aménagement et de Gestion Intégrés des Forêts et Territoires Tropicaux, Kinshasa P.O. Box 15373, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Léa Mukubu Pika: Unité Biodiversité et Paysage, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Université de Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
Jan Bogaert: Unité Biodiversité et Paysage, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Université de Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium

Land, 2024, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-22

Abstract: Urban and peri-urban expansion significantly influences the spatial pattern of cities and surrounding zones. This study examines the spatial changes in green infrastructure components, specifically focusing on mature forests, short forests, and agricultural and grass lands from 1986 to 2021, using satellite imagery. Two landscape ecology indexes, the percentage of landscape (PLAND), and the largest patch index (LPI), were applied. PLAND provides insights into the proportion of habitat types, capturing overall extent, while LPI elucidates their spatial configuration. The research is conducted in a specific context of increasing urbanization and peri-urbanization in Kisangani city, DR Congo. The findings reveal a decline in both mature and short forests, respectively, from 1986 to 2021, and from 2006 to 2021 alongside a continuous expansion of agricultural and grass lands at the landscape scale. Moreover, the spatial pattern of mature and short forests exhibited significant variations across urban, peri-urban, and rural zones. In the context of 2021, in urban and peri-urban zones, mature forests account for less than 1% of the 2.25 km 2 plots, against more than 35% in certain rural plots. Similarly, larger patches of mature forest in urban and peri-urban zones cover less than 0.5% of the 2.25 km 2 plots, whereas they exceed 20% in rural zones. From 1986 to 2021, both mature and short forests experienced significant decline and fragmentation, particularly in urban and peri-urban zones, while agricultural and grass lands increased significantly in peri-urban and rural zones. These results raise concerns regarding the functions, services, and opportunities provided by mature and short forests in the context of global change. They also highlight the need for urban planning in Kisangani to prioritize green infrastructure preservation, focusing on maintaining forest connectivity and preventing further fragmentation. Policies should promote sustainable land use in peri-urban zones to achieve a balance between urban expansion and the provision of essential ecosystem services, thereby enhancing long-term resilience.

Keywords: urbanization gradient; green infrastructure; spatial pattern; Kisangani (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
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