干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

Remote sensing has long been used as a means of detecting and classifying changes on the land. Analysis of multi-year time series of land surface attributes and their seasonal change indicates a complexity of land use land cover change (LULCC). In semi-arid region, where fragile ecosystems are dominant, the land cover change often reflects the most significant impact on the environment due to excessive human activities. This study focused on the monitoring and mapping of land use land cover change in the Gash Agricultural Scheme (Eastern Sudan), Sudan through monitoring the changes that occurred in land use pattern due to drought, climate change and mismanagement. The study attempted to analyze variation of land use land cover changes and it is impacts particularly the changes in the agricultural territories in Gash river scheme, Eastern Sudan. Multi-temporal remotely sensed data (Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and Enhanced Thematic Mapper plus (ETM+) between 1972 and 2010 (MSS 1972, TM 1987, ETM+ 1999 and ASTER 2010) were used together with Geographical Information System (GIS). The study reveals that there was rapid increase of invasion of mesquite tree as well as increase in sand land during the period of study and clear decrease in cultivated and grass land.