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ARTICLE IN Volume 20, 2025 - Number 1

DEMOGRAPHIC CAUSES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF LAND USE CHANGE IN NAIROBI (KENYA)



Chepkorir RAEL1*, Péter SZILASSI2, & Szabolcs FABULA3
1Institute of Geosciences, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, 2 Egyetem utca, H-6722, Szeged, Hungary*Corresponding author: chepkorirrh@gmail.com
2Institute of Geosciences, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, 2 Egyetem utca, H-6722, Szeged, Hungary, email: toto@geo.u-szeged.hu
3Institute of Geosciences, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, 2 Egyetem utca, H-6722, Szeged, Hungary, email: Fabula.Szabolcs@geo.u-szeged.hu


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Abstract

Using 1995 Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) imagery, 2013 and 2020 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM +) imagery, this study analyses changes in land use and land cover (LULC) in Nairobi during the last three decades. A quantitative method was applied involving the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) data to produce maps that depict LULC changes. The findings show that built-up areas increased while grasslands decreased during the examined period. Grasslands in Nairobi National Park, Karura, and Ngong’ forests display a high level of naturalness. The increase in built-up land use improved economically the areas where it occurred but led to negative environmental impacts. The main policy recommendation of this study is to regulate the type of buildings and the rate of new construction to curb this phenomenon. Similarly, instead of single homes, attached buildings should be adapted to reduce the extent of built-up areas.

Keywords:

  • change
  • detection
  • land
  • cover
  • land
  • use
  • spatial-temporal
  • changes
  • quantitative
  • analysis

How to cite

DEMOGRAPHIC CAUSES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF LAND USE CHANGE IN NAIROBI (KENYA), Carpathian Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences February 2025, Vol. 20, No. 1, p. 5 – 17; DOI:10.26471/cjees/2025/020/309

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