| dc.description.abstract | Rapid urban population growth has led to not only an increasing demand for more land, more so for residential use. This land is not available within the city but at the peri-urban areas where parcels of fertile agricultural land are being converted into residential use at an alarming rate. This is because of the expanding urban area to its urban fringes that is accompanied by an increasing demand for land to accommodate the increasing urban developments. Chapter one presents the background of the study, problem statement and the research objectives and also explains the purpose and significance of this project. Generally, it presents an over view of the topic that was researched. The specific objectives of the research were to, 1) to establish the current land use practices in Goma Division. 2) Assess the effects of urban land use changes on agricultural land use in Goma Division and lastly, 3) to investigate the urban planning and management response to land use changes Goma Division. Chapter two demonstrates a detailed approach of the topic by different scholars and authors. The chapter deals with the analysis of the existing literature about the topic of study in order to identify a gap in the available literature. Chapter three discusses the procedures, methods and techniques for the purpose of collecting and analyzing the data required to understand the phenomenon under study. It involved logical and chronological procedures that were undertaken in investigating the phenomenon in order to realize the purpose of the study. The chapter also provides detailed description of the study area, survey and target population, data sources sample design and size, sampling procedures, data collection approach and tools and ethical considerations. Chapter four presents the findings, analysis and discussions of the study from both secondary and primary sources. The chapter also answers whether or not the objectives of the study are deemed to have been achieved. The study revealed a significant change of land-use/cover with the area experiencing rapid increase in urbanization, Forest decreased by (5%annually), and a decrease in bare land, water and agricultural area among others. Agricultural land is losing rapidly to urbanization with the results
xii| Page indicating that about 5%of agricultural land converted to built-up land annually. Declining agricultural land, loss and creation of employment, changing social interaction and lifestyles, increasing land values and housing costs were some of the effects of rural land transformation. Findings provide a useful support for land-use planning and management. In addition, the results provide necessary inputs to decision makers that should balance trade-offs between the positive benefits of land-use change and potentially negative unintended consequences. The study calls for a combined approach, which involves participation of all the stakeholders in management and planning of land as a vital resource. This approach will protect the endangered land use, agricultural land, as well as controlling urban developments. Chapter five presents the conclusions, limitations to the research and recommendations based on the findings of the research study. The conclusions form a critical analysis of the findings. The possible recommendations are proposed to address issues cited in the previous chapters and those identified during the study. An attempt is also made to highlight other relevant areas of further research. Based on these results and some observations made in the study area, the study therefore recommends that, stakeholder participation should be given first priority in land use planning and management process, and a cost benefit analysis of land use conversions. | en_US |
