Vegetative species diversity is under threat from environmental pressures, particularly climate
change. As the impacts of climate change vary from place to place, response of vegetative
species diversity to a changing climate also vary depending on geographical location. The
response of vegetative species diversity under dry conditions in Zimbabwe is not well known.
This study assessed the impact of climate change on vegetative species diversity under semiarid
conditions of Masvingo province in Zimbabwe. This was achieved by determining climate
change trends over a period of forty years (1974-2014), and examining the relationship between
vegetative species diversity and spatially interpolated climate data. The absence of historical
diversity data prompted the use of remote sensing to enable the assessment of spatial and
temporal changes. Thus, the Normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) was used to
assess vegetative species diversity changes after establishing a positive relationship between
species diversity and NDVI. The mixed methods research design was used as the strategy of
inquiry. The non-aligned block sampling design was used as the sampling framework from
which 198 sampling points were identified. Meteorological data obtained from Zimbabwe
Meteorological Services Department (ZMSD) and the National Climate Data Centre (NCDC)
were used for climate change analysis. Data collected through image analysis, direct
observations, questionnaire surveys and interviews were used to assess the impact of climate
change on vegetative species diversity. Results indicate that all temperature and precipitation
variables have significant (p<0.05) trends over the period under study. However, the trend for
seasonal total precipitation was not significant but declining. The significant trends indicate
that climate change occurred over the period under study. 93% of the respondents confirmed
having experienced the climate change phenomenon. Results also show a significant
relationship between climate elements (precipitation and temperature) and vegetative species
diversity represented by Shannon Weaver Index (H). More so, there is a positive relationship
between NDVI and H. Vegetative species diversity represented by NDVI decreased over the
period under review. The results indicate that climate change has contributed to the decrease
of vegetative species diversity in Masvingo province, thus it is a force behind many other
factors contributing to biodiversity loss.College of Agriculture and Environmental SciencesPh. D. (Environmental Sciences
