Integrating geospatial tools in mapping forest fire severity and burned areas in the Western Usambara Mountain Forests, Lushoto, Tanzania

Despite the numerous negative effects of tropical forest fires in Tanzania, the causes and effects remain insufficiently documented. This study aimed to develop an integrated approach of using geospatial tools and socio-economic data to assess and map forest fire burn severity in West Usambara Mountain Forests. Three approaches including Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), satellite image analysis, and direct observation were used to generate information on spatial and temporal forest fire severity. Findings revealed that agricultural activities (44.5%) and charcoal production (21.1%) are the primary causes of these fires. Burn severity maps were created using the differenced Normalized Burned Ratio (dNBR) index, and the combined high and low severity areas ranged from 32.120% to 20.31%. The differenced Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (dNDVI) maps showed the combined high and low severity areas of 36.30% to 21.10% of the total study sites respectively. Post-fire NDVI time series analyses revealed a sharp decrease from 0.21 to 0.36 in all burned areas, indicating significant vegetation loss. Therefore, this study demonstrated the potential of integrating Remote Sensing and Socio-economic aspects highlighting the need for improved forest fire management through sustainable practices that balance economic and ecological considerations, offering insights that can be upscaled to other forest areas for effective management.