Land use land cover dynamics and its implications for ecosystem services and livelihoods of Budongo forest adjacent communities

Abstract A deeper understanding of land use land cover (LULC) dynamics is essential for the sustainable management of the environment and its natural resources, and importantly how the changes affect the provision of ecosystem services and community livelihoods. This study examined the spatio-temporal LULC dynamics around the Budongo Central Forest from 1995 to 2022 and the implications these changes have on the provision of ecosystem services and the livelihoods of local communities. Data were collected using a hybrid approach involving satellite image classification, post-classification change detection, interviews with 156 respondents and 17 key informants. Survey data were subjected to descriptive statistics, Mann-Whitney U tests and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regressions. The study results reveal a decline in areas covered by wetlands, forests and grasslands due to the expansion of commercial sugarcane plantations, compounded by an increase in the population emanating from migrant workers. While the area under subsistence agriculture had a marginal expansion, local communities perceived that the changes in LULC resulted in a decline in households’ food availability, water availability and soil fertility. The study concludes that changes in LULC are associated with significant losses in natural assets and ecosystems. These loses in natural assets have significant effects on the livelihoods of community members. Therefore, there is a need for instituting a participatory land use planning approach in the affected communities to mitigate the effects of the LULC changes. This will also help in fostering sustainable natural resource management within the affected communities.