Analysis Of Drivers And Economic Consequences Of Wetland Degradation Along Ruvu Riverine In Coastal Tanzania

ABSTRACT

The current study intended to analyse the drivers, communities’ awareness and economic consequences of wetland degradation to a local population living along the Ruvu riverine in Morogoro rural and Kibaha districts. The study deployed a number of methodologies including a household questionnaire survey, interview, focus group discussion and review of satellite images of land-use change in the riverine to collect data. Data were analysed using Statistical Software for Social Science, content analysis, Land Ecosystem Disturbance Adaptive Processing System and ArcGIS 10 software. The findings from satellite imagery analysis indicate the prevalence of wetland degradation within the study area. Findings from field survey show that livestock grazing is the main cause of wetland degradation accounting for 53% (n=122) of the degradation, arable farming was ranked as the second most prominent driver accounting for 48% (n=122), brick making was ranked as the third significant driver contributing 46% (n=122) and fishing was ranked as the fourth prominent driver contributing 39%. The findings also revealed that the majority of the respondents were mostly aware of direct benefits of wetlands. About 75% of the respondents confirmed that floods are the main consequence of wetland degradation in the area. The findings show further, that the local community perceive wetland degradation as having great negative effects on their economic status especially with regards to accessing food and generating income. Furthermore, independent variable was able to explain about 33.2 % of the variation in the dependent variable. The study concludes that anthropogenic activities associated with low awareness on values of wetland significantly results to wetland degradation which has serious economic costs to the local communities and the government. The study recommends that awareness on the iii direct and indirect benefits of wetlands and proper land use practices should be raised among the communities to enable proper use of wetlands.