Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management

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    Effects of quarrying on the environment: a case study of Tala, Machakos District, Kenya
    (Kampala International University.College of Engneering and Applied Sceince, 2007-10) Moibi, Naftal M.
    The study was conducted to establish the effects of quarrying on the environment using Tala, Machakos district as the case study in Kenya. Machakos district is found in the Eastern province of Kenya. It was intended to establish the extent to which quarrying has affected the environment in Tala. To examine what are the causes of quarrying and suggest the possible measures through which quarrying effects on the environment. Fifty (50) respondents were randomly selected and these included households in the community and also the local council officials were interviewed to generate relevant data. Questiom1aires were administered to the respondents who were able to read and write in the community. Where some of the respondents did not know how to read and write interviews were conducted. The study found that landscape degradation, soil erosion, loss of vegetation, loss of fauna were on an increase as a result of quarrying whose percentages were high as compared to the other land sue practices in Tala. The study concluded that quarrying practices affect the environment in Tala that is soil erosion, water siltation, loss of vegetation and animals. The study recommended that permission to extract stones from quarries should be restricted by the government and NEMA. Sensitize the community about the effects of quarrying through media or by employing more environmental officers. Also the government should try to create more jobs to the community in order to reduce on the number people who rely on quan·ying in order to earn a living.
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    Biofuels and food crop production: A case study of Mpeketoni Division, Lamu District Kenya
    (School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 2011-11) Ilyas, Mremi Geoffrey
    The principal aim of the study was to assess the degree of bio fuels and its role in food crop production in Mpeketoni division in Lamu district, Coast Kenya. The study was conducted among large bio fuel scheme farmers, smallholder farmers and collaborative reserve farmers. Bio fuel was looked upon as a critical issue towards problems associated with food crop production such as high food prices, scarcity of food, land tenure conflicts between the inter cultural tribes and changes in food patterns among others which were included in the statement of the problem. The researcher had to base on the methodology which focused on the description of the methods and techniques that were used to gather information for effective analysis of that data. This Chapter as well covers the study area comprised of the geographical location of the study area in coast province, Kenya which was situated 459 kilometers south east (138°) of the approximate center of Kenya and 446 kilometers east (102°) of the capital Nairobi. Sampling design was derived using the Sloven’s formula in that 65 being the population, by using the Sloven’s formula the researcher arrived at 55 which were the targeted respondents, data collection instruments such as use of questionnaires, interviews as well as observation were used to obtain important information about population under study in order to obtain accurate and sufficient information. Reliability and validity of the instruments were considered for purposes of accessing the worthiness of the instruments to generate correct data; data processing involved organizing the correct and well answered questionnaires. Analysis was done by use of frequency tables, percentages and pie charts. Lastly but not least the research covered a descriptive study design in which both qualitative and quantitative methods were adopted. Data was analyzed, coded and presented using tables and pie charts followed by discussions of the research findings. For example, among the findings, the researcher assessed the driving factors which promoted the use of bio fuels and according to the findings; the researcher could tell that availability (40%) was the major driving factor to use of bio fuels. This was because the materials for bio fuel preparation could be locally found. Lastly the researcher presented the conclusions as well as the recommendations of the research study. The researcher’s conclusions were based in both negative and positive way concerning the concept of bio fuel production. For example, the researcher stated in the conclusion that in addition to bio fuel causing rising up of food prices, they could increase greenhouse emissions and contribute to water shortages which in turn impacted on food production. This was a negative contribution of bio fuel. The researcher once again stated the positive side of bio fuel, that they helped in energy diversification and more sustainable since energy is derived from renewable sources such as Jatropha, soy beans and corn among others and that they as well provided alternatives to energy. One of the recommendations was encouraging inter cropping of Jatropha to ensure protection of food security so as to yield a variety of food crops for human consumption hence food stability.
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    The influence of indigenous knowledge on environmental management: A case study of Lwemiyaga Sub-County, Ssembabule District, Uganda
    (School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 2015-07) Atuhaire, Innocent
    Due to increased global environmental challenges and its emerging problems, it is evidenced that decision-makers have realized that scientific knowledge alone is insufficient to solve them hence the knowledge of the local people often referred to as 1K is increasingly recognized as an important source of environmental management. The main objective of the study was to examine the influence of indigenous 1K in environmental management and the specific objectives were to identify the IKS and practices, determine the various contributions of 1K on conservation of natural resources and management of the environment, find out the disadvantages of incorporating 1K in environmental management. The methods and materials used in collection of data included; questionnaires, interview guide, observation and the sample size was 50 respondents. The findings were: IKS included a system of crop management like weeding, thinning, pruning, mulching, ways of soil conservation were; using animal wastes, crop wastes, poultry droppings and fallowing, tree management practices were; pruning, thinning, pollarding, and trenching. Disease treatment and management were isolation, herbs, traditional healing and ritual performances. The contributions of 1K on natural resource conservation and management of the environment included; increased vegetation cover, preservation of wild resources, increased quality and quantity of water and increased soil fertility. In conclusion therefore, The IKS included a system of growing crops and the highest was bananas (42%) and the least was groundnuts (6%).The highest local management system of these crops was weeding (52%) and the least was pollarding (4%). This is because the area is highly infested with weeds. In terms of increasing soil fertility, the highest method was addition of animal wastes (50%) and the least was fallowing (9%). This is because animal wastes like cow dung are readily available due to many herds of cattle reared. The highest tree management practices was pruning (4O%) and the least was trenching (4%). The highest treatment method was use of herbs (60%) and the least was through ritual performances (6%). This is due to availability of information regarding use of traditional herbs. The ix contributions of 1K to natural resource conservation and management of the environment, increased quality and quantity of water (40%) was the highest and the least was increased air quality (2%). This is because water is scarce in the area and therefore highly conserved. The disadvantages of incorporating 1K in environmental management include; negative practices like bush burning (60%) and the least was swamp reclamation (4%). This is because fire is used to clear land for cultivation and killing ticks. Negative traditional practices on human beings, the highest was early marriages (40%) and the least was man eating (6%). This is because early marriages are a source of wealth in terms of bride price. From the above conclusion i therefore recommend the following; motivation, developing a data base, incorporating IK in school curriculum, creating awareness and sensitization
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    Impact of nomadic pastoralism on household welfare: A case study of Afgooye district, Somalia
    (School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 2013-08) Abdifatah, Mohamed Hassan
    The research on “the impact of nomadic pastoralism on community welfare” was carried out in Afgooye district, lower Shabelle Region- Somalia with major emphasis placed on finding out the different activities of Nomadic Pastoralists, effects of various activities of nomadic pastoralists on household welfare and the possible ways of improving the welfare of Nomadic Pastoralists in the Afgooye district. Responses were sought through use of simple random sampling and purposive sampling for the community members and agriculture stakeholders in the district respectively. Both closed and open ended questionnaires were given to a cross section of respondents to aid and facilitate comprehensive data collection. The activities of Nomadic Pastoralists include; animal remedies, milk production or consumption, meat production, mobility, construction of underground water reservoir and animal fencing. The research findings discovered that the most effective parameters are income to the household, health for both human and herds and education level to the nomads. The study asked the respondents the best way how drought problems can be curtailed, 53.3% of the people said that construction of underground water reservoir (Berkado) is the best way to manage drought, while 42.2% agreed that digging bore holes can be a considerable strategy, and 4.4% of respondents voted for livestock banking. A common failure of past rangeland development projects in Somalia was the focus on single issues and interventions in isolation, such as addressing animal health problems with veterinary services, or addressing the under-provision of education and health services with mobile schools and clinics.
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    The impact of agriculture on arable land: a case study of Bor county, Jonglei state, South Sudan
    (Kampala International University,School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, 2010-05) Awuol Bul, Mamuor