Effects of community activities on Ketumbeine forest Onlogido District-Arusha: a case Study of Ketumbeine mountian
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Date
2007-10
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Kampala International University, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Abstract
Ketumbeine Forest Reserve is in Longido District Region, Tanzania. This forest has
undergone rapid land use change resulted from population increase from 1980’s to the
present. Increase in population has put a lot of pressure on the forest land,
This study was carried between January 2007 and June 2007. The objectives of this
investigation were to assess the contributions of community activities to the destruction
of Ketumbeine forest and the overall loss of Biodiversity forest land. The specific
objectives ofthis investigation are to identify the major social economic activities around
Ketumbeine forest, to investigate the impacts of this activities on Ketumbeine forest, to
determine the possible measures to control the impacts caused by community activities
on Ketumbeine forest.
Systematic random sampling techniques were used to select a sample size of sixty
respondents for five villages around Ketumbeine forest reserve. Photographs, meetings,
observation and questionnaire were used to gather information from the community.
Land use and land cover mapping classification systems was used to identify land use in
the study area. Forest methodology was also undertaken during the study in order to
identify different kinds of activities undertaken near the forest, describe by comparing
between the present conditions and also mapping of the forest land.
The study found out that the major activity causing forest degradation was crop
cultivation. Other activities like charcoal burning, bee keeping, live stock, and timber
production also cause forest destruction. The number of immigrants is coming to occupy
the villages around Ketumbeine forest is also high. This high population pressure results
into high demands of forest products. The age group also determines the destruction of
Ketumbeine forest. The age group between 31-45 as a high percentage as compared to
the rest of the age group. This is because many of the people of this age have got their
own independent homes and they need the forest resources in order to sustain the needs
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oftheir families. The level ofeducation also determines the rate offorest destruction. The
study found out that pastoralists have a good contribution of conserving the forest on one
way or another, this is because they do not frequently cut down the trees, they depend on
their livestock and they just find it more suitable to graze their live stock in grasslands
and not in the forest. They also use simple materials to construct house that is cowdung
and near by bush. The study found out that many ofthe respondents have realized lost of
environmental changes resulting from the destruction ofKetumbeine forest.
The study concluded that the change offorest land to other land practices in Ketumbeine
has created so many problems to the natural environment. Some of those problems
include soil erosion, loss of diversity, extinction of different species, climate change and
other ills in the environment other home. Ketumbeine forest has played a greater role in
protecting the water catchments ofthis land for so many years. Changing the live style of
the Maasai community from normadic to agro pastoralism encouraged the destruction of
Ketumbeine forest reserve.
The study recommends that the government should impose laws and policies to control
the destruction of forest and if the laws and policies exist already strict measures should
be put in place to re-enforce and punish those who go against them. Different NGO’s
should be introduced so as to ensure sustainability and regeneration of Ketumbeine
forest. Government and NGO’s should introduce alternative sources of energy to reduce
the communities over dependence of forest for fire wood. Forest experts should be given
opportunity and un divided attention during their publications and passing/offering of
knowledge about forest conservation and management in Ketumbeine forest reserve.
Description
A research report submitted to the Department Of Environmental Management in a partial fulfillment of Award of the Degree in Environmental Managements Of Kampala International University
Keywords
Community activities, Ketumbeine mountian