Dataset Information

Landscape Dynamics (landDX) an open-access spatial-temporal database for the Kenya-Tanzania borderlands.

ABSTRACT: The savannas of the Kenya-Tanzania borderland cover >100,000 km² and is one of the most important regions globally for biodiversity conservation, particularly large mammals. The region also supports >1 million pastoralists and their livestock. In these systems, resources for both large mammals and pastoralists are highly variable in space and time and thus require connected landscapes. However, ongoing fragmentation of (semi-)natural vegetation by smallholder fencing and expansion of agriculture threatens this social-ecological system. Spatial data on fences and agricultural expansion are localized and dispersed among data owners and databases. Here, we synthesized data from several research groups and conservation NGOs and present the first release of the Landscape Dynamics (landDX) spatial-temporal database, covering ~30,000 km² of southern Kenya. The data includes 31,000 livestock enclosures, nearly 40,000 kilometres of fencing, and 1,500 km² of agricultural land. We provide caveats and interpretation of the different methodologies used. These data are useful to answer fundamental ecological questions, to quantify the rate of change of ecosystem function and wildlife populations, for conservation and livestock management, and for local and governmental spatial planning.

SUBMITTER: Tyrrell P

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8766582 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Landscape Dynamics (landDX) an open-access spatial-temporal database for the Kenya-Tanzania borderlands.

Tyrrell Peter P Amoke Irene I Betjes Koen K Broekhuis Femke F Buitenwerf Robert R Carroll Sarah S Hahn Nathan N Haywood Daniel D Klaassen Britt B Løvschal Mette M Macdonald David D Maiyo Karen K Mbithi Hellen H Mwangi Nelson N Ochola Churchil C Odire Erick E Ondrusek Victoria V Ratemo Junior J Pope Frank F Russell Samantha S Sairowua Wilson W Sigilai Kiptoo K Stabach Jared A JA Svenning Jens-Christian JC Stone Elizabeth E du Toit Johan T JT Western Guy G Wittemyer George G Wall Jake J

Scientific data 20220118 1

The savannas of the Kenya-Tanzania borderland cover >100,000 km<sup>2</sup> and is one of the most important regions globally for biodiversity conservation, particularly large mammals. The region also supports >1 million pastoralists and their livestock. In these systems, resources for both large mammals and pastoralists are highly variable in space and time and thus require connected landscapes. However, ongoing fragmentation of (semi-)natural vegetation by smallholder fencing and expansion of ...[more]

PMID: 35042854

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Dataset Information

Landscape Dynamics (landDX) an open-access spatial-temporal database for the Kenya-Tanzania borderlands.

Publications

Landscape Dynamics (landDX) an open-access spatial-temporal database for the Kenya-Tanzania borderlands.

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