Land use/cover change along the slope of Rungwe Topo-Climosequence and its implication on Cocoa and coffee agroforestry systems and community livelihood in Rungwe district
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Date
2014
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Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
This study was conducted in a fragile agro-ecosystem in Rungwe district, characterized by series of hydro and agro-ecosystems, forestry and socio-economic characteristics. The study aimed at assessing and enhancing understanding of land use/cover changes along the slope of Rungwe Topo-Climosequence and its implication on cocoa and coffee agro-forestry systems and ignited multitude of human activities, prompting land use cover transgressions. The study employed household questionnaire survey, key informant interviews, geo-cording surveys and direct field observations as primary data collection. GIS and remote sensing methods were employed for change detection and mapping different agro-systems, (World view II, Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and Enhanced Thematic Mapper+ (ETM+). The results from high resolution image detected four major agro ecosystems namely food cash crops agro-ecosystem, forestry agro-ecosystem and agro-ecosystem. Landsat images detected significant land use/land cover changes along the gradient profile. Four example cocoa has been increasing at rate of 29.9ha annually while coffee declined at rate of 59.8ha annually; Natural forest cover has been shrinking at annual rate of 41ha, leading to a loss of natural species such as: Miombo (brachystegia) that are resistant to fire and rapid climatic change. Anthropogenic factors that are market driven were epitome drivers of LUCCs in the study area. Impacts of LUCCs on coffee and cocoa agro-forestry systems, and livelihood were remarkable, such as declined major agro-forestry crops and at the same time others emerging as valuable cash crops, meanwhile livelihood security was threaten. Other impacts were conversion and modification of different land covers, crops and vegetation diversity, land fragmentation and increased environmental threats. Therefore, land cover competition between food and cash crops remain a standing challenge, such that, coffee has lost its hegemony in the region while cocoa, tea and new avocado agro- forestry remain relatively stable but been impacted by current land use/cover transgressions.
Description
Available in printed form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark (THS EAF S494.5.A45T34M37)
Keywords
Agroforestry, Cocoa, Coffee, Community development, Land use, Rungwe district
Citation
Matokeo, A (2014) Land use/cover change along the slope of Rungwe Topo-Climosequence and its implication on Cocoa and coffee agroforestry systems and community livelihood in Rungwe district.Master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam.