Assessment of the environmental impacts of conflict-driven Internally Displaced Persons

What is it about?

This study examines the environmental impacts of conflict-driven Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) on land use and land cover changes in the Kas locality of Darfur, Sudan. The article explores how conflict-induced displacement impact land use and land cover, using Sentinel-2 satellite images, the study further analyses changes from 2016 to 2022, employing differents machine learning classifiers like Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) for image classification.

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Photo by Levi Meir Clancy on Unsplash

Photo by Levi Meir Clancy on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The key findings and implications are: Significant vegetation loss: The study revealed a substantial decline in vegetation cover (35.33% or 10.20 km2) over a six-year period from 2016 to 2022. This loss is primarily attributed to the resettlement of IDPs and their dependence on forest resources for livelihood. Expansion of agricultural land and built-up areas: There was a notable increase in agricultural land (17.53% or 98.12 km2) and built-up areas (60.53% or 5.29 km2) between 2016 and 2022. This expansion is linked to the increased food demand and settlement needs of the growing IDP population. Impact of IDPs on natural resources: The study highlights that areas within 10 km of IDP settlements were more severely affected in terms of vegetation loss compared to areas further away. This underscores the direct impact of IDP settlements on local ecosystems. Environmental sustainability concerns: The changes in land use and land cover have significant implications for environmental sustainability, potentially affecting the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG13 (climate action), and SDG15 (life on land). Conflict and environmental degradation nexus: The study demonstrates how armed conflicts can lead to environmental degradation through population displacement, highlighting the complex relationship between social conflicts and ecological changes. Need for targeted interventions: The findings emphasize the urgent need for policy responses and interventions to address the environmental consequences of conflict-driven displacement. This includes sustainable agricultural practices and regulated utilization of natural resources. Importance of peace for environmental conservation: The study suggests that peace efforts could offer long-lasting solutions by allowing IDPs to return home, thereby reducing pressure on vegetation cover in settlement areas. Contribution to decision-making: The study provides valuable data that can aid decision-makers in planning restoration of degraded areas and preventing further environmental degradation, thus promoting long-term environmental sustainability. This research highlights the complex interplay between human conflict, forced displacement, and environmental changes, underscoring the need for integrated approaches to address both humanitarian and ecological challenges in conflict-affected regions.