Browsing by Author "Liwenga, E."

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Analysis of climate variability, perceptions and coping strategies of Tanzanian coastal forest dependent communities
(2013) Kashaigili, J. J.; Levira, P.; Liwenga, E.; Mdemu, M. V.
Climate variability and change are among the biggest challenges of the 21st century. Like in many other areas globally, the coastal communities of Tanzania have always been facing climatic variability at various time scales. Using focus group discussion and a household survey, this study analyzes the perceptions of climate variability and change and the strategies for coping and adaptation by the selected coastal rural and peri-urban communities in Tanzania. The perception of climate variability and change is complemented with the time-series analysis of rainfall and temperature data from Julius Nyerere International Airport Met. station and Kisarawe using Instant Statistical Software. Results indicate that households are aware of climate variability and identify indicators of climate change and variability as being decreasing rainfall trends, increasing incidences of droughts, unpredictable rainfall patterns, disappearance of wetlands and failure to predict on-set of rainy season using traditional knowledge. Households primarily attribute reduced crop yields to changes in rainfall pattern and increasing incidences of drought leading to soil moisture stress. The implications are that the agriculture dependent households are now food insecure. As a way of coping to the observed changes, the coastal communities among others have shifted to production of high value horticultural crops and use of forest resources. Nevertheless, the increased use of forest resources is threatening the existence of coastal forests and contributes to the decline of forest resources and disappearance of wildlife in the forest reserves. It is concluded that the communities studied are aware of climate issues as revealed from perceived indicators of climate variability and changes. The results from statistical analysis of 30 years climatic data are consistent with community’s perception of climate variability and change. The study recommends examining the present coping strategies for the sustainability of the coastal forests and in designing of alternative adaptive strategies such as alternative energy options, crop diversification and environmental friendly activities such as beekeeping.
Dynamics of land use and land cover changes in the Pugu and Kazimzumbwi Forest Reserves
(Proceedings of the first Climate Change Impacts, Mitigation and Adaptation Programme Scientific Conference, 2012) Mdemu, M.; Kashaigili, J. J.; Lupala, J.; Levira, P.; Liwenga, E.; Nduganda, A.; Mwakapuja, F.
Urban growth contributes to land use and land cover changes in protected forest reserves primarily through conversion of peri-urban areas into settlements, agriculture and unsustainable harvesting of ecosystem services to meet demands of the population in the peri-urban and urban areas. It has been widely argued that increased anthropogenic activities have altered the forest cover for Pugu and Kazimzumbwi Forest Reserves. Nonetheless, these arguments are little supported by quantitative data. A study on the dynamics of land use and cover changes in the Pugu and Kazimzumbwi Forest Reserves therefore investigated long-term changes that have occurred as a result of human activities in the areas for the periods 1985-1995 and 1995-2010. Landsat TM and ETM+ images were used to locate and quantify the changes using remote sensing and GIS techniques. Perceptions of local people on historical changes and drivers for the changes were also collected from three neighbouring villages and integrated in the assessment. The analysis was augmented by statistical analysis of 30 years historical rainfall and temperature records from Dar es Salaam and Kisarawe Climatic Stations. The study revealed remarkable decline in closed forest area in the latter period at -1.7 ha/year for Kazimzumbwi Forest Reserve (KFR) and -1.53 ha/year for Pugu Forest Reserve. The woodland variably decreased during the 1985 and 1995 period for both PFR and KFR but increased for PFR and decreased for KFR in the latter period. Unlike for closed forest and woodland, the cultivated land and built up area increased between the two periods for both forests reserves, while other covers variably increased or decreased between the years. The peoples’ perceptions and drivers for the changes are presented and discussed together with the land use and land cover change analysis. The study concludes that, there has been remarkable changes in land use and cover in the catchment and these require concerted actions to reverse the changes and enable the forest reserves contribute to REDD initiatives.