Exploring Lesotho's Environmental Indicators with a Shiny Web Application

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Lesotho is a small country in Southern Africa with a diverse landscape that includes mountains, valleys, and grasslands. The country is also home to a variety of unique plant and animal species. However, Lesotho's environment is facing a number of challenges, including climate change, land degradation, and pollution.

A new Shiny web application provides a user-friendly interface for exploring environmental indicators in Lesotho. This app is code-named 'TIKOLOHO' literally translated as environment. The application uses a variety of data sources, including soil organic carbon, vegetation, and fire data, to generate maps, charts, and tables that illustrate the current state of Lesotho's environment.

The application is divided into six tabs:

  • ABOUT THE APP: This tab provides information about the purpose of the app, the data sources used, and the methods used to calculate the indicators.

  • SOC MAP: This tab displays a map of Lesotho's average soil organic carbon per district. Users can filter the map by soil organic carbon class and view labels for each district.

  • WATER QUALITY: This tab displays a map of Lesotho's Metolong Dam, with areas colored according to the Normalized Difference Chlorophyll Index (NDCI). Users can use a slider to filter the map by NDCI value.

  • SPECIES CHECKLIST: This tab displays a table of the herbaceous species that have been recorded in Lesotho's rangelands. Users can sort the table by scientific name or common name.

  • RANGELAND SPECIES DISTRIBUTION: This tab displays a leaflet map of Lesotho, with markers indicating the distribution of a selected species. Users can select a species from a dropdown menu to view its distribution.

  • BURNT AREAS: This tab displays a map of Lesotho's Sebapala Cattle Post areas, with areas colored according to the Differenced Normalized Burn Ratio (DNBR). DNBR is a measure of fire severity, with higher values indicating more severe fires.

The application is easy to use and provides a wealth of information about Lesotho's environment. It is a valuable tool for researchers, policymakers, and the general public who are interested in learning more about the current state of Lesotho's environment.

Here are some examples of how the application can be used:

  • A researcher could use the application to identify areas of Lesotho with low soil organic carbon levels. This information could be used to develop targeted interventions to improve soil health.

  • A policymaker could use the application to track changes in water quality over time. This information could be used to develop effective policies to protect Lesotho's water resources.

  • A citizen scientist could use the application to learn more about the distribution of a particular plant or animal species in Lesotho. This information could be used to identify areas where the species is at risk and to develop conservation strategies.

Click here: TIKOLOHO to view this app

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