Land Use and Land Cover Changes in the landscape of Cadiz City, Negros Occidental in 2001, 2011 and 2021

Abstract

Land use and land cover (LULC) changes have become a major environmental concern in any landscape worldwide as urbanization progresses with population growth and economic development, among a myriad of anthropogenic factors. This study aims to delineate and analyze LULC classes in the landscape of Cadiz City, Negros Occidental in 2001, 2011 and 2021 temporal points and to determine and compare the degree of LULC changes (LULCC) between two 10-year interval periods (2001-2011 & 2011-2021) and in 20 years (2001-2021) using Geographic Information System and Remote Sensing Technology. Landsat images across three temporal points were downloaded and processed using supervised classification method with maximum likelihood classifier applied. Using the approach, four LULC classes were identified as Built-up (1.59-3.25%), Water (2.17-2.46%), Canopy (26.63-35.96%) and short vegetation (58.33-68.88%). Results showed substantial LULCC dominated by increasing rate of built-up areas which reached 39.76% and 46.34% in the first and second periods, respectively and was observed to progress in a positive direction given the rapid rate of 86.10% in 20 years. Other observations were the consistent increase of water bodies at a rate of 13.02% and a net increase in canopy at 29.34% while a net decrease in short vegetation was observed at -14.03% due to the increase of the other classes in 20 year-period. Whereas the degree of LULCC in the landscape was 39.85% in the first period, 74.58% in the second period and the overall changes in 20 years occurred at a rate of 114.43% or equivalent to an annual rate of 5.72%. In conclusion, the landscape is dominated by short vegetation but is decreasing with expanding canopy while built-up area has the biggest change and influence. The study further concludes that the rate of change is faster in the second period than in the first one and is expected to occur more rapidly in the coming years as urbanization progresses with population growth. Such immense landscape transformation is chiefly driven by anthropogenic activities which have implications to environmental management for which recommendations based on the findings are provided.