Browsing by Author "Maseta, Grace Jacob"

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    Dynamics and driving factors of mangrove forest in urban areas of Dar es salaam, Tanzania
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2019) Maseta, Grace Jacob
    Mangrove forests are facing several challenges that have led to changes in their cover and quality despite their social, economic and ecological importance. There are several studies concerned with the dynamics and drivers of change in mangroves worldwide. However, most of the studies in developing countries are focused on mangroves in rural areas. This study investigated the dynamics of mangrove forest cover and their driving factors in the urban areas of Dar es Salaam. Specifically the study was conducted in four Districts (Kinondoni, Temeke, Ilala, and Kigamboni) with patches of mangrove forests which were selected purposively. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used in this study. The quantitative method involved time series analysis of Landsat images for temporal and spatial change of mangrove forest cover and the changes in the quality using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) as a proxy. Qualitative methods involved field observations, participatory rural appraisal, in-depth interviews with key informants and field observation. Individuals involved in participatory rural appraisal and in-depth interviews were selected purposively. Time series analysis of the Landsat images between 1986 and 2016 indicated that 2,802 ha changed from mangrove to other land cover, 622 ha mangrove cover remained stable while 496 ha changed from other land cover to mangroves. The cover changes were driven by both natural and anthropogenic factors like clearing mangroves to construct hotels along the coast. Natural factors included river flooding, shoreline erosion and siltation while the principle anthropogenic factor was cutting of mangroves for various uses. On the other hand, NDVI values suggest that the quality of mangroves sharply decreased from 1986 to 2006 but started to increase thereafter to 2016. The increasing NDVI between 1986 and 2016 was attributed to the mangrove forest management interventions. The study concludes that mangrove forest cover in Dar es Salaam have declined due to both natural and human induced factors although the quality has been increasing in the remaining parts due to the implementation of the management plan. In order to ensure sustainability of mangroves the study recommends promotion of law compliance, education and that their use should be based on comprehensive assessment of forest condition.