Mapping in Rwanda

Land use system

Land Use System of Rwanda

The use of land is the main driver of land degradation. After a planning and data collection phase in collaboration with the Nile Equatorial Lakes Subsidiary Action Program of the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI NELSAP), LUS workshops were carried out from 18 November to 3 December 2010 at the GIS centre of the National University of Rwanda (CGISNUR) in Butare with 7 participants experienced in GIS. Further to that, a validation phase was undertaken in 2012- 2013.

More on the LUS preparation procedure

Land degradation and SLM mapping

This identification builds on baseline information regarding land degradation (LD) and sustainable land management (SLM) at a geographical scale and undertaken through the LADA-WOCAT Questionnaire for mapping. The LD and SLM maps are built using the land degradation assessment in drylands (LADA) method including two phases:

  1. the definition of the units of assessment by building the Land Use Systems (LUS) maps adapted for the use at the Kagera watershed scale and
  2. the use of the LADA-WOCAT questionnaire for mapping (QM). The participatory assessment of LD and SLM was undertaken in Rwanda in December 2011 and in March 2012.
Degree of Land degradation
Groups of conservation technologies against soil erosion by water
Types of conservation impacts of SLM on degradation due to soil erosion by water

The LUS and QM maps were validated both through field visits conducted in 2012 by national and international experts and by comparison with other maps and satellite images. Also, experts participating at the QM participatory assessment were requested to analyze and provide feedback on the map quality.  During the second workshop both LUS and QM quality was assessed.

LUS Map authors

Ernest Uwayezu

CGIS NUR HUYE (KIGALI)

Elias Nyandwi

CGIS NUR, HUYE (BUTARE)

Antoine Nsengiyumva

Kagabo, NATIONAL LAND CENTRE (KIGALI)

Theodomir Mugiraneza

CGIS NUR, HUYE (BUTARE)

Marie Christine Simbizi

CGIS NUR, HUYE (BUTARE)

Rachel Murekatete

CGIS NUR, HUYE (BUTARE)

Jules Mutabazi

ISAR, LIVESTOCK UNIT, KARAMA


* All intellectual property rights, including copyright, in the work performed under the “Transboundary Agro-Ecosystem Management Programme for the Kagera River Basin” (thereafter referred as “Kagera TAMP”) shall be vested in FAO, including without any limitations, the right to use, publish, translate, sell or distribute, privately or publicly, any item or part thereof for non-commercial purposes. FAO hereby grants to the delegated institution(s) of beneficiary country a non-exclusive royalty-free license to use, publish, translate and distribute, privately or publicly, any item or part of the work performed under Kagera TAMP for non-commercial purposes. Delegated institutions and data distribution centers in Rwanda are: MINAGRI RAB, RNRA, REMA, GIS NUR, Kagera TAMP Districts, and Nile Basin Initiative.