outlet

(Zip, 1.3 kb)

Overall Objective

To develop of Geographical Information System (GIS) and spatially referenced information about the Kagera river basin in Rwanda.

Kagera lakes and wetland

Specific Objectives

  Develop a computerised GIS (ideally using the ESRI Arc suite of software) including (see list in Annex 1):

• base-line data at appropriate scales, upon which agricultural and other land users and decision makers can make sound, accurate and timely decisions;

• available “legacy” (historical) data, to quantify changing elements in the landscape, particularly vegetation, land use and population datasets.

And

• be able to incorporate new datasets as they become available(e.g. results from transect / comparative field studies);

• enable projections to be made (e.g. extrapolate results of beneficial projects) in time and space across the basin, by developing scenarios;

• be developed with a view to linking the Rwanda system with systems covering the Kagera river basin in Tanzania, Uganda and possibly Burundi.

The data held in the GIS should be reliable, verifiable, geo-referenced, up-datable and accompanied by appropriate “meta data” (information on the methodology used to collect the data, limitations of the data etc). The system must also be capable of including / analysing satellite imagery, as this is likely to form a major source of spatial data at the synoptic scale of the watershed and can be used in multi-temporal analyses (e.g. of vegetation - which reflects the effects of a range of changing factors, including climate, soils, topography and human influence). The focus will be to gain a good understanding of the status and trends in the cropping and agro pastoral systems and their effects on the wider environment. The information should serve different needs such as information on resources degradation, sustainable use and productivity (agricultural, forest and wetland products), food security, and habitats and use in biodiversity / poverty mapping).

(The centre should undertake to be responsible for the secure storage of spatial data, including use of a reliable back-up power supply and regular “backing-up” of the system to protect from fluctuations in power supply / computer viruses etc.)

  Begin spatial analysis of the data collected, including interpretation of any available up-to-date digital satellite images. During PDF-B (to March 2006), the priority is to begin to quantify the processes working across the river basin in Rwanda, linking poverty and environmental degradation to get an understanding of the driving forces of change, specific pressures on resources and locate areas undergoing most serious degradation and areas/communities where sustainable resources management practices are being implemented. (See Poverty mapping approach detailed in Annex 2.)

  Working with the National Project Coordinator, other Rwandan contributors and the IC-NRM/GIS, contribute to the TAMP Rwanda field assessments, to verify the diagnosis at local/community; land use/farming system and river basin level scales to provide data for GIS analyses of the effects of projects / interventions and even policies (to the extent possible), in time and space across the river basin.

  Contribute to collecting the database inventory of available reports, maps, aerial photograph, satellite images, digital data and scientific articles related to land use and natural resources management in the Kagera basin; also relevant studies addressing human & land use, resource management, degradation and agro-biodiversity which have been conducted in recent years in the Kagera basin and in other areas of Rwanda to build on national experience and knowledge of assessment and monitoring in developing the project baseline. [These are likely to include relevant reports and assessment of certain components of the agro-biodiversity including fisheries and forestry, e.g. animal and plant genetic resources, wetlands, livestock stocking densities etc. as well as measures of land degradation, population movements and settlements.]

  Prepare two reports on the analyses, including digital maps (at appropriate scales) and quantitative analyses. The first report (due **** weeks after the start of the contract) should include an analysis of the situation today (baseline) and, where possible, recent change. The final report, due by January 2006 (note - date to be agreed with AGLL, FAORAF, FAO in country) should include predictions following agreed scenarios (with project / without project) for use by the project team. This will be developed through workshops and linkages with a range of technical experts with in depth knowledge of the agro-environmental and human development issues in the river basin. The contracted institute would play a key role in the workshop for generating the knowledge required [This is likely to include mapping of the trends of land use change / land degradation and pressures on biodiversity and agro-ecosystems in the river basin. The diagnoses of the causes/ factors of land degradation, changes in farming systems and resources by specific land units should also indicate successful response and remediation measures by communities/projects, complied in consultation with the TAMP National Project Co-ordinator.]