Assessing urban expansion in Beni and Butembo (DRC) using planet imagery and landscape metrics amid demographic growth and insecurity

Résumé fourni par la source

This study examines the urbanization of Beni and Butembo, two urban centers located on the outskirts of Virunga National Park, facing intense demographic pressure amid insecurity. Understanding urban expansion in this region, amid insecurity, is important because it directly affects land-use planning and the management of Virunga National Park. It evaluates urban growth from 2016 to 2023 using high-resolution Planet satellite imagery and quantitative landscape structure metrics, including the Shannon index, to capture the spatial patterns and elucidate the trajectory. The results reveal a substantial difference in urban growth between Beni and Butembo. Although Beni’s population is growing at four times the rate of Butembo, its annual urbanization rate is lower. Butembo’s urbanization averages 11.85% annually, ranking it among the fastest-growing cities in the North-West Virunga region. Its urban area has doubled in size over the past 7 years, with 42.54 km² of green space converted to built-up land. In contrast, Beni’s rate is 7.20%, with 17.36 km² transformed. These differences are largely explained by the relative stability of security in Butembo compared to Beni. Analyzing landscape indicators alongside the Shannon entropy index highlights varying degrees and patterns of peri-urbanization across the cities. Urban expansion is anisotropic, influenced mainly by security concerns and partly by topography, with growth toward the north-east and south-east in Butembo, and toward the north-west and south-west in Beni. These results provide a decision-making tool for local authorities, offering a detailed understanding of the spatial dynamics of urbanization. All stakeholders must take ownership of these results to strengthen territorial planning and promote sustainable urbanization in Beni and Butembo.

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