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Peri-urbanization landuse dynamics: an analysis of evolving patterns and their impacts on Gabane Village, Botswana

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Abstract

This case study investigates peri-urban land-use conflicts and changes, in a typical African setting, for a village located on the outskirts of the capital city of Gaborone-Botswana, in order to explore policy implications for sustainable core-region development. The year 1982 provided the baseline situation that was compared with other dates, namely: 1996; 2006 and 2012 in order to analyze land-use conflicts, competition, and succession. The study tracked the landuse changes using: Geographic Information System (GIS), with 1:50 000 air photos taken in 1982; Landsat images from 1996 and 2006 as well as 2012 Google images of medium resolution. The investigation also relied on a social survey, historical landscape reconstruction approaches, field interviews and direct observations. An analysis of 1982 aerial photographs revealed that Gabane Village had experienced little urban influence from the city of Gaborone at that time. Subsequently, stakeholders with different socio-economic demand emerged. This caused extensive land-use changes over the study period. The residents of Gabane nonetheless employed diverse adaptive strategies to sustain their livelihoods. An analysis of the proposed 2001-2025 Development Plan for Gabane Village, identifies possible future land-use changes and conflicts and proposes tentative policy solutions for the emerging sustainable development challenges.

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Fig. 1

Source: Authors 2013

Fig. 2

Source: Adapted from Bryant, Russwurm and McLellan (1982)

Fig. 3

Source: (Keti 2015)

Fig. 4

Source: Statistics Botswana (2011)

Fig. 5

Source: Department of Surveys and Mapping 1982

Fig. 6

Source: Landsat Image 1996

Fig. 7

Source: Author

Fig. 8

Source: Google Earth Image 2006

Fig. 9

Source: Google Earth Image 2013

Fig. 10

Source: Author’s Field Work 2013

Fig. 11

Source: Department of Town and Regional Planning 2015

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana

    George Mpofu, Michael Kwesi Darkoh & Thando Gwebu

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  1. George Mpofu
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  2. Michael Kwesi Darkoh
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  3. Thando Gwebu
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Correspondence to Thando Gwebu.

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Mpofu, G., Darkoh, M.K. & Gwebu, T. Peri-urbanization landuse dynamics: an analysis of evolving patterns and their impacts on Gabane Village, Botswana. GeoJournal 83, 725–741 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10708-017-9798-3

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