Land cover change under unplanned human settlements: A study of the Chyulu Hills squatters, Kenya

▶ Rural landscapes under unplanned and/or squatter settlements may experience unprecedented rates and patterns of change in land cover. ▶ Combining empirical spatial analyses with community surveys can reveal important details in the process of land cover change, and can bridge an important knowledge gap in longitudinal studies where spatial and temporal gaps in remote sensing products are a constraint. ▶ Engaging squatters and illegal immigrants in land use planning may hold the potential for reduced conflicts in resource use where such settlements are in competition with conservation goals.