Description

The objectives of this research are to: 1. Support natural resource management at a watershed and policy analysis scale by documenting landscape condition, quantifying natural resources, and defining land cover and land use change using geospatial imagery and analysis.

2. Assess the impacts of climate variation and land use practices on agricultural sustainability and natural resource management at a watershed scale.

3. Evaluate the accuracy and value of low-cost community-based monitoring of watershed hydrology

This presentation extensively describes the background and research activity with LTRA-2 in the Luangwa River Valley in eastern Zambia. The overall Goal is to provide guidance to land use policy regarding the expansion of settlements into the forested region. Specific objectives include 1) quantifying the impact of present land use practices on land and water resources and 2) determining acceptable land use (agricultural) practices that will ensure protection of natural resources and provide for sustainable livelihoods. The project activities to meet these objectives are:

1. Document and map the expansion of settlements into the National Forest 2. Quantify hydrology of the primary landscape systems in Eastern Zambia 3. Provide preliminary analysis (through modeling studies) regarding the impact of increased clearing on runoff and sediment

Activities are also in progress with LTRA-3 in Bolivia and Ecuador, LTRA-4 in Bolivia (& Peru), and LTRA-5 in the Philippines.