Impacts of Rural Land Use and Insect Ecological Sensitivity in Burundi

Abstract

Insects are found in almost all ecosystems and are responsible for several essential functions. They aerate the soil, pollinate blossoms, and control plant diseases. The ecological importance of insects cannot be underestimated: they form the basement of the food pyramid and affect agricultural ecosystems and human health. All organisms are co-evolved and are dependent each other. Human activities cause adverse effects in the insect´s environments. Opening forests and other natural areas for agricultural activities affect the insect ecosystems. Land, which is the foundation of human activities, is also the home of insects. Insects have been competing with humans for the products of our labor ever since the soil cultivation began. In this research, we evaluated the impact of rural land use on insect ecology. Firstly, we conducted survey (interviews) in order to discover the area and its main economic. As a complement field analysis and GIS mapping were conducted. Different land uses, types and composition of vegetation cover, and insect composition were analyzed. The most important land occupation is agriculture,  followed by settlement, and artificial forestry. We evaluated the effects of elevation, cropland, settlement, road, and nighttime light on insect ecology. We named the analysis “insect ecological sensibility” and considered it in our study area. The presence or not of protected and/or ecological corridors was also analyzed. Cropland, settlement, and artificial forestry and pastures, especially the absence of protected areas and ecological corridors, are the main points that negatively affect insect ecology in the study area. Elevation, road and nighttime light are not affecting significantly insect ecology.