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Case Study #4: Monitoring Agricultural Encroachment on the Rio Bravo Conservation Area.
Question: What is the current state of the Rio Bravo Conservation & Management Area boundary?
Solution: Use fires as a measurement of agricultural encroachment on the Protected Area.
Time: 15 minutes
Method: Select these Layers from the Map Explorer:
- Fires (April 2005)
- Protected Areas
- Biological Corridors (Proposed)
- Roads
- Agricultural Use
- Ecosystems
Images: See the figure below.
Results: In this case example, several fires in April were detected on the northern periphery of the Rio Bravo C&MA. These fires occurred in or adjacent to areas classified as being 'mechanised agriculture.' These fires are likely indicators of expansion of agricultural activities and possible encroachment onto protected lands.
Heavy fire levels were detected farther east well within the PA boundaries and could be seen as illegal farming activities within the PA. But investigation by cross-referencing with the Ecosystems layer in the affected area indicates that the affected ecosystems are herbaceous swamps, savanna and shrubland; unlikely targets for agricultural expansion.
Conclusions:
This observation appears to indicate that agricultural development is still expanding on the northern boundary of the RBCMA. Constant vigilance will be required to prevent actual agricultural incursions and to prevent escape of agricultural fires into the PA.
The cluster of fires in the 'saddle' of RBCMA might well be natural. Nevertheless, inspection will be required to verify the nature of the fire and to see whether action can be undertaken to prevent fires from spreading into broad-leaved forests
Other actions needed:
Validate these data by adding fire layers for other fire-risk months (March and May). Field visits or over-flights should confirm expansion of agricultural activities and/or importance of naturally occurring fires.
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