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Land cover changes along the coastal marine ecosystems of Zanzibar
No full textThis article is also available at http://www.aessweb.com/journals/5003The coastal marine ecosystem of Zanzibar is experiencing a decline of natural habitats and biodiversity. due to the changes in land use and land cover caused by increasing human. This study investigates the changes that have occurred between 2001 and 2011. Landsat ETM+ images were used to locate and quantify the changes. The intensity analysis method was employed to get quantitative information at interval and category levels only. The interval level examined how the size and speed of change vary across time intervals, and the category level examined how the size and intensity of gross losses and gross gains in each category vary across categories for each time interval. Results show that between 2001 and 2011, mangrove, cultivated land/shrubs and bareland covers declined by 127.4 ha, 46.0 ha and 10.2 ha respectively while mixed trees, “jangwa la bahari” and water increased by 147.2ha, 35.8ha and 0.6 ha respectively in Kisakasaka. Between the same time, cultivated land/shrubs, mangrove and mixed trees covers declined by 262.2 ha, 86.3 ha, 49.4 ha respectively while rice pads, barelends, “jangwa la bahari” and water has been increased by 165.6 ha, 109.7 ha, 103.9 ha and 18.7 ha respectively in Bumbwini.Norwegian embassy in Tanzani
Socio-economic gains from participatory forest management and their influence on REDD implementation in Iringa district
No full textMasters ThesisThis study was conducted to assess the potentials of forests under PFM to local
communities and their influence on management of the REDD initiative in Iringa District.
Specifically, it aimed at assessing the community members' access to different forest
products and analyzing contribution of the resource to total household income. Data from
120 households were collected in four villages of Itagutwa, Kiwele, Kitapilimwa and
Mfyome in Kalenga Division. Purposeful and random sampling techniques were used to
select the forests and households respectively, where their information was captured by
structured questionnaire and key informant interview. Descriptive statistics and Gini
coefficients were used to analyze the collected data. Results show that forests contributes
about 12.4% of household income and more than 97% of household use forest resource
mainly as a source of energy and building poles. No household confirmed to depend on
forest as the only source of income rather they involve themselves in other activities like
farming, livestock keeping, business and wage laborers. Households use and harvest
forests products differently, those who are considered to be wealth are able to harvest and process timber and non timber products while the poor only depend on it as a source of subsistent foods and medicine. It has been also found that women earn less compared to men from forest resource because more income comes from honey, timber and charcoal activities that are largely undertaken by men. The study concludes that that the existing type of forest management has not been efficient and equidistributional enough to serve as a motivation for REDD implementation, coming into the recommendation that more awareness is needed to the households to be well informed about REDD requirements and what it entails.Climate Change Impact, Adaptation and Mitigation (CCIAM) programme in Tanzani
Agro-pastoral coping strategies to climate change and variability in Ilemela and Magu districts
No full textMasters ThesisEffects of climate change vary across regions, farming systems, households and
individuals. Agro-pastoralists, through experimentation over time, have developed
different strategies to cope with climate change and variability. In Ilemela and Magu
Districts, little has been done in evaluating coping strategies developed to address the
impacts of climate variability to agro-pastoralism and the socio-economic factors
influencing their coping capacity. This study therefore highlighted on the coping
strategies that agro-pastoralists in the two districts are employing to counteract the effects
of climate change and variability. Data were collected through focus group discussions
and in-depth interviews using questionnaire which was administered to 120 households in
selected villages. Analysis was through descriptive statistics, multinomial logistic
regression model, complemented with the time-series analysis of annual and seasonal
climatic values. The results of analysis indicated that households were aware of climate
variability and mentioned increase in unpredictability of rainfall patterns, decline in
natural forest cover, disappearance of some species, increase in temperature and
incidences of droughts leading to drying-up of some rivers and springs as indicators of
climate change. The available coping strategies included migration (87%), diversification
of activities (78%), splitting herds (55%), making boreholes (50%) and using tap water
(65%). The socio-economic factors that significantly influenced the adaptive capacity
(p<0.05) were herd size, number of years lived and age of the head of household as they
had a significance level of 0.032, 0.047 and 0.011, respectively. The study recommends a
need for appropriate interventions ensuring management of rangeland and water
availability so as to improve livestock productivity. Socio-economic factors spotted can
be a determining factor in upgrading and introduction of more advanced technologies and strategies.Lake Victoria Research (VicRes) Progra
Spatially explicit assessment of ecosystem resilience: an approach to adapt to climate changes
No full textThis article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/798428The ecosystem resilience plays a key role in maintaining a steady flow of ecosystem services and enables quick and flexible responses
to climate changes, and maintaining or restoring the ecosystem resilience of forests is a necessary societal adaptation to climate
change; however, there is a great lack of spatially explicit ecosystem resilience assessments. Drawing on principles of the ecosystem
resilience highlighted in the literature, we built on the theory of dissipative structures to develop a conceptual model of the
ecosystem resilience of forests. A hierarchical indicator system was designed with the influencing factors of the forest ecosystem
resilience, including the stand conditions and the ecological memory, which were further disaggregated into specific indicators.
Furthermore, indicator weights were determined with the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the coefficient of variation method.
Based on the remote sensing data and forest inventory data and so forth, the resilience index of forests was calculated.The result
suggests that there is significant spatial heterogeneity of the ecosystem resilience of forests, indicating it is feasible to generate large scale
ecosystem resilience maps with this assessment model, and the results can provide a scientific basis for the conservation of
forests, which is of great significance to the climate change mitigation.This research was supported by the Project of the National
Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant no. 41071343),
The National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program)
(Grant no. 2010CB950900), and the Key Project in the
National Science & Technology Pillar Program of China (no.
2013BAC03B00). Data support from the projects funded by
the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant no.
71225005, and Grant no.40801231
Water quality index assessment under climate change
No full textThis article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/jwarp.2014.66052Surface water quality may change in the future due to climatic variability as natural processes will
most likely be modified by anthropogenic activities. As such, stream temperature is very likely to
change as well which will impact on surface water quality and aquatic ecosystem dynamics. The
present study focused on improving modelling of surface water quality indices and water quality
parameters under various climate change scenarios in relationship with stream temperature. Future
climate data were extracted from the Canadian Coupled General Climate Model (CGCM 3.1/
T63) under the greenhouse emission scenarios B1 and A2, as defined by the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). This study illustrates the usefulness of the stream temperature
models, coupled with Climate Change Scenarios to predict the evolution of future stream water
temperature regimes and associated biogeochemical water quality parameters pertaining to drinking
water quality. The specific objectives of the present study were to analyze the surface water
quality of 15 rivers in New Brunswick (Canada) on the basis of 9 parameters under climate change.
A Weighed Method and the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) Method were
used to assess the water quality for each river under present and future climate. The knowledge
gained from this study will enable engineers and water resources managers to better understand
river thermal regimes and climate change impact on water quality related to Drinking Surface
Water.The New Brunswick Environmental Trust Fun
Gender Consideration in Sustainable Land Management Project Activities on the Highlands of Kilimanjaro Region: Lessons and Future Outlook
No full textalso available at http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?paperID=46489The paper contributes on understanding gender considerations into Sustainable Land Management
(SLM) project activities on the Highlands of Kilimanjaro Region. Specifically, it documents
gender profile and assesses the project activities along with gender considerations, where critical
issues, risks and opportunities in relation to gender mainstreaming in SLM project activities are
highlighted. It evaluates also the capacity for mainstreaming gender issues into the institutions
involved in project implementation. The study employed structured interview and consultative
meetings methods with key actors identified. A total of 500 respondents were interviewed in the
project catchment areas in the region. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social
Scientists (SPSS). The paper winds up by consolidating key strategic areas for intervention as future outlook and lessons which manifests benchmarks for the Kilimanjaro region to adopt a more programmatic approach to sustainable land management and elsewhere of the same in other cities with the same context in Sub-Saharan Africa.The authors of this paper benefited from various inputs made by different institutions and people to whom we
are indebted and wish to thank towards making this research project real. First indepth thanks go to the Government
of Tanzania, with support from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) through UNDP for financial
support to carry this study, without them it could have been impossible. Second the Kilimanjaro Regional Assistant
Secretary, The Sustainable Land Management team and District Facilitating teams in the region for their
valuable information platform sharing, draft document reviews and other logistic arrangements. Special thanks go to Dr. Fransis Mkanda, Mr. Damasi Masologo to mention a few for their technical expertise during the study. Further, we would like to thank Moshi University College of Cooperative and Business Studies management and staff for their valuable support. Mr. Edmund Zakayo, Gaudence Kapinga, Ms. Dorice Malisa and other field enumerators to mention a few deserve more thanks for their involvement in data collection and analysis. Moreover, Local communities in Rombo, Moshi Rural, Same, Siha, Moshi Urban and Mwanga District Councils in Kilimanjaro region deserved more thanks for sparing their time to share information during data collection phase. We thank you all
Local Knowledge on the Influence of land use/cover changes and conservation threats on Avian community in the Kilombero Wetlands, Tanzania
No full textLocal knowledge of the history and ecology of wetland ecosystems is very useful in wetland re-
sources management, especially when other historical ecological information is not available and
can be integrated with scientific knowledge to introduce better management of resources. The
aims of this paper were to assess existing local knowledge on land use/cover changes in the Ki-
lombero wetlands, thereafter investigate local knowledge on its effect on avian population in the
wetland and identify factors influencing local knowledge on such changes in the study area. Ran-
dom sampling was used to obtain representative sample population for this study. Structured
questionnaire and focus group discussions were used to extract information from local people in
six villages. Study results from multi-response analysis showed that natural forests had been con-
verted into cropland and bushed grassland, grassland to crop land, grassland to grazed land, for-
est to settlement and grassland to settlement. Land use change was singled out as primary cause of
decrease in avian community in the wetland. Threats to the conservation of avian species were
identified as livestock grazing, drought, use of poison, traps and bush meat hunting for food. Age
and education level were seen as determinants of household’s knowledge on the ecological
changes. This pool of existing knowledge is important among wetland users and stakeholders in
order to generate conservation strategies of the wetland ecosystem.Norwegian Programme for Development, Research and Education (NUFU)
program through the project NUFU-TZ 2007/10229
Multi-level policy dialogues, processes, and actions: challenges and opportunities for national REDD+ Safeguards Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV)
No full textThis article is available at www.mdpi.com/journal/forestsREDD+ social safeguards have gained increasing attention in numerous forums.
This paper reviews the evolution of multi-level policy dialogues, processes, and actions
related to REDD+ social safeguards (e.g., Cancun Safeguards 1–5) among policy makers,
civil society organizations, and within the media in Brazil, Indonesia and Tanzania, three
countries with well advanced REDD+ programs. We find that progress on core aspects of
social safeguards is uneven across the three countries. Brazil is by far the most advanced
having drafted a REDD+ social safeguards policy. Both Brazil and Indonesia have benefited
from progress made by strong sub-national entities in the operationalization of REDD+
safeguards including free prior and informed consent (FPIC), participation, and benefit
sharing. Tanzania has weakly articulated how social safeguards will be operationalized and
has a more top-down approach. We conclude that in all three countries, measuring,
reporting and verifying progress on social safeguards is likely to be a complex issue. Stakeholders with vested interests in REDD+ social safeguards operate in polycentric rather
than nested systems, suggesting that aggregation of information from local to national-scale
will be a challenge. However, polycentric systems are also likely to support more transparent
and comprehensive safeguards systems. Clear direction from the international community
and financing for REDD+ safeguard MRV is essential if REDD+ social safeguards are to
be meaningfully integrated into forest-based climate mitigation strategies.Norwegian Agency for
Development Cooperation (Norad), the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the
Department for International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom, the European Commission
(EC), the CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry (CRP-FTA), and funding
partners who have contributed to the CGIAR Fund
Climate change adaptation for smallholder farmers in rural communities: the case of Mkomazi sub-catchment, Tanzania
No full textPhD ThesisToday, climate change is a global challenge that attracts much attention and debates at all
levels. The current body of knowledge informs that human development quest has increased
concentration of GHGs into the atmosphere thereby causing global warming. Most of the initial
efforts to address climate change concentrated on mitigation. However, during the last decade,
calls for implementing adaptation actions to deal with the impacts being experienced increased.
Thus, adaptation is now a priority for developing countries particularly LDCs. Agriculture is
an important sector worldwide but nowhere other than in the developing world is it the most
crucial aspect to deal with. However, this sector is one of the most vulnerable and sensitive to
change and variability of the climate. Significance of smallholder agriculture on livelihoods of
a majority poor in the developing world and its vulnerability to impacts of climate change and
variability motivated this study.
Changes in farming practices in the Mkomazi sub-catchment, Tanzania (for example, shifts in
crop production areas, crop growing patterns and type of crops grown most) were reported and
observed. However, the real factors motivating such changes in the area remained unknown.
Thus, the objective of this research was to explore, analyze and explain factors that motivate
smallholder farmers in Mkomazi sub-catchment to change their farming practices overtime. It
also sought to analyze socio-economic implications of the changes and recommend appropriate
policy and strategic actions to assist smallholder farmers adapt and enhance their resilience.
Using a mixed research approach and five data collection methods (household questionnaire
survey, experts’ interviews, smallholder farmers FGD, rainfall and temperature records as well
as stakeholder validation workshop), the study attempted to answer the following five research
questions: Are there any possible changes in the local climate and how are they perceived and
explained by smallholder farmers? Are there any changes in farming practices in the area?
What factors motivate decisions to change farming practice? What are socio-economic
implications of the changes in the local climate at household and community level? What are
policy and strategic interventions to support smallholder farmers to adapt and enhance their
long-term resilience?
Results from the study revealed that the state of climate in the area is changing; rainfall shows
a decreasing trend while temperature indicates an increasing trend. Smallholder farmers have
also been changing their farming practices overtime. These farmers have introduced new crops
and crop varieties; adopted crops and crop varieties, which are shorter cycle, drought tolerant
and marketable; and they have also stopped cultivation of some crops as well as crop varieties.
Smallholder farmers are engaging in various economic activities to diversify their income
sources. The changes were motivated by multiple factors but the leading included changes in
the climate, markets and high living costs and demand for personal and household needs.
Change and variability of climate is the most dominant factor.
Changes in the local climate and subsequent changes in farming practices had mostly negative
implications at household and community levels. They include water shortage, decrease in
income, food insecurity, threats to human health, social conflicts, increase in deforestation and
forest degradation, and deterioration of life quality. Farmers recommended various
interventions to support them to adapt in the following thematic areas: research and
development to enhance resilience to changes in rainfall and temperature regimes;
strengthening sustainable management of water resources to deal with increasing dry
conditions and unpredictability of rainfall; and support diversification of household incomes
through less climate sensitive income options. Other recommended aspects include enhancing
access to incentives, subsidies and introducing crop insurance to farmers; and enhancing
farmers’ adaptive capacity through provision of technological and technical support like
adaptation technologies, early warnings, education and training.
Using a combination of three categories of data (agro-ecological, social and meteorological)
from five sources (questionnaire, interviews, FGD, climate records and a workshop), the study
successfully brings up multiple considerations taken into account by smallholder farmers to
make farm production decisions; and heterogeneity of crops and crop varieties for four villages
within similar agro-ecological characteristics. The study recommends use of incentives
mechanisms such as REDD+ and PES in addressing problems of unsustainable resource use
while increasing availability of ecosystem goods and services like water. It also recommends
a multi-stakeholders approach in addressing issues of awareness creation and adaptation
education to smallholder farmers; availability of inputs, markets, and institutional capacity
building. The study emphasizes on use of available opportunities at all levels to support
smallholder farmers to adapt and enhance their long term resilience.
Finally, the study recommends a scientific investigation to model climate variables against crop
production to clearly identify the extent to which changes in the local climate economically
affect smallholder farmers’ production and incomes. In addition, it is important to identify the
contribution of each of the several economic activities and income sources farmers depend on,
i.e. crop production, remittance, charcoal making, animal keeping, small-scale fishing, small
business, tourism, selling labour, etc. These two studies will fill the gaps, which the current
study did not manage to cover.The German Exchange Academic Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst-DAAD), through Clim-A-Net- The North-South-Network on Climate Proofing of Vulnerable Regions projec
Assessing vulnerability of food availability to climate change in Hai district, Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania
No full textThis article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ajcc.2014.33025Climate change has a large effect on agriculture sector and, consequently, on the food available for
residents of Hai District and other regions of Tanzania. Based on four decades of climate data, this
study assessed the impacts of climate change and its potential vulnerability on food availability in
Hai District, Kilimanjaro region. The results from this study suggest an association between food
crop production and variation in climate (temperature and rainfall) in Hai District. Considering
the aspect of rainfall and temperature, we demonstrate that rainfall and temperature have significant
relationship with maize and bean outputs. The rainfall had a strong positive association
with maize and beans production and whereas temperature had inverse relationship with maize
and beans yields. With the annual loss 0.01 million per year from cattle and
goats/sheep respectively and the additional annual loss of 10.8 million from maize
and bean crops respectively in Hai District during years of severe and prolonged droughts, our
study highlighted how severe droughts can dramatically affect agriculture production and food
security in the area. To mitigate climate change and provide effective adaptation measures, it is
imperative to develop a broader research framework, which integrates bio-physical and socioeconomic
aspects of food systems which addresses its vulnerability and thereby improve food security