Land use changes along wildlife corridors and their implications to conservation: a case of Saadani-Wami-Mbiki Wildlife corridor, Tanzania

Masters Thesis

Wildlife corridors are facing conservation threats as a result of land use changes within and along them. The understanding of changes happening in the corridors over time is important for establishing the management baseline data. This study aimed at identifying land use changes along Saadani-Wami-Mbiki wildlife corridor and their implications to wildlife conservation. Specifically the study determined the rate of land cover changes in the corridor between 1975 and 2011 and assessed the associated land use practices towards corridor land cover change. Land sat imageries of 1975. 1995 and 2011 were used to assess the rate of vegetation cover changes as a result of various land use practices carried out in the corridor. Household survey and key informants interview methods were used to obtain socio-economic data which were analysed using SPSS while satellite imagery data were analysed using the ER.DAS IMAGINE 9.1 and ArcGIS 9.3 programmes. In the past 36 years (1975-2011). the cultivated land increased by 25%, settlement by 13%, open forest by 10% while closed forest and grassland decreased by 18% and 3% respectively. Shifting cultivation, over grazing, charcoal making and settlements were identified as major land use practices threatening the corridor. Basing on the results, it is recommended that, deliberate measures are needed to address about poverty of local communities around the corridor. Among the potentials include ecological and cultural tourism and beekeeping.

VLIR-UOS