Abstract: Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems globally, yet they continue to experience rapid degradation due to agricultural expansion and urbanization. This study examined land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics and wetland conversion in the Rugeramigozi Wetland, Muhanga District, Rwanda, over a 30-year period (1993–2023). Specifically, the study assessed the magnitude and spatial patterns of LULC change, identified the principal drivers of wetland transformation, and evaluated the associated impacts on ecosystem services and environmental conditions. A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating multi-temporal Landsat satellite imagery with secondary institutional data. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing techniques were applied to supervised land cover classification, change detection, and classification accuracy assessment, while the Driver–Pressure–State–Impact–Response (DPSIR) framework guided the analysis of interactions between anthropogenic drivers, environmental pressures, ecological changes, and management responses. The results revealed a pronounced and continuous transformation of the Rugeramigozi Wetland from a predominantly natural ecosystem to an intensively human-modified landscape. Wetland vegetation declined from 52.4% (approximately 111 ha) in 1993 to 8.9% (approximately 14.5 ha) in 2023, representing a net loss of 43.5 percentage points over the study period. In contrast, agricultural land expanded from 34.6% to 74.3%, becoming the dominant land use and the primary driver of wetland conversion. Built-up areas increased from 4.2% to 13.6%, reflecting accelerated urban expansion, while water bodies decreased from 6.8% to 2.1%, indicating substantial hydrological alteration. Vegetation condition also deteriorated considerably, with the mean Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) declining from 0.62 in 1993 to 0.40 in 2023, signifying reduced vegetation vigor, biomass, and ecosystem productivity. The findings demonstrate that sustained agricultural intensification and urban development have substantially altered the ecological integrity of the Rugeramigozi Wetland, threatening its capacity to provide critical ecosystem services. The study recommends strengthening wetland governance through stricter enforcement of land-use regulations, improved wetland boundary demarcation and continuous monitoring using GIS and Remote Sensing technologies, promotion of sustainable agricultural practices within wetland buffer zones, and enhanced community participation in wetland conservation. Implementing these measures is critical for restoring ecosystem functions, enhancing climate resilience, sustaining local livelihoods, and advancing Rwanda's Vision 2050 and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6, 11, 13, and 15.
Keywords: Wetland Conversion, Land Use, Land Cover Dynamics, Rugeramigozi Wetland, Muhanga District.
Title: Assessing Wetland Conversion and Land Use/Land Cover Dynamics in Rugeramigozi Wetland, Muhanga District
Author: Dushimimana Dancille, Assoc. Prof Isaac Olajide AREO
International Journal of Life Sciences Research
ISSN 2348-313X (Print), ISSN 2348-3148 (online)
Vol. 14, Issue 3, July 2026 - September 2026
Page No: 34-51
Research Publish Journals
Website: www.researchpublish.com
Published Date: 24-July-2026
