-
Remote Sensing Based Analysis of Land Use/Cover Change Impact in the Interface Between Magamba Nature Reserve and Surrounding Villages in Lushoto District, Tanzania
Oforo Didas Kimaro,
Simon Chidodo
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 1, February 2021
Pages:
1-11
Received:
11 November 2020
Accepted:
26 November 2020
Published:
3 March 2021
Abstract: Several studies in Tanzania focus on land use/cover change (LULC) at coarse scale and without considering the adjoining (interface) landscapes i.e. landscape link community farming systems and forest/nature reserves. In the Eastern Arc Mountains in particular, LULC change that confront the interface between surrounding community landscape and nature reserves and the associated livelihood are not well understood. A study was conducted in the Usambara Mountains, Tanzania to explore the potential impacts of LULC on the interface between Magamba Nature Reserve (MNR) and the landscape of the surrounding community villages. Remote sensing and GIS techniques were used to quantify and analyse the trend in LULC changes over the past 31 years whereby satellite images of 1984, 1995 and 2015 were used. Household surveys, field observations and focus group discussions to 72 households in 3 villages surrounding the nature reserve were employed to capture data on human activities in the interface. The change detection was done by post classification approach using image interpreter| GIS analysis| matrix tool in QGIS software and processed in an intensity analysis program (Pontius matrix excel sheet). Descriptive statistical analysis (frequency counts and percentages) was used to explain human activities of communities adjacent to the MNR. Qualitative data were analysed using content and structural functional analytical techniques. Over the period (1984-2015) natural forest covering the major part of reserve decreased by 14%. The declining trend for forests in the study area is largely attributed to the increasing agricultural activities, settlements and infrastructure. Results revealed further that natural forest area and wetlands had active intensity of gain over the period 1984-1995 while in the 1995-2015 period had active intensity of loss. The most common human activities related to the spatial and temporal dynamics of LULC change in the MNR interface were firewood collection for household use, collection of medicinal plants, illegal timber harvesting, animal grazing, cutting trees for building poles and charcoal burning. Firewood collection is the most important human activity associated with forest degradation in MNR interface. Collection of medicinal plants from the reserve is associated with forest destructive process in the sense that it involves uprooting plants, root cutting, and tree ring debarking. The study recommends that policy makers as well as nongovernmental organizations should identify and establish potential low cost alternative sources of energy for usage by rural domestic household. Further research to predict and map spatial and temporal LULC dynamics at landscape scale should consider future scenarios on the evolution of forest-rural landscape interfaces and their impact on the provisioning of ecosystem services (ESS).
Abstract: Several studies in Tanzania focus on land use/cover change (LULC) at coarse scale and without considering the adjoining (interface) landscapes i.e. landscape link community farming systems and forest/nature reserves. In the Eastern Arc Mountains in particular, LULC change that confront the interface between surrounding community landscape and natur...
Show More
-
Modeling of the Distribution of Radon and Its Decay in a Traditional Hammam: Dose to Adult Members of the Public
Rabi Rabi,
Lhoucine Oufni,
El-Houcine Youssoufi,
Khamiss Cheikh,
Hamza Badry,
Youssef Errami
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 1, February 2021
Pages:
12-21
Received:
23 February 2021
Accepted:
8 March 2021
Published:
12 March 2021
Abstract: Radon and its descendants are the main causes of lung cancer in non-smokers. Therefore, the study of the behavior of radon and its descendants in indoor air is of the highest importance, in ordre to limit the risk of radiation dose due to inhalation of indoor air by members of the public. This article focuses to study the effect of meteorological parameters on the concentration and distribution of radon and its descendants inside a traditional Hammam by using CFD simulation. The results of modeling are qualitative and show that the concentration and distribution of radon and its descendants decrease when the ventilation rate increases, as well as, as the temperature increases; however, it increases with the increase relative humidity. Moreover, the committed equivalent doses due to 218Po and 214Po radon short-lived progeny were evaluated in different tissues of the respiratory tract of the members of the public from the inhalation of air inside the traditional Hammam. The influence of the activity of 218Po and 214Po and mass of the tissue on the committed equivalent doses per hour of exposure was investigated. The annual effective dose due to radon short-lived progeny from the inhalation of air inside the traditional Hammam by the members of the public was investigated.
Abstract: Radon and its descendants are the main causes of lung cancer in non-smokers. Therefore, the study of the behavior of radon and its descendants in indoor air is of the highest importance, in ordre to limit the risk of radiation dose due to inhalation of indoor air by members of the public. This article focuses to study the effect of meteorological p...
Show More
-
Evaluation of Community Livelihood and Natural Resource Management - A Case in Largest Riverine Island of the World (Majuli), Assam-India
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 1, February 2021
Pages:
22-29
Received:
7 December 2020
Accepted:
15 December 2020
Published:
17 March 2021
Abstract: Community-based initiatives as a potential win-win solution for improving conservation and livelihood outcomes of the riverine community. Land, forests, water bodies, orchards around homestead of families form some of the basic resources at the household level through which a family can sustain their livelihood. However, close access to the river, may provide opportunity for fishing activities and allied activities. The affinity of the community to the river and water, especially suited them with a variety of opportunistic occupations based on rather complex ecology that the Island provided, but also required the community to develop special skills and strategies to deal with a vigorous and unpredictable river and the fragile ecosystem built in the Island. Floods and erosions were not new, but are to be dealt with year after year. In the present paper an attempt has been made to access the nature and extent of depleting natural resources on Majuli Island due to flood and erosion by the River Brahmaputra and how the operational adaptive and coping livelihood strategies of the tribal communities are effective in dealing with the changing resource complexes and ensuring both the inter and intra generational sustainability.
Abstract: Community-based initiatives as a potential win-win solution for improving conservation and livelihood outcomes of the riverine community. Land, forests, water bodies, orchards around homestead of families form some of the basic resources at the household level through which a family can sustain their livelihood. However, close access to the river, ...
Show More
-
Study of a Green House Gas Induced Effects on Transfer Factor of Micronutrients in a Nature Reserve
Samwel Boaz Otieno,
Emanuel Ngumbi,
Christine Odhiambo Nyang’aya,
Jagi Gakunju
Issue:
Volume 10, Issue 1, February 2021
Pages:
30-36
Received:
24 November 2020
Accepted:
7 December 2020
Published:
17 March 2021
Abstract: Increasing Carbon dioxide in atmosphere affects nutrition due to carbon nutrient penalty or carbon fertilization. Per capita consumption of micronutrients get affected, leading to silent hunger. This study looks at the effect of the greenhouse gasses especially carbon dioxide on micronutrient up take by vegetation and on soil as proxy-indicator of effects in food chain. Fifty soil samples 250 grams each and fourty vegetation samples 100 grams each were taken in georeferenced sites in AFEW in Langata Ecosystem, along a predetermined transects. The samples were put in Ziplocs and transported to Kabete Laboratories and analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry Optima 8000, Perkin Elmer. Micronutrients levels in soil were compared with those in vegetation as away asses possible effects of carbon dioxide on uptake of the micronutrients by vegetation. The micronutrients were measured in mg/gm. The results show that levels of most of the micronutrients in soil and vegetation shoots varied. No Zinc was detected both in soil and vegetation in all transects. The level of all micronutrients varied between the soil and vegetation but generally much lower in vegetation. The transfer factor (TF) of sodium, magnesium, mercury and Lead were > 1, Zinc, Aluminium, Copper, and Cobalt were <1 suggesting possible GHG effect. It can be concluded that the Transfer Factor in Aluminium, Zinc, Magnesium, Cobalt and cupper in vegetation is below 1 possibly due to effect of Carbon Dioxide.
Abstract: Increasing Carbon dioxide in atmosphere affects nutrition due to carbon nutrient penalty or carbon fertilization. Per capita consumption of micronutrients get affected, leading to silent hunger. This study looks at the effect of the greenhouse gasses especially carbon dioxide on micronutrient up take by vegetation and on soil as proxy-indicator of ...
Show More
