Assessment of the land use and land cover (LULC) change in the Magaliesberg Biosphere (MB)

Abstract

Datasets underpin an MSc dissertation titled "Spatial prioritization of conservation efforts in the Magaliesberg Biosphere based on land use and land cover change dynamics." This study assessed land use and land cover (LULC) change in the Magaliesberg Biosphere (MB) from 2007 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2024 to identify where conservation action should be prioritised and to evaluate how the zoning system is performing under long-term pressure. The analysis used medium-resolution (resampled to 20 m) Landsat imagery for all years, specifically Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) for 2007, Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) for 2016, and Landsat 9 Operational Land Imager-2 (OLI-2) for 2024. A mixed-method approach was employed. This mixed-method approach captured clear conversions, subtle ecological shifts, and repeated disturbance that may not yet be reflected in LULC classes. A field survey was conducted to create ground truth points that assessed the accuracy of the 2024 LULC dataset. Persistent hotspots occurred along the Rustenburg mining belt, the northern agricultural plains, and the eastern peri-urban fringe. CVA identified emerging pressure south of the N4 highway, where small-scale mining and chrome washing are moving towards the Magaliesberg Protected Natural Environment (MPNE) boundary.<br>