The impact of Maasai settlement on vegetation in the Ngorongoro conservation area

Ngorngoro Conservation Area (NCA) is a multiple land use model with the provision of Maasai settlement and practice of pastoralism along with conservation. The focus of this study was to assess the surrounding vegetation in different levels of Maasai settlement in Ngongoro Conservation Area (NCA). Twenty –one households were sampled in three-different settlement zones namely intense settlement (IS), medium settlement (MS) and least settlement (LS). Radio sampling method was used to sample vegetation cover, plant species density and diversity while questionnaire techniques were used to analyse occurrence of plant species with longevity of Maasai settlement together with settlement selection and management of plant resources. The results showed that, there is a significant different in vegetation cover, plant species density and diversity in different three-settlement zone.(p=0.0034) with only 12.29% similarity. Plant density in IS, MS and LS was significantly different for trees (p=0.026) and for shrubs (p=0.0113). Cover at herbaceous layer was significantly different among the three settlement zones (p=0.0039). Plants diversity was the highest in MS zone (H=3.289) and the lowest in IS zone (H=2.613). Factors for longevity and existence of Maasai settlement were almost similar in all households. The association between settlement intensification and management of plant resource are generally weak and variable. It seems that, Maasai settlement influences the vegetation cover; density and diversity directly and indirectly form.