A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Biophysical regions of the Southern Highlands, Tanzania: regionalization in a data scarce environment with open geospatial data and statistical methods
Authors: Joni Koskikala, Danielson Kisanga, Niina Käyhkö
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
Publication year: 2020
Journal: Journal of Maps
Volume: 16
Issue: 2
First page : 376
Last page: 387
Number of pages: 12
ISSN: 1744-5647
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2020.1761061
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/47195904
Spatially explicit, evidence-based and regionally contextualized data on biophysical landscape characteristics is an essential basis for regionally sustainable landscape management schemes. In many regions of the Global South, the availability of such information is poor, especially at the subnational level, and the spatial management is often based on generic and outdated information, leading to severe threats for land sustainability. We have developed a biophysical regionalization of the Southern Highlands area of Tanzania. The map is based on open-source global datasets depicting climate, soil, topography and vegetation. Through replicable statistical and geospatial analyses, we have identified 7 regions and 18 subsections with biophysically similar and spatially distinctive environmental conditions. The regions provide spatially contextualized support for understanding and managing the landscapes of the Southern Highlands. The applications for such data sets are numerous, from screening suitability areas for e.g. afforestation schemes to evaluating the distinctiveness and vulnerability of landscapes to degradation.
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