Assessment of Spatial Dynamics of Forest Cover in Lomami National Park (DR Congo), 2008–2024: Implications for Conservation and Sustainable Ecosystem Management

Lomami National Park, located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), is renowned for the integrity of its forest ecosystems, safeguarded by the absence of agricultural activities and limited road access. However, these ecosystems remain under-researched, particularly in terms of forest cover dynamics. This research gap poses a significant challenge to establishing rigorous monitoring systems, which are essential for ensuring the long-term preservation of these valuable ecosystems. This study utilized Google Earth Engine to preprocess Landsat images from 2008, 2016, and 2024, employing techniques such as atmospheric correction and cloud masking. Random Forest classification was applied to analyze land cover changes, using training datasets curated through ground-truthing and region-of-interest selection. The classification accuracy was evaluated using metrics such as overall accuracy, producer’s accuracy, and user’s accuracy. To assess landscape configuration, metrics such as class area, patch number, largest patch index, disturbance index, aggregation index, and edge density were calculated, distinguishing between the park’s core and peripheral zones. Spatial transformation processes were analyzed using a decision tree approach. The results revealed a striking contrast in forest cover stability between Lomami National Park and its surrounding periphery. Within the park, forest cover has been preserved and even showed a modest increase, rising from 92.60% in 2008 to 92.75% in 2024. In contrast, the peripheral zone experienced a significant decline in forest cover, decreasing from 79.32% to 70.48% during the same period. This stability within the park extends beyond maintaining forested areas; it includes preserving and enhancing the spatial structure of forest ecosystems. For example, edge density, a key indicator of forest edge compactness, remained stable in the park, fluctuating between 8 m/ha and 9 m/ha. Conversely, edge density in the peripheral zone exceeded 35 m/ha, indicating that forest edges within the park are considerably more cohesive and intact than those in the surrounding areas. The spatial transformation processes also underscored these contrasting dynamics. In the park, the primary process was the aggregation of primary forest patches, reflecting a trend toward continuous and connected forest landscapes. By contrast, the peripheral zone exhibited dissection, indicating fragmentation and the breakdown of forest patches. These findings highlight the park’s critical role in maintaining both the extent and structural integrity of forest ecosystems, setting it apart from the more degraded periphery. They underscore the resilience of forest ecosystems in the face of limited anthropogenic pressures and the crucial importance of effective land management and rigorous conservation strategies in addressing the challenges posed by urbanization and rural expansion. Additionally, the results emphasize that well-adapted conservation measures, combined with specific demographic and socio-economic conditions, can play a pivotal role in achieving long-term forest preservation and ecological stability.