Comparing Factors Conditioning Landscape Change During Volcanic Eruption at Virunga National Park, East Africa

A study comparing landscape changes at Virunga National Park, East Africa, from 1990 to 2018 reveals that human activities are the primary drivers of transformation, particularly in central and northern regions. The research highlights how volcanic eruptions reshaped 8.36 km² of the park into new lava flows, while grasslands and shrublands also underwent significant changes due to volcanic plumes and gas emissions. Using remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS), the study analyzed Landsat images and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data to assess these dynamics. The findings underscore the need for targeted conservation strategies to mitigate human impacts and volcanic effects on protected areas, serving as a baseline for future management efforts.

UDAHOGORA, M., YANG, Z. P., NZABARINDA, V., AKBAR, I., MINDJE, R., & UMWALI, E. D. (2021). COMPARING FACTORS CONDITIONING LANDSCAPE CHANGE DURING VOLCANIC ERUPTION AT VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK, EAST AFRICA. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 19(5), 3789–3803. https://doi.org/10.15666/aeer/1905_37893803