Deforestation drivers and effects of livestock grazing on forest structure and composition in the coastal forests of Kilwa District Tanzania
| dc.contributor.author | Kashenge Salhina Shaban | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-11-06T11:43:50Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-11-06T11:43:50Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024-05 | |
| dc.description | MSc Dissertation | |
| dc.description.abstract | Coastal forests of Eastern Africa hold considerable importance for the communities residing adjacent or within including forage provision to both domestic and wild ungulates among other ecosystem services. However, the coastal forest ecosystems of Tanzania are facing pressure due to increasing detrimental anthropogenic activities including massive livestock influx which may affect its integrity and vital roles. The present study aimed to provide a better understanding of the effects of livestock grazing on the woody plant composition, vegetation structure, and regeneration capacity of the coastal forests and local communities’ perception of the contribution of livestock grazing and other human activities to the change in land cover of landscape comprising coastal forests in southern Tanzania. The study was conducted in Kilwa District, Lindi, Southern Tanzania. Data collection involved a household survey and ground vegetation survey and analysis of Landsat satellite images. Results indicated that coastal forests at the study site had experienced a 45% decline in cover between 2007 and 2022 at the rate of -3% loss per year, to which interviewed respondents also agreed. Further, 29% of farmland area has increased within the past 15 years. The results revealed further that crop cultivation, livestock grazing, and charcoal production are among the major drivers for forest cover loss. Furthermore, results indicated no and low grazing intensity had higher plant species richness, density, and diversity contrary to moderate and heavy grazing intensities. The moderate and heavy grazing intensities also had low seedling density and diversity. Livestock grazing has also negatively affected the stem distribution of seedlings, saplings, poles, and trees indicating degradation of the coastal forests. It can be concluded from these findings that grazing affected plant species composition, diversity indices, and stem densities in the studied coastal forests. Low grazing intensity had higher diversity indices, stem density, and regeneration status similar to or better than no grazing. Therefore, low grazing is suitable under low stocking rates for livestock due to its insignificant effect on woody species structure, composition and regeneration potential/seedling, and sapling density. It is suggested that urgent interventions are required to ensure controlled grazing that halts heavy grazing and detrimental human activities in the coastal forests within village lands. Also, further research involving large-scale study and long-term cattle and goat grazing experiments with varied grazing intensities/stocking rates to discern proper carrying capacities and effects on biophysical factors such as soil, water, vegetation, and wildlife resources in the landscapes with ample coastal forest resources. This information is useful for informing sustainable conservation strategies of coastal forests at the study site and elsewhere with similar environments. | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | The Tanzania Forest Service Agency (TFS) | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/6431 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Sokoine University of Agriculture | |
| dc.subject | Forest disturbance | |
| dc.subject | Land cover and land use changes | |
| dc.subject | Livestock migration | |
| dc.subject | Ecosystem services. | |
| dc.title | Deforestation drivers and effects of livestock grazing on forest structure and composition in the coastal forests of Kilwa District Tanzania | |
| dc.type | Thesis |