Browsing by Author "Munishi, P. K. T."

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Challenges and opportunities for sustaining the Usangu wetland in Tanzania
(2013) Njau, P. H.; Munishi, P. K. T.; Mbije, N. E.; Kadigi, R .M. J.
Despite the many benefits that wetlands provide, the same resources constitute one of the most threatened, degraded and lost habitats in the world. Sustaining them and restoring the lost ones require a thorough understanding of the roots of the problem and the means to overcome it. Based on this ground, a study was conducted in Usangu Plains in the southwestern part of Tanzania using various Participatory Rural Approaches (PRAs) and a semi structured questionnaire so as to explore the challenges and opportunities for achieving sustainable management of the Usangu wetland. The following major challenges were identified: a) the challenge of ensuring a year round environmental water flow to the Usangu wetlands, b) the challenge of resolving the “paradigm dichotomy” between the natural resource conservationists and local communities (i.e. the conservation dilemma of whether to adapt a complete preservation approach or a flexible conservation approach to wetland resources, by allowing multiple uses of wetland resources), c) the challenge of winning the support of the local communities or actively involving them in ensuring sustainable management of wetlands, and d) the challenge of ensuring a thorough understanding of the trade-offs between utilization and sustainability of wetland resources, given the current rate of degradation and losses. Community-based conservation was perceived as the most preferable wetland conservation approach, which seeks to co-opt the managerial capacities of the wetland resources to the local people themselves, who have been very often by-passed in the conventional approaches.
Compositional gradients of plant communities in submontane rainforest of Eastern Tanzania
(ResearchGate, 2007-01) Wentworth, T; Munishi, P. K. T.; Shear, T. H.; Temu, R. A. P. C.
This study classified plant communities and examined the environmental correlates of community compositions in two submontane rainforests on the ranges of Eastern Arc Mountains, Tanzania. Using agglomerative cluster analysis, indicator species analysis and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS) ordination, based on importance value of tree species, five distinct plant communities were identified in the Usambara and six in the Uluguru mountains. The communities corresponded closely to variations in topography and soil physical and chemical properties. The different communities occurred on clay soils in lower elevations and on sandy-clay to sandy-clay-loam soils in higher elevations. Two topographic and 14 edaphic factors were significant correlates of plant community composition. Elevation was the strongest correlate of community composition on individual mountain range followed by percent clay and soil pH. Landform index and soil Na concentration were the major factors in separating plant communities on the west Usambara and Uluguru Mountains. There were appreciable variations in plant community compositions and patterns on the two mountain ranges. The results suggest that plant community patterns in the Eastern Arc Mountains vary from one range to another and are influenced by a complex of local heterogeneity in topographic and edaphic factors. The complex of factors influencing plant distribution can have a big bearing in species restoration and biodiversity conservation in the Eastern Arc Mountains.
He role of urban forestry in mitigating climate change and performing environmental services in Tanzania
(AJOL, 2008) Munishi, P. K. T.; Mhagama, M.; Muheto, R.; Andrew, S. M.
The possibility of global climate change, due to increasing levels of CO 2 concentrations is one of the key environmental concerns today, and the role of terrestrial vegetation management has received attention as a means of mitigating carbon emissions and climate change. In this study tree dimensions and assessment of plant species composition were used to quantify the potential of urban ecosystems in acting as carbon sink and mitigating climate change through carbon assimilation and storage and the potential of the system to enhance biodiversity conservation taking Morogoro Municipality as a case study. Biomass/carbon models for trees were developed and used to predict biomass/carbon storage based on tree diameters. The model was in the form B = 0.5927DBH 1.8316 (r 2 =0.91, P< 0.01). The carbon content was computed as 50% of the tree biomass. The tree carbon for Morogoro municipality ranged from 4.63±3.39 to 21.18±12.41t km -1 length of ground surface along roads and avenues. Newly established areas seemed to have lower carbon storage potential while areas established earlier have highest carbon storage potential. About 36 different tree species growing/planted in the Morogoro municipal were identified, dominated by Senna siamea, Azadirachta indica, Polyalthia longifolia, Leucaena leucocephala, Pithecelobium dulce and Mangifera indica. Apart from being natural amenity the tree species also act as CO 2 sink through photosynthesis and areas of ex-situ conservation of plant diversity. Urban forestry can store large amount of carbon in addition to biodiversity conservation especially where they cover extensive areas like parks, gardens and avenues managed over long periods, as is the case in urban ecosystems. Improved management of urban forests will likely improve the potential for carbon storage by terrestrial vegetation as a means of mitigating CO 2 emissions and climate change as well as biodiversity conservation.
Kilombero cluster development framework (KCDF) In-depth value chain analysis
(FORCONSULT & BACAS CONSORTIUM- Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, 2023-07) Munishi, P. K. T.; Kashaigili, J. J.; Abdallah, J.; Kadigi, R. M. J.; Mutabazi, K.; Hieronimo, P.; Chunga, C.
The report presents an in-depth analysis of prioritized value chains with the Kilombero Cluster. The analysis maps the core functions of the value chain the key value chain actors, business service providers and supportive stakeholders for value chains development. An in-depth analysis of the value chains overlays key performance measures including volume of transactions, costs and revenue. The analysis establishes trends and development futures of the value chains in terms of demand shaped by mega-trends such as population, income, urbanization and climate change. The report presents the dynamics of the value chains, investment opportunities, and green growth opportunities and constraints. It further explores policy and planning spaces available and reforms for addressing the critical value constraints.
Land cover change and carbon emissions over 100 years in an African biodiversity hotspot
(Wiley Researcher Academy., 2016) Willcock, S.; Phillips, O . l.; Platts, P. J.; Swetnam, R. D.; Balmford, A.; Burgess, N. D.; Ahrends, A.; Bayliss, J.; Doggart, N.; Doody, K.; Fanning, E.; Green, J. M. H.; Hall, J.; Howell, K. l.; Lovett, J. C.; Marchant, R.; Marshall, A. R.; Mbilinyi, B.; Munishi, P. K. T.; Owen, N.; Topp-Jorgensen, E. J.; Lewis, S. l.
Agricultural expansion has resulted in both land use and land cover change (LULCC) across the tropics. However, the spatial and temporal patterns of such change and their resulting impacts are poorly understood, particularly for the presatellite era. Here, we quantify the LULCC history across the 33.9 million ha watershed of Tanzania’s Eastern Arc Mountains, using geo-referenced and digitized historical land cover maps (dated 1908, 1923, 1949 and 2000). Our time series from this biodiversity hotspot shows that forest and savanna area both declined, by 74% (2.8 million ha) and 10% (2.9 million ha), respectively, between 1908 and 2000. This vegetation was replaced by a fivefold increase in cropland, from 1.2 million ha to 6.7 million ha. This LULCC implies a committed release of 0.9 Pg C (95% CI: 0.4– 1.5) across the watershed for the same period, equivalent to 0.3 Mg C ha 1 yr 1. This is at least threefold higher than previous estimates from global models for the same study area. We then used the LULCC data from before and after protected area creation, as well as from areas where no protection was established, to analyse the effectiveness of legal protection on land cover change despite the underlying spatial variation in protected areas. We found that, between 1949 and 2000, forest expanded within legally protected areas, resulting in carbon uptake of 4.8 (3.8–5.7) Mg C ha 1, compared to a committed loss of 11.9 (7.2–16.6) Mg C ha 1 within areas lacking such protection. Furthermore, for nine protected areas where LULCC data are available prior to and following establishment, we show that protection reduces deforestation rates by 150% relative to unprotected portions of the watershed. Our results highlight that considerable LULCC occurred prior to the satellite era, thus other data sources are required to better understand long-term land cover trends in the tropics.
The potential of afromontane rain forests to mitigate carbon emissions in Tanzania
(2004-07-10) Maliondo, S. M.; Msanya, B. M.; Munishi, P. K. T.; Temu, R. P. C.
One of the major ways of mitigating carbon emissions is by emission avoidance or conserving existing carbon (C) pools on the land through slowing deforestation or improved forest harvesting practices. Field measures of tree dimensions and chemical soil analysis for organic carbon were used to quantify the carbon (C) storage potential of three tropical montane rain forest ecosystems; one on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro and two (Usambara and Uluguru) in the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania. The above ground and root carbon of trees ranged from 295±8 to 5/7 ± /7 o:'. The tree carbon storage was lowest in the Kilimanjaro forest (295±8 (SD) t h"), and highest in the Usambara forest (5/7 ± /7 (SD) t s'. The C storage in the Ulugurus was 388± /0 (SD) t «'. The soil carbon storage (/423.7 t h") in Kilimanjaro was significantly higher than that in tree biomass. On the other hand the soil carbon (4/8 ± /00 and 295 ± 53 t h") in the Usambara and Uluguru respectively) was significantly lower than the biomass carbon in both forests in the Eastern A rc forests. The potential of these ecosystems to act as carbon sink and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions is evident. This capacity for carbon storage. population pressure and the extensiveness of these forests in the region makes their conservation of global significance for carbon emission mitigation.
Potential of carbon storage in major soil types of the Miombo woodland ecosystem, Tanzania: A review
(Academic and Scientific Publishing, 2014-07) Shelukindo, H. B.; Semu, E.; Msanya, B. M.; Munishi, P. K. T.; Maliondo, S. M. S.; Singh, B. R.
This review was undertaken to explore the potential of soils to sequester and store large quantities of carbon (C) in the form of soil organic carbon (SOC) from the view point of global climate change regulation and reduced CO2 emissions. Miombo woodland forest soils are an important sink of atmospheric C. The major soils found in the Miombo woodlands include: Cambisols (Inceptisols), Leptosols, and Fluvisols (Entisols), Luvisols (Alfisols), Acrisols (Ultisols), Ferralsols (Oxisols), and Vertisols (FAO-WRB classification system and USDA- Soil Taxonomy). The soils differed in physico-chemical properties and exhibited differences in morphological characteristics, nutrient status and SOC storage, suggesting a remarkable variation in potential, constraints and management strategies for the different soil types. The review underscored the potential of soils as one among the important strategies in fighting against climate change due to the presence of soil humus that stabilizes soil organic carbon for a long period of time. Overall, Miombo woodland soils have a high potential for storing substantial SOC stocks. Miombo are composed of different tree species (average of 45 species per biome) with differences in C storage capacity. Thus, strengthening land/forest conservation could lead to build up of SOC stocks that would contribute to global climate change regulation.
Predictor variables for soil organic carbon contents in the Miombo woodlands ecosystem of Kitonga forest reserve, Tanzania
(International Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 2014-07) Shelukindo, H. B.; Semu, E.; Msanya, B. M.; Singh, B. R.; Munishi, P. K. T.
Few studies have established the variables which adequately predict SOC storage in the Miombo woodlands. Multiple regression analysis was used to establish the variables which could predict SOC contents in dominant soils of the Miombo woodlands of Kitonga Forest Reserve, Tanzania. Thirty soil minipits located at different elevations across a topographical gradient were selected, geo-referenced, excavated and samples from the natural horizons were collected for physico-chemical analysis. A total of 85 samples were collected, each representing a natural soil horizon. The results indicated that total nitrogen (TN), (P< 0.001, R2 = 0.97) and TN in combination with calcium (Ca) (P< 0.001, R2 = 0.99) were important predictor variables of SOC contents. The combination of cation exchange capacity, Zinc, Copper, clay and iron together with TN and Ca predicted well the SOC contents (P< 0.001, R2 = 0.999). Considering time and cost implications for field and laboratory analysis in predicting SOC stocks, the combination of TN and Ca that predicted the SOC contents by 99% provided equally strong prediction when compared to the combination of all the variables. Thus, proper land management strategies which enhance conservation of TN and Ca in concert would provide adequate prediction of SOC contents in soils.
Preliminary observations on the species composition and distribution of indigenous wild mushrooms in the Lake Victoria basin wetlands, Musoma, Tanzania.
(Tanzania Journal of Forestry and Nature Conservation, 2007) Munishi, P. K. T.; Olila, D.; Kabasa, J. D.; Kisovi, I.; Andrew, S. M.
Harvesting of wild mushrooms in the Lake Victoria basin for household food and inter-household trade is widespread and mushrooms contribute strongly to household food security. In spite of the importance of mushrooms to household food security the spatial and temporal distribution and ecological conditions influencing mushroom growth and availability in the Lake Victoria basin are yet to be documented adequately to enable development of plans for their conservation. The objective of this study was to document the composition, seasonal and spatial distribution of the mushrooms of the Lake Victoria basin wetlands and their habitats. Preliminary surveys identified a total of nine species most of which are of the genus Termitomyces. Generally most of the mushrooms were associated with termite mounds thus growing on clay soils and soils associated with low organic matter. Some species grow solely on termite mounds while others can grow a distance from a termite mound but associated with underground termite nests. Majority of the mushrooms appear during the rain season and are equally available during the short and long rains. This suggests that most species will grow well throughout the year whenever moisture level in the substrate is adequate irrespective of the season. Some of the species especially the Polypores (Ganoderma sp.) grow on dead wood as well as on living trees, infecting living trees through wounds. Most of the species grow in acidic (pH 6.5) substrates with a pH range between 5 and 6.8 though one species (Termitomyces clypeatus) was observed to grow on slightly alkaline conditions. Generally the substrate for most species had low organic carbon ranging from 3% to slightly above 4%. More detailed study of the ecology of the most important mushrooms in the Lake Victoria basin wetlands is important as a basis for their management and domestication.
Rainfall interception and partitioning in afromontane rain forests of the Eastern arc mountains, Tanzania: implications for water conservation.
(Forest Research Institute Malaysia, 2003-05) Munishi, P. K. T.; Shear, T. H.
The aboveground components of the hydrologie cycle of rain forest are important processes that determine the hydrologie behaviour and dynamics of these ecosystems. Precipitation, throughfall, stem flow, canopy interception and streamflow were measured and modelled in two afromontane rain forests of the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania. Measurements were made daily for 50 months in the Ulugurus and 56 months in the Usambaras. Throughfall was 76% of the gross rainfall in the Usambaras and 79% in the Ulugurus. Stemflow was less than 2% of rainfall. Both parameters were correlated with gross rainfall (r2 = 0.97, 0.99, 0.86 and 0.94). Canopy interception was 22% of rainfall for the Usambaras and 20% for the Ulugurus. Streamflow was best modelled using five months running mean rainfall in the Ulugurus (r = 0.67) and three to four months in the Usambaras (r = 0.72). A high proportion of the gross rainfall is delivered as net precipitation. There is effective partitioning of rainfall on the forest canopy providing reasonable dumping effect of rainstorms. The slow response in streamflow to rainfall events shows the efficiency of the forests to mitigate storm water impacts and thus ensuring continuous water supply. Further studies in effects of forest harvesting on water yield are pertinent to enable adequate planning of forest utilization.
Species composition and functional structure of herbaceous vegetation in a tropical wetland system
(Springer Science+Business Media B.V., 2012) Andrew, S. M.; Moe, S. R.; Totland, Q.; Munishi, P. K. T.
Understanding driving factors of spatial heterogeneity in plant species com- position and functional structure is a key step towards wetland ecosystems restoration and biodiversity conservation. We surveyed 60 randomly selected plots of 20 9 50 m each and collected 12 explanatory variables to understand potential impacts of natural environ- mental conditions, human disturbance and spatial position of plots variables on plant functional groups (PFGs) and species composition within grasslands of the Kilombero Valley Floodplain wetland, Tanzania. Ordination analyses were used to identify important vegetation gradients and establish significant natural environmental conditions, human disturbance and spatial position of plots correlates. Partial redundancy analysis (RDA) and partial canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) were used to determine the individual and shared effects of these three sets of explanatory variables on the PFGs and species composition, respectively. In total, 115 plant species, including 22 weed and 3 invasive species, and five PFGs were registered. Annual graminoid was the most abundant, whereas perennial forb the least abundant PFG with 50 and 1 % relative covers, respectively. Overall, spatial position, altitude, total organic carbon, cow dung, distance to the river and distance to kraal (cattle enclosure near human settlement commonly made of wood materials for animal protection) were important descriptors of both PFGs and overall species composition. Separate CCA of only weed and invasive plant species showed that some species, particularly the invasive Polygala paniculata were strongly associated with cow dung, indicating that present increase in cattle numbers may result in future problems associated with this species. Intensification of human activities and alteration of natural environmental conditions associated with these factors should be discouraged to maintain plant species composition and functional structure for wetland restoration and sustainable biodiversity conservation.
Wildlife poaching practices in Tanzania’s Ruaha Landscape
(AJOL, 2022) Mrosso, H. T.; Kicheleri, R. P.; Kashaigili, J. J.; Munishi, P. K. T.; Kadigi, R. M.; Mgeni, C. P.; Kimaro, M. H.
Throughout the world, millions of wild species and products are illegally collected, used, traded and exported. Tanzania's Ruaha landscape is considered a critical area for biodiversity, as well as an area where poaching exists. Despite the area being rich in abundance and diversity of wildlife, in- depth analysis of wildlife species hunted most and the methods used by poachers is lacking. This study assessed the most hunted wildlife species, extracted products and uses, and associations between wildlife products, hunting methods, and ethnic groups. Data was collected by utilizing the snowball technique after 123 poachers were given a semi-structured questionnaire in villages near the Ruaha National Park. Among the most hunted species are did-dik, impala, kudu, lion, buffalo, and elephants. Bushmeat, skin, claws, ivory, and fat were the most harvested wildlife products. 60 % of wildlife products used for food and source of income, and the methods used for illegal hunting were domestic dogs, spears, snares, and torches. The findings are critical for understanding the link between the most poached species, products, and methods used in relation to ethnic groups in the Ruaha landscape. Increased anti-poaching patrols and wildlife conservation awareness could help reduce the dependence of local communities on wildlife products.
Yield of edible pleurotus mushrooms grown on rice straw with and without chicken manure supplementation in Morogoro, Tanzania
(AJOL, 2008) Andrew, S. M.; Maliondo, S. M. S.; Munishi, P. K. T.; Msita, H.
n experiment was conducted to determine the performance of different species of edible Pleurotus mushrooms grown on rice straw substrate with and without chicken manure supplementation. The Pleurotus species /varieties tested were P. flabellatus of Tanzania, India and Thailand origin, and P. sajor caju from Tanzania. Rice straw with and without chicken manure were used as substrates. The results showed that the duration of time from spawning to pin formation and from pin formation to first harvest was not significantly different for both treatments (p=0.05). The yields of the Indian and Thai P. flabellatus varieties were significantly higher than yields of P. flabellatus and P. sajor caju from Tanzania (p=0.05). The yields of the substrate amended with manure and un-amended were not significantly different. These results suggest that yields of the studied varieties of Pleurotus mushrooms are not influenced by substrate amendments rather other factors like spawn quality. This implies that use of high quality spawn can be a good determinant of high yields. On the other hand local varieties had lower yields than exotic varieties under the same treatments showing that research and breeding to screen and select for good quality local edible varieties can adequately improve yields and utilization of local breeds/varieties.