Nobert Tafadzwa Mukomberanwa, Briliant Makuwe Chibura, Honest Komborero Madamombe, Last Keche, Trevor Muchenjekwa, Diarson Ishmael Tsuro, Takudzwa Praisegod Murwadzi, Blessings Moyo, Munyaradzi Kadzere, Kelvin Charles Muredzi, Tadiwanashe Blessed Gwara, Amon Diwa, Melody Mutasa, Triumph Mugove Mukume, Nichol Mudzimiri, Mutsawashe Tadiwanashe Muzari, Osley Mudzanirwa, Wesley Tanatswa Mandonye, Akasha Alice Alison, Innocent Maradza, Ellen Boys, Nyasha Chelsea Madanhe, Brian Chinyanga, Tafadzwa Nyamahumba, Brendon Mharakurwa, Mitchell Chido Mugaviri, Active Farai Moses Nyamadzawo, Tinotenda Nyasha Mukinya, Dexter Farai Chigumira, Sarah Mudiwa Chikowero, Trevor Tinashe Chipfu, Mercy Joyline Mbarami, Michael Gwenzi, Florence Guchu, Kudakwashe Manyika, Mitchell Tendesai Zimunya, Munashe Manyika, Thembeka Sopuka, Andrew Takunda Bangwayo, Charlotte Tadiwa Taruvinga, Zvikomborero Samuel Mboto, Tsitsi Tamia Muchepa, Makanaka Muradzi, Isheanopa Pasco Gatsi, Courtney Mapuranga, Munyaradzi Chirova, Olinda Samantha Bisenti, Archiford Takaindisa, Wellington Muradzikwa, Fidelis Duncan Dzambo, Maxwell Parirewa, Taurai Allan Taru, Jeremiah Thabeti, Delight Panashe Mandiyanike, Takudzwa Chirambasadza
The persistence of wildlife in the Midlands Black Rhino Conservancy (MBRC), Zimbabwe, highlights both species resilience and landscape value, yet escalating anthropogenic pressures demand urgent conservation action. This study aimed to: (i) model land use/land cover (LULC) changes from 1985–2055 using multi-decadal Landsat imagery; (ii) assess the frequency, distribution and impact of fires between 2010–2025; (iii) evaluate vegetation disturbance from mining through a Bayesian framework; and (iv) determine the status and abundance of key wildlife via systematic transect surveys. Future scenarios were predicted using cellular automata–artificial neural networks (CA-ANN). Fire regimes were analysed using Landsat, FIRMS and dNBR indices, while Bayesian regression models quantified mining impacts. Species distribution was modelled with MaxEnt. Results show shrinking suitable habitats, with many species increasingly confined to fragmented populations. Despite these challenges, the findings underscore opportunities for proactive biodiversity management through robust local and international conservation policies.