Browsing by Author "Ngowi, Norbert John"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Contribution of wetland friendly investment approach on livelihoods and ecosystem services: the case of Ndembera river valley in Iringa, Tanzania
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2018) Ngowi, Norbert John
    Provision of incentives can help to sustain ecosystem as productive base and therefore increase Ecosystem Services (ES) and livelihoods. The Ndembera River Valley (NRV) is important for ES but it is facing increasing loss of these services due to degradation impacts. This study sought to develop a conceptual approach to understand the contribution of Wetland Friendly Investment (WFI) Approach on livelihoods and ecosystem services in Iringa, Tanzania. A questionnaire was administered to 208 households to collect data on livelihood assets (LA), drivers of land use and land cover change (LULC), water flow, and factors constraining the Approach. Fifteen key informant interviews and Focus Groups including 30 participants were used to supplement survey data. Quantitative analysis focused on the changes in the LA, LULC and water flow using Chi-square test, ERDAS and TREND software respectively. The Template style was used to analyze qualitative data. Findings from the study indicate that implementation of the WFI intervention brought both positive and negative changes: (i) statistically significant differentials between participating and non-participating households on multiple fronts including: Income, diversification of local economy, ownership of productive assets and network of cooperation; (ii) wetland cover had declined in swamps and floodplains by -4,060 and -667 hectares; (iii) the differentials in water flow before and after the intervention was not significant (p > 0.9); and (iv) dissolution of farmers’ groups constrained performance of the WFI. This study concludes that, the Approach contributed more to livelihoods, but failed to improve cover and water flow. Therefore the null hypothesis has been rejected instead the alternative one stating that the implementation of the WFI Approach has had contribution to community livelihoods and ecosystem services was accepted. Inclusion of Obstacles and Opportunities for planning can make the Approach more useful for policy and practice.