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Context <p>The woody vegetation encroachment into natural grasslands is a significant global concern in nature reserves and other protected and conserved landscapes. Bush encroachment remains one of the major contributors of land degradation and landscape alterations. The phenomenon adversely affects biodiversity, conservation efforts, landscape productivity and recreational value.</p> Objectives <p>To understand the progression and threat of woody vegetation invasion into nature reserves, this study aimed to monitor bush encroachment and associated land use-land cover types in a nature reserve using high spatial resolution multi-temporal data within the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform.</p> Methods <p>The study employed RapidEye and PlanetScope data spanning the period from 2009 to 2023 to estimate the changing extent of woody vegetation, grassland cover and bare areas, providing a comprehensive analysis of their dynamics over the 14-year study period.</p> Results <p>The results indicated that over the study period, approximately 130.69 hectares of grassland underwent a transition to woody vegetation, while approximately 2.78 hectares of woody vegetation was converted to grassland. The study revealed a net increase of 127.91 hectares in the total area covered by woody vegetation. The analysis revealed a notable upward trend in woody vegetation expansion during the 14&#xa0;years of study, with percentage coverage of 37.69%, 51.18%, 64.52% and 74.02% in 2009, 2014, 2019 and 2023, respectively.</p> Conclusions <p>Considering the outcomes of this study, improvement of management schemes in the Bisley Nature Reserve is critical for the management and restoration of grasslands. Overall, the study provides valuable insights on the threat of bush encroachment in nature reserves and aid decision making for management of these landscapes.</p>

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Monitoring bush encroachment in Bisley Nature Reserve using RapidEye and PlanetScope data

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年7月1日

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  • Ntuthuko Prosperous Mncwabe,
  • Onisimo Mutanga,
  • Trylee Nyasha Matongera,
  • John Odindi

摘要

Context

The woody vegetation encroachment into natural grasslands is a significant global concern in nature reserves and other protected and conserved landscapes. Bush encroachment remains one of the major contributors of land degradation and landscape alterations. The phenomenon adversely affects biodiversity, conservation efforts, landscape productivity and recreational value.

Objectives

To understand the progression and threat of woody vegetation invasion into nature reserves, this study aimed to monitor bush encroachment and associated land use-land cover types in a nature reserve using high spatial resolution multi-temporal data within the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform.

Methods

The study employed RapidEye and PlanetScope data spanning the period from 2009 to 2023 to estimate the changing extent of woody vegetation, grassland cover and bare areas, providing a comprehensive analysis of their dynamics over the 14-year study period.

Results

The results indicated that over the study period, approximately 130.69 hectares of grassland underwent a transition to woody vegetation, while approximately 2.78 hectares of woody vegetation was converted to grassland. The study revealed a net increase of 127.91 hectares in the total area covered by woody vegetation. The analysis revealed a notable upward trend in woody vegetation expansion during the 14 years of study, with percentage coverage of 37.69%, 51.18%, 64.52% and 74.02% in 2009, 2014, 2019 and 2023, respectively.

Conclusions

Considering the outcomes of this study, improvement of management schemes in the Bisley Nature Reserve is critical for the management and restoration of grasslands. Overall, the study provides valuable insights on the threat of bush encroachment in nature reserves and aid decision making for management of these landscapes.