GIS IN LOCAL ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT

To protect ,manage  and restore  degraded   local ecosystems  by human activity , integrated  tools have to be involved where by Geographical  information  systems  and Remote sensing  are excellent  tools  to be used for change detection  in ecosystems, classification  of vegetation  and suitability  analysis. Use of Gis and remote sensing  makes it easier  to detect  any change in the ecosystem  hence early mitigation  which can help to resolve  climate  change issues.

Climate  change Is currently  a global threat, affecting all living beings.As climate  change transforms global ecosystems, it affects  everything  from the places  we live to water we drink to air we breath .The effects  of climatic  changes have made already existing  challenges  in the  Kenya, Harvests and agricultural  production  which account  for 33% of gross domestic  product (GDP) are at risk.Climate change  has been  brought  about by degradation  of ecosystems  through  human activities.Gis and remote  sensing   enables  us to detect  any change in the ecosystem, map the most affected  areas hence early  mitigation  to save the world  from  adverse  effects  of climate  change 

Geographical information  systems  is a tool for gathering , managing and analyzing  spatial  data. Gis integrates many type of data. It overlays different  layers to provide a 3D scenes with this, patterns,  relationships and situations  are better  visualized  helping  to make smart decisions. Remote sensing  is the process of detecting and monitoring the physical characteristics of an area by measuring the emitted ration at a distance . Incorporating Gis and remote  sensing,  we will be able to  carry out vegetation  classification,  Normalized  differential  vegetation,  water and moisture index  and suitability  analysis . With this, the most affected  areas  are mapped  for restoration while vulnerable  ones are mapped  for protection. Any slight  change can be detected  hence early  mitigation. 

Our main focus is on the locals of vihiga  county, Kenya.  Who are under equipped  with information  regarding the ecosystems they live in   and  the importance  to protect, manage and restore it. With the help of Gis and remote sensing  tools, time series maps  are  produced  to observe  any changes  in the ecosystem  and factors  contributing  to it. The locals  serves as the main source  of primary  data and are involved  in the final decision  making process. 

Our solution  and target  population  is aligned  with the social development  goals. The solution  covers the  environmental  sustainability and climatic  change aspects, we are  committed  to the well being  of the current  and future  generations  of vihiga county.The target  population  is the local people  of vihiga  county who are less equipped  with information  on sustainable  use of Natural  resources  in our ecosystem and climate  change

Gis and remote  sensing  are integrated  tools for capturing , mapping  analysing  and storing  spatial  data available  to detect  any change in the ecosystem  and avail smart decision  making  in protecting and managing  our ecosystems 

Gis and remote  sensing  is a new technology  in our Kenya. Vihiga  county  being  first  county in the country to use Gis as decision  making  aid tool and management  of Natural  resources. In vihiga  county,  forest ecosystems  have been destroyed  by human activities which is causing  climate  change in our county. We opted  to use Gis and remote sensing  in protecting ,managing  and restoration  of maragoli forest  that was destroyed  back in 1998. In the last  three we've continued  to detect  a positive  change in this  area .