Toward a framework for monitoring land degradation in Rwanda

The use of indicators for monitoring land degradation has been proposed and justified over the last 30 years. Although a number of indicators and ways of monitoring them have been proposed individually, there has been no real suggestion of a systematic way of integrating these indicators. Often only the physical signs of land degradation are investigated. In this study both biophysical and societal indicators will be used for analysis. Regression, Principal Components Analysis, and a Matrix method are evaluated for efficiency and validity in monitoring land degradation in Rwanda based on the integrated use of indicators. Data from the Michigan State University Rwanda Society-Environment Project was used in this study as an example of available real world data. The results of the three methods was compared to those of the original project to assess the validity of this study's findings. The Matrix method was found to be the most useful method for monitoring land degradation.