Use of Geoinformation Technology in Assessing Nexus between Ecosystem Changes and Wildlife Distribution: A Case Study of Mt. Marsabit Forest

This study integrates Geospatial Information Technologies (GIT) in assessing the nexus between ecosystem changes and wildlife distribution. The objectives were therefore, to investigate the ecosystem changes and its impacts on wildlife distribution and to determine the drivers of changes. Ecosystem (Land use / land cover) changes were derived from classified Landsat TM images for 1990, 2000 and 2010 using six classes which were closed forest, open forest, shrub land, grassland, wetland and bare land. Impacts of ecosystem changes were determined by overlaying classified images on respective wildlife distribution data and then comparing the distributions for the three epocs. Structured questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions were administered in determining change drivers. Results indicated immense changes of the ecosystem with degradation being evident. Wildlife (elephant) distribution was localised to open forests and shrub land. Therefore, degradation of closed forest indicated presence of elephants while further degradation of open forests and emergence of shrubs indicated an influx of elephants. Major threats identified included firewood collection, illegal logging, charcoal burning, water ion/ dependency, drought, and livestock incursion.