Land use/cover changes and their influence on the occurrence of landslides: a case study of the northern slopes of the Uluguru mountains, Morogoro, Tanzania
| dc.contributor.author | Hieronimo, Proches | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-02-18T10:06:25Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-02-18T10:06:25Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2007 | |
| dc.description | Dissertation | |
| dc.description.abstract | The present study was conducted to assess land use/cover changes and their influence on the occurrence of landslides in the northern slopes of Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania. The study focused on the determination of the historical land use/cover changes between 1964 and 2004, evaluation of the biophysical and socio-economic factors influencing land use/cover changes, and examination of the influence of land use/cover changes on the occurrence of landslides. Field survey, remote sensing and GIS techniques were employed to assess land use/cover dynamics. Landslides were mapped through field surveys using GPS and imported in GIS environment. A questionnaire survey was conducted to collect information on socio-economic activities responsible for land use/cover changes and on landslides. Statistical analysis was done using SAS and SPSS softwares. The study demonstrated that land use/cover is dynamic and varies spatially both in terms of coverage and change. Natural vegetation is increasingly replaced by cultivation and urbanisation. Change to rainfed agriculture is more intensive on the mountain ridges by two-fold that of mountain foothills. Urban expansion is very rapid on undulating plains at a mean rate of about 15 ha per year compared to 2 ha per year on the mountain foothills and <1 ha per year in the mountain ridges. Geomorphic characteristics, soils, rainfall distribution and demographic changes are key factors influencing land use/cover dynamics. Land use/cover dynamics (increase in rainfed and irrigated agriculture) greatly influence the occurrence of landslides (R = 0.999, P< 0.05). The observed land use/cover dynamics and their relationship with the occurrence and frequency of landslides call for further research on the effectiveness of different land use options on landslide rehabilitation. Farmers should be sensitised on the influence of land use changes on land degradation and the importance of appropriate soil and water conservation measures to mitigate landslides disasters in the study area. | |
| dc.description.sponsorship | Belgium Technical Corporation (BTC) | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/6562 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Sokoine University of Agriculture | |
| dc.subject | Landslides | |
| dc.subject | Land use | |
| dc.subject | Natural vegetation | |
| dc.subject | Uluguru mountains | |
| dc.title | Land use/cover changes and their influence on the occurrence of landslides: a case study of the northern slopes of the Uluguru mountains, Morogoro, Tanzania | |
| dc.type | Thesis |