Land degradation vulnerability modelling for landscape restoration planning in Eastern DR Congo using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and geospatial techniques

Abstract

Land degradation is a major issue for attainment of sustainable development in Eastern DR Congo. This study aims to assess and model the spatial pattern of land degradation vulnerability (LDV) in this region through the application of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and geospatial techniques by using the Kalehe territory as a case study. LDV has been defined as the resultant of three components: the exposure to erosion risk, the sensitivity associated with biophysical factors, and the adaptability associated with socioeconomic factors of vulnerability. These factors were weighted using the EasyAHP plugin and multisource open spatial data to obtain the LDV model. This model was validated using the frequency ratio of physical land degradation features. The LDV map was obtained through the application of the weighted overlay technique in QGIS. The results indicated that about 32% of the territory is prone to high to very high vulnerability, representing the hotspot of LDV. The developed model has an overall accuracy of 77.8% in predicting the area with high to very high LDV. Thus, it can be used during land conservation planning to identify the priority areas for implementation of landscape restoration initiatives at the territorial level in Eastern DR Congo.