Browsing by Author "Anthony, Donald"

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    Effects of gender relations on water resources management in rural areas: a case study of Serengeti district, Tanzania.
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2000) Anthony, Donald
    The aim of this study was mainly to examine the role of gender relations on environmental resources management in rural Tanzania. Specifically it examines the effects of gender relations on water resource management in rural areas in Serengeti district, Tanzania. Two villages namely Burunga and Mbalimbali were taken as sample villages in Serengeti district. The study found out that the existing gender relations which is perpetuated by patriarchal structure in Serengeti district determine ownership, control and access to environmental resources including water resources. Furthermore, the study revealed that economic activities such as crop production, livestock keeping and charcoal production have been done unsustainable to water resources. Due to changes in these economic activities both over time and space, they have caused deforestation leading into increased surface run-off, reduced infiltration rates and water holding capacity of the soil hence affecting the steady flow of subsurface water. Rainfall regime, river flow and the hydroloicyclei general are subsequently disturbed. It is observed therefore that for sustainable water supply planning in the study area perceptions of both men and women on the importance of water resources should be given equal weight.
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    Traditional environmental knowledge systems related to changes and variations of water resources management in semi-arid, Tanzania: a case study of Mara river basin
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2007) Anthony, Donald
    This study has investigated the role of Traditional Environmental Knowledge Systems (TEKS) in understanding the spatial and temporal changes and variations of water resources in the Mara River Basin (MRB), which is located in semi-arid Tanzania. 'Methods employed were semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, participatory resources mapping, analysis of land use/cover maps, trend analysis and pair-wise ranking. A total of 215 households (14.3%) were surveyed in five study villages. The findings revealed that local people possess tools and indicators, which are employed in understanding rainfall and water resources variability. Pair-wise ranking revealed that the common, effective and most used tools across ethnic groups in the MRB are lightning, wind systems, insect behaviour, wild animal characteristics and dew. Time-related participatory mapping revealed great changes of land use/cover particularly decrease of forest and wetlands. This correlate well with maps analysis, which indicated a decrease of wetlands by 13% between 1960s and 1990s. Similarly, trend analysis of rainfall and water resources availability based on TEKS correlate well with rainfall amount and water discharges obtained from rain and water gauging stations. It was concluded that local people in the MRB practice their socio-economic activities and design water use systems depending on the knowledge they have on rainfall changes and variations. Local people possess and depend on TEKS based tools and indicators, which are detailed in understanding water resources variability as majority of local people are not aware of MEKS based tools, water policies and legislation. To achieve sustainable water resources management in the MRB it is recommended that TEKS based rules and regulations be backed by policies and legislation.