Browsing by Author "Mshenga, Ameir Haidar"

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    The effects of forest change on the socio-ecological system of Jambiani-muyuni forest, Zanzibar.
    (2019) Mshenga, Ameir Haidar
    The jambian-mbuyuni forest has distinctive resources that offer numerous opportunities through its biological, economic and cultural roles. Despite the value of the forest, change in livelihoods resulting from growing population needs has caused forest change that is threatening the socioeconomic and ecological functioning of the forest. This study aimed at enhancing the understanding of the effects of forest change on the functioning of socio-ecological systems as biodiversity hotspots and sources of livelihood. Specifically, the study sought to detect forest changes that have occurred in the study area from 1977 to 2016; to determine the drivers responsible for the changes; to assess the effect of forest change on community livelihoods .A triangulation of quantitative and qualitative methods was used to collect data from 361 households, 58 key informants, 105 forest plots and aerial photographs. Temperature and rainfall data covering 34 years were also collected. Non-spatial data were analysed through IBM SPSS version 21, excel software version 2013, excess software version 2013 and MATLAB R2014 software (version8.3) whereas qualitative data analysed through Arc GIS version 10.3 and QGIS version 2.6.1. The findings from aerial photographs have revealed that the study area has experienced a loss of high coral rag forest of 27.2% over a 39-years period since 1977. Areas covered by settlements, agriculture and low coral rag forest change were social, economic, political and climate change. Cultivation, firewood harvesting, and charcoal making were among the most prominent economic drivers responsible for the forest change. Forest changes have had negative effects on forest structure, tree species diversity as well as community livelihoods. The structure of the forest has been degraded and is dominated by small and short trees with with the average height of 3.3m, total basal area of 4.6 m ha, volume of 8.07 m ha and average can copy cover of 30.5%.the loss of forest has led to the disappearance of some tree species such as ficus lutea and carpodiptera Africana. The local communities are also experiencing such problem as shortage of firewood and building poles, poor rural housing, food insecurity and decline of income from the forest. It is concluded that changes in the Jambiani-Muyuni forest have had negative effects on the socio-ecological functioning of the forest, with the forest structure, species diversity and livelihoods of the communities living around the forest all having been negatively affected. It is therefore recommended that the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar should plan for proper settlements and improve agricultural land productivity so as to minimize shifting cultivation and unnecessary expansion of farms and settlement into the coral rag forest.