Browsing by Author "John, Deogratias Makungu"

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    Strategic environmental assessment in agro pastoral district: a case of Kwimba district, Mwanza
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2009) John, Deogratias Makungu
    This study was designed to develop strategic environmental assessment in Agro pastoral Kwimba district located in Mwanza region. Questionnaires, field survey, literature, consultations, interview and professional judgments’ were used as sources of data. The environmental situation in the district is not satisfactory as only 16% of the respondents were satisfied. Sources of environmental degradation and their magnitude were identified as follows; charcoal burning 26.8%, improper grazing 21.6%, fire wood collection 21.6%, improper farming methods 12.4%, redbrick burning 11.4% and timber harvesting 6.2%. Agriculture technologies that are used for farming are still poor, as the majority of respondents still use a combination of hand hoe and oxen plough (72.3%). The major environmental impacts identified, that are associated with agro pastoral activities were soil erosion (23.7%), loss of soil fertility (16.5%), desertification (15.5%), deforestation (14.4%), degradation of water point sources (12.4%) and degradation of vegetation resources (6.2%). This study identified few positive impacts associated with implementation of the District Agriculture Development Plan. However, there are many physical, biological and socio-economic environmental negative impacts identified which are likely to affect the plan objectives. This study concluded that environmental situation of the district is not satisfactory. The majority of agro pastoralists are still using poor farming methods and technologies and lack specific areas for grazing. There are many environmental impacts that are associated with agro pastoral activities. The plan has positive and negative impacts, which can be mitigated and enhanced respectively.