Utilizing photogrammetry for forest rehabilitation assessment: Remote sensing techniques applied to Mt Rubavu in Rubavu District, Rwanda

Abstract

Forest rehabilitation has gained popularity in an era of unprecedented rapid urban growth for sustainable development. Monitoring forest restoration using geospatial technologies has recently attracted many researchers’ attention. In Rwanda, GIS and remote sensing have been proven to be useful tools in monitoring rehabilitated forest landscapes. The current work assumes to monitor the spatiotemporal change of the rehabilitated artificial forest of Mount Ruvubu near Rubavu city using advanced photogrammetric images and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques across three distinct time periods: 2005, 2010, and 2015. The results revealed that forest encroachment increased from 23.5 hectares in 2005 to 23.9 in 2010, followed by a significant reversal of this trend in 2015. The NDVI imagery provides a visual representation of these changes, highlighting encroachment in the western and southwest parts of the forest in 2005 and 2010, and successful rehabilitation in the central and western regions in 2015. All in all, the study demonstrates the effectiveness of remote sensing and GIS in monitoring forest cover and rehabilitation efforts. These technologies are essential in sustainable forest management, offering valuable insights into areas that require immediate attention. GIS and remote sensing are crucial for protecting forest benefits for society and the environment.