Unveiling the resilience of unprotected wetlands through a comprehensive wetland health index assessment, Rwanda: The case of Kiyonga wetland.

Abstract

Wetlands are vital ecosystems providing numerous ecological services, yet they face increasing threats from anthropogenic activities and environmental changes. Thus, monitoring and evaluation of their status is crucial to ensure sustainable uses. This study focuses on assessing wetland health in Kigoya wetland located in the western province of Rwanda by employing the Wetland Health Index, a multivariable approach integrating Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing by analyzing land use and land cover (LULC) spanning four decades (1990-2023). Moreover, a comprehensive Wetland Health Index was developed using Analytic Hierarchical Processes (AHP) amalgamating environmental and climatic factors to assess wetland resilience and vulnerabilities. Significant transformations in the wetland landscape were unveiled, including notable expansions of built-up areas and declines in bare land. Significant transformations in the wetland landscape were unveiled, due to dynamic conversion from natural conditions to man-made environment. Statistical analyses of the index revealed diverse wetland health statuses, with fair health comprising 76.89 Ha (45.35% of total area), good health covering 32.27 Ha (19.03%), poor health occupying 53.24 Ha (31.40%), and critical health encompassing 0.63 Ha (0.37%). These findings provide information on the status, health, and restoration potentials of Kigoya wetlands and similar ecosystems. The WHI index is useful for advocating for integrated conservation efforts to safeguard the wetland’s ecological integrity and resilience.