Population driven changes in land use in Zimbabwe's Gutu district of Masvingo province: Some lessons from recent history

A hybrid approach comprising literature review, field investigation and interpretation of multi-date panchromatic aerial photographs at the 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 scales over four time slices between 1963 and 1997 was used to investigate the environmental impacts of increasing population density in Zimbabwe's Serima communal lands of Gutu district in Masvingo province. Results indicate deteriorating environmental trends in the form of deforestation, increased soil erosion, decline in grazing resources and extension of arable land into marginal areas. With high population density initiating unsustainable land use practices, relieving population pressure through land redistribution promises to offer long-term alternatives.