Evaluating trends of urban growth and its impact on environmental sustainability in Kigali peri-urban areas: A probe from Masaka Sector

Abstract

Urban growth driven by rapid urbanization is a defining feature of our era. As global populations become increasingly urbanized, with more people moving from rural areas to cities, or moving from city center to per-urban areas, this dynamic continues to reshape our world. This growth can have both positive and negative effects on environmental sustainability, if not well managed and it can lead to environmental sustainability challenges. Despite the critical nature of these issues, there is a lack of focused research on how urban growth is impacting the environmental sustainability in per-urban areas of Kigali. This research aims to evaluate spatial temporal dynamics of land use land cover change, identify environmental sustainability challenges driven by the growth, and propose practical actions for enhancing environmental sustainability in Masaka sector, one of the per-urban area of Kigali city which is experiencing rapid growth. To achieve these objectives, various methods and techniques were used to assess the trends of that growth and their coupled impacts on the living conditions of urban dwellers, GIS Software were used to analyze land use and land cover change from 2008 to 2023. Additionally, sampling techniques, interviews with stakeholders, household survey of the sampled households and field observations on the spatial transformation were used. Significant findings reveal a marked expansion of builtup areas coupled accompanied by a reduction in vegetation and forest cover. Research statistics indicate that the forest cover declined from 13.38% in 2008 to 9.13% in 2023, while built-up areas expanded from 11.22% in 2008 to 32.08% in 2023 meaning that, the triplet over the 15years ago. Agriculture also decreased from 62.29% in 2008 to 43.5% in 2023. This land conversion and expansion present a significant environmental sustainability challenges, including insufficient share of green spaces, poor solid waste collection and its management, inadequate drainage systems that are causing wetland pollution, and the development of informal areas. The research findings highlight the urgent need for comprehensive urban planning strategies that prioritize environmental conservation and sustainable development in Masaka Sector. Addressing these challenges require concerted efforts from policymakers, urban planners, and local communities to enforce regulations and promote environmental sustainability practices.