Anthropogenic Effects on Green Infrastructure Spatial Patterns in Kisangani City and Its Urban–Rural Gradient
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 s...
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MDPI AG
2024-10-01
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| Series: | Land |
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| author | 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 Jan Bogaert |
| author_facet | 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 Jan Bogaert |
| author_sort | Julien Bwazani Balandi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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<sup>2</sup> 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<sup>2</sup> 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ac072c1d0e8c43d3adfba0d13357d5cc |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj-art-ac072c1d0e8c43d3adfba0d13357d5cc2025-08-20T02:05:03ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2024-10-011311179410.3390/land13111794Anthropogenic Effects on Green Infrastructure Spatial Patterns in Kisangani City and Its Urban–Rural GradientJulien Bwazani Balandi0Jean-Pierre Pitchou Meniko To Hulu1Kouagou Raoul Sambieni2Yannick Useni Sikuzani3Jean-François Bastin4Charles Mumbere Musavandalo5Timothée Besisa Nguba6Roselande Jesuka7Carlo Sodalo8Léa Mukubu Pika9Jan Bogaert10Ecole Régionale Postuniversitaire d’Aménagement et de Gestion Intégrés des Forêts et Territoires Tropicaux, Kinshasa P.O. Box 15373, Democratic Republic of the CongoInstitut Facultaire des Sciences Agronomiques de Yangambi, Kisangani P.O. Box 1232, Democratic Republic of the CongoEcole Régionale Postuniversitaire d’Aménagement et de Gestion Intégrés des Forêts et Territoires Tropicaux, Kinshasa P.O. Box 15373, Democratic Republic of the CongoUnité Ecologie, Restauration Ecologique et Paysage, Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques, Université de Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi P.O. Box 1825, Democratic Republic of the CongoUnité Biodiversité et Paysage, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Université de Liège, 4000 Liège, BelgiumEcole Régionale Postuniversitaire d’Aménagement et de Gestion Intégrés des Forêts et Territoires Tropicaux, Kinshasa P.O. Box 15373, Democratic Republic of the CongoEcole Régionale Postuniversitaire d’Aménagement et de Gestion Intégrés des Forêts et Territoires Tropicaux, Kinshasa P.O. Box 15373, Democratic Republic of the CongoUnité Biodiversité et Paysage, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Université de Liège, 4000 Liège, BelgiumEcole Régionale Postuniversitaire d’Aménagement et de Gestion Intégrés des Forêts et Territoires Tropicaux, Kinshasa P.O. Box 15373, Democratic Republic of the CongoUnité Biodiversité et Paysage, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Université de Liège, 4000 Liège, BelgiumUnité Biodiversité et Paysage, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Université de Liège, 4000 Liège, BelgiumUrban 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<sup>2</sup> 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<sup>2</sup> 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/11/1794urbanization gradientgreen infrastructurespatial patternKisangani |
| spellingShingle | 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 Jan Bogaert Anthropogenic Effects on Green Infrastructure Spatial Patterns in Kisangani City and Its Urban–Rural Gradient Land urbanization gradient green infrastructure spatial pattern Kisangani |
| title | Anthropogenic Effects on Green Infrastructure Spatial Patterns in Kisangani City and Its Urban–Rural Gradient |
| title_full | Anthropogenic Effects on Green Infrastructure Spatial Patterns in Kisangani City and Its Urban–Rural Gradient |
| title_fullStr | Anthropogenic Effects on Green Infrastructure Spatial Patterns in Kisangani City and Its Urban–Rural Gradient |
| title_full_unstemmed | Anthropogenic Effects on Green Infrastructure Spatial Patterns in Kisangani City and Its Urban–Rural Gradient |
| title_short | Anthropogenic Effects on Green Infrastructure Spatial Patterns in Kisangani City and Its Urban–Rural Gradient |
| title_sort | anthropogenic effects on green infrastructure spatial patterns in kisangani city and its urban rural gradient |
| topic | urbanization gradient green infrastructure spatial pattern Kisangani |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/11/1794 |
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