Incentives for wetlands conservation in the Mufindi wetlands of the Great Ruaha River Tanzania

Sustainable wetland management has to some extent become a high  priority for world’s environmentalists. Achieving sustainable wetland  management may require an increase in the voluntary adoption of best  management practices by both local communities and the government. This may be preceded by more tailored suite of incentive measures which  are effective in encouraging local people to adopt proper management practices. This study presents results from a study done in the Little Ruaha catchment of the Great Ruaha River Basin. Household surveys were done to assess the relevant incentives for wetlands management and how local  communities perceived the incentive and incentive mechanisms for sustainable wetland management. It was revealed that not every member of the community was motivated to conserve wetland and thus the  perceived wetland conservation incentives also vary greatly. Among  preferred incentives were; joint management, privatization, alternativeincome generating activities and land use rights/legal land ownership. Government policies and regulations were not perceived as real incentives. This study recommends a ‘tool-box’ of incentives which will encourage a range of local people in different situations to conserve wetlands. However, the tool box of incentives and their programs should be implemented with extra cautions as it may result into perverse incentives and consequently lead into unequal benefit sharing becoming disincentives to conservation and further degradation of wetlands.Key Words: Incentives; Disincentives; Wetlands; Great Ruaha Rive

Woody vegetation stocking, composition and diversity in Miombo Woodlands in Tanzania: A case study of Mgori forest reserve in Singida District

Participatory forest management (PFM) model is aimed at improving both forest resources conservation and livelihoods of local communities. In Tanzania, PFM is widely spread in forest reserves bearing the names of joint forest management, co forest management and community based forest management. However, despite the wide spread, less so far has been done to assess its contribution to conservation of the forest resources and livelihoods of local communities. The study, however, majored on assessment of forest resources by describing woody stocking, and species composition and diversity at Mgori Forest Reserve, in Tanzania. Mgori forest reserve (MFR) is one of the reserves in Tanzania, which are under the model. MFR is within miombo woodlands of Tanzania allocated along the western side of the country. Inventory data were collected from four village forest reserves, which are part of MFR. Atotal of 136 plots of the size 20 x 50 m (0.1ha) were laid in different clusters. The study enumerated a total number of 79 tree/shrub species. DBH distribution followed an inverse ‘J’ shape. Stem density in the study ranged between 494 and 885 N ha-1, while basal area and woody volumedistribution followed a ‘J’ shape. The basal area varied from 9.65 to 18.50 m2 ha-1, while the woody volume was averaged to 65.99 m3 ha-1 with a range of 54.49 to 104.47 m3 ha-1. The most dominant tree species in the study were Brachistigia spiciformis and Jubernadia globifolia. Importantvalue index of tree species ranged between 4.29 and 10.00, while Shannon Weiner index was between 2.54 and 3.04. Index of dominance in this study was between 0.03 and 0.11, while species diversity index ranged from 38.46 to 89.36 and species richness and evenness ranged between 9.65 and 21.04 and 1.55 and 1.81 respectively. The study concludes that woody stocking parameters as well as tree/shrub species composition and diversity indices are normal and similar to any other reserved forests in miombo woodlands.Key words: miombo woodland, stem density, basal area, woody volume, species composition, diversity, participatory forest management, village forest reserve

Influence of hydrological fluctuations on vegetation and Avifauna species composition, abundance and diversity in the Bahi Swamp wetlands Central Tanzania

This study was conducted in Bahi wetlands to assess the influence of  hydrological fluctuations on the vegetation and avifauna species  composition, abundance and diversity. A total of 80 rectangular vegetation plots measuring 2m x 5m were established along transect lines radiating from the core wetland, along eight cardinal directions each transect having a length of 1200m and accommodating 10 sampling points. Avifauna  species were inventoried in 3 points along each transect making a total of 24 sampling points for birds. One-way ANOVA was performed to  test for significant differences in the avifauna species diversity along the  hydrological gradient. A total of 40 avifauna species and 56 plant species belonging to 18 and 7 families respectively were recorded. There were  significant differences (p<0.05) in avifauna and plant species composition, abundance and diversity between distances from the centre of the wetland. Avifauna species abundance and diversity decreased with increasing   distance from centre of the wetland. Likewise, the abundance of plant species decreased with increasing distance from the centre of the wetland. The flora and avifauna species composition, abundance and diversity in theBahi wetlands are influenced by hydrological fluctuations, whereby the  composition, abundance and diversity are higher closer to the wetland than away from the edge of the wetland. The vegetation of wetland is  dominated by Leersia hexandra and other members of the Graminae  family. Bahi wetland is a refuge for migratory avifauna species. It was observed that both distant and African migrants visit the wetland for wintering. The most abundant species were Greater Flamingoes and Red Knobbed Coot. Awareness and education on the biodiversity values of the wetland is needed to influence conservation and sustainable utilization of  the wetland resources

The role of Bahi swamp wetlands in enhancing household food security and income of adjacent communities

The study was conducted to assess the role of Bahi swamp resources in enhancing household food security and income of adjacent communities. Specifically, the study assessed the socioeconomic activities in the swamp with a potential contribution to local livelihoods, the contribution of the swamp in enhancing household food security and income and the level of local dependence on the swamp. Two villages (Makulu and Nagulo-Bahi)  were involved. Data were collected through questionnaire, PRA techniques(resource mapping, key informant interviews and focused group  discussions) and direct observation. Data were summarized and analysed using Microsoft Excel, SPSS and content analysis. Other data from  discussions were analysed through relative ranking. The socioeconomic activities with potential contribution to food security and income of adjacent communities in order of importance included crop cultivation, fishing,  livestock grazing and collection of thatching grasses. Cultivation of paddy rice contributed significantly to household food security generating 65.4% of total household food crop production compared to other crops grown in drier areas adjacent to the swamp. Fishing played a substantial contribution to household food security through household consumption of 10% of fish caught. For household income, sales of paddy rice from the swamp contributed 59.6% while fish sales contributed 36% of the total annual household income. Multiplier activities emerging during fishing season facilitate income to a wider group of communities. On average, 56.2% of the population depend on the swamp for daily socio-economic activities associated with generation of household food and income. The Bahi swamp and related products play a significant role in enhancing local livelihoods for the adjacent communities. Planning for  wise use of the swamp in respect of the dominant socioeconomic activities will likely improve its  contribution to livelihoods.Key words: Bahi swamps, food security, income, wetland

Influence of socio-economic factors on land use and vegetation cover changes in and around Kagoma forest reserve in Tanzania

The Miombo woodland ecosystem has been and continues to face conservation threats. We assessed the socio-economic drivers of land use and vegetation cover changes and the extent of land use/cover change in and around Kagoma Forest Reserve (KFR), Tanzania. Household survey, field observations and focus group discussions were used to obtain socio-economic data that influence land use and vegetation cover changes and logistic regression model was used to establish the relationship between socio-economic drivers and land cover change. Remote sensing and GIStechniques were used to analyze land use and vegetation cover changes over the past 23 years. Landsat imagery of 1988, 1999 and 2010 were used in this study. The perceived drivers for the changes include; overgrazing, demand for forest products, shifting cultivation, agriculturalexpansion, increasing crop prices and lack of land tenure. It was revealed that there has been significant land use and vegetation cover transformation from one class to another. In the period of 12 years (1988-1999) woodland, cultivated land and settlements increased by 5.8%, 5.9% and 0.52% respectively, while forests decreased by 5.64%. During 1999-2010 period woodland decreased by 22.97% and forest by 2.5%, while cultivated land increased by 6.07% and settlements by 9.14%.Enforcement of different laws and regulations relating to natural resources and land use planning to improve land tenure and resource use in villages bordering the forest can substantially reduce the problem of land degradation.Key words: Land use, vegetation, cover changes, Kagoma Forest Reserve, Tanzani

Inequitable Gains and Losses from Conservation in a Global Biodiversity Hotspot

A billion rural people live near tropical forests. Urban populations need them for water, energy and timber. Global society benefits from climate regulation and knowledge embodied in tropical biodiversity. Ecosystem service valuations can incentivise conservation, but determining costs and benefits across multiple stakeholders and interacting services is complex and rarely attempted. We report on a 10-year study, unprecedented in detail and scope, to determine the monetary value implications of conserving forests and woodlands in Tanzania’s Eastern Arc Mountains. Across plausible ranges of carbon price, agricultural yield and discount rate, conservation delivers net global benefits (+US$8.2B present value, 20-year central estimate). Crucially, however, net outcomes diverge widely across stakeholder groups. International stakeholders gain most from conservation (+US$10.1B), while local-rural communities bear substantial net costs (-US$1.9B), with greater inequities for more biologically important forests. Other Tanzanian stakeholders experience conflicting incentives: tourism, drinking water and climate regulation encourage conservation (+US$72M); logging, fuelwood and management costs encourage depletion (-US$148M). Substantial global investment in disaggregating and mitigating local costs (e.g., through boosting smallholder yields) is essential to equitably balance conservation and development objectives

Consistent patterns of common species across tropical tree communities

Trees structure the Earth’s most biodiverse ecosystem, tropical forests. The vast number of tree species presents a formidable challenge to understanding these forests, including their response to environmental change, as very little is known about most tropical tree species. A focus on the common species may circumvent this challenge. Here we investigate abundance patterns of common tree species using inventory data on 1,003,805 trees with trunk diameters of at least 10 cm across 1,568 locations1,2,3,4,5,6 in closed-canopy, structurally intact old-growth tropical forests in Africa, Amazonia and Southeast Asia. We estimate that 2.2%, 2.2% and 2.3% of species comprise 50% of the tropical trees in these regions, respectively. Extrapolating across all closed-canopy tropical forests, we estimate that just 1,053 species comprise half of Earth’s 800 billion tropical trees with trunk diameters of at least 10 cm. Despite differing biogeographic, climatic and anthropogenic histories7, we find notably consistent patterns of common species and species abundance distributions across the continents. This suggests that fundamental mechanisms of tree community assembly may apply to all tropical forests. Resampling analyses show that the most common species are likely to belong to a manageable list of known species, enabling targeted efforts to understand their ecology. Although they do not detract from the importance of rare species, our results open new opportunities to understand the world’s most diverse forests, including modelling their response to environmental change, by focusing on the common species that constitute the majority of their trees

Consistent patterns of common species across tropical tree communities

Trees structure the Earth's most biodiverse ecosystem, tropical forests. The vast number of tree species presents a formidable challenge to understanding these forests, including their response to environmental change, as very little is known about most tropical tree species. A focus on the common species may circumvent this challenge. Here we investigate abundance patterns of common tree species using inventory data on 1,003,805 trees with trunk diameters of at least 10 cm across 1,568 locations1-6 in closed-canopy, structurally intact old-growth tropical forests in Africa, Amazonia and Southeast Asia. We estimate that 2.2%, 2.2% and 2.3% of species comprise 50% of the tropical trees in these regions, respectively. Extrapolating across all closed-canopy tropical forests, we estimate that just 1,053 species comprise half of Earth's 800 billion tropical trees with trunk diameters of at least 10 cm. Despite differing biogeographic, climatic and anthropogenic histories7, we find notably consistent patterns of common species and species abundance distributions across the continents. This suggests that fundamental mechanisms of tree community assembly may apply to all tropical forests. Resampling analyses show that the most common species are likely to belong to a manageable list of known species, enabling targeted efforts to understand their ecology. Although they do not detract from the importance of rare species, our results open new opportunities to understand the world's most diverse forests, including modelling their response to environmental change, by focusing on the common species that constitute the majority of their trees

Gender relations in utilization and conservation of the Kilombero flood plains Ramsar site wetlands, Tanzania

Gender relations refer to the gender dimensions of the social relations  structuring the lives of individual men and women, such as the gender division of labour and gender division of access to and control over resources. This leads to the differentiation of roles that a different gender  has to play in the society. The present study was conducted in the  Kilombero, Morogoro region to investigate gender relations in utilization  and conservation Kilombero wetland resources. Data were collected from six villages namely Mofu, Kivukoni, Idete, Chita, Melela and Mngeta. Household interviews and transect walks were the main approached used  for data collection. It was revealed that men, women, elders, and youth participated in various activities and the utilization of Kilombero wetland  resources. Amongst gender categories, 78.3% of the women, 52.2% of the men, 50% elders and 47.4% youth practiced crop farming. There were more men (62.2%) utilizing the wetland for income alone than those  utilizing the wetland for both income and food (37.8%). More women (41.7%) than men utilized the wetland for food alone. More men (64.4%) than women (63.9%) play an important role in conservation of wetlands  through educating others on sustainable utilization of wetland resources. Elders (43.3%) were reported to participate in wetland resources  conservation by advising youths on sustainable use of resources because they are aware of what is happening today compared to the past. Youth (42.8%) do the same because most of them are educated and are willing to adopt conservation measures. Land in wetlands was accessed by both males and females though total area cultivated by men was larger than  that by women. The wetlands of Kilombero are utilized by all gender for various economic activities though males and young people have the biggest share. This disparity in access to wetland resources can be  eliminated through more awareness on the gender dimensions of wetlands management