TITLE:
Rapid Urbanization and Environment Management in Nkafu Municipality, Eastern DR Congo
AUTHORS:
Alain Tshimbalanga, Patient M. Zamukulu, Liévin Chirhalwirwa, Katcho Karume
KEYWORDS:
Urbanization, Environmental Management, Land Planning, Land Reorganization, Nkafu, Bukavu
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.11 No.10,
October
20,
2023
ABSTRACT: Rapid and uncontrolled
urbanization as well as urban land management are major constraints to land
planning in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A household data collection and analysis was carried
out in 283 random households in the
Nkafu municipality, eastern DR Congo, to assess the local community’s perception of rapid urbanization and its impact on land
policy and management of the built landscape. Data of socio-demographics
characteristics, rapid urbanization,
and environment management data were collected
and analyzed using XLStat version 2019. In addition, the study area location map, land use and cover change maps were generated
using ArcMap 10.8. Results indicate
that landowners are dominant and, build simple houses with unsustainable
building materials (i.e. wooden plank) obtained locally. In addition, land
management is not appreciated by local communities, due to anarchic construction due to
lack of financial resources generating thus an increasing amount of urban
waste, which is poorly managed. The study suggests, urban roads renew, building in conformity with urban planning and building regulations, potable water
supply and health services availability to improve the study area. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) use, would
provide spatial information on land planning in the study area.