Assessing The Impact Of Agriculture On Protected Areas, A Case Study Of Arusha Natonal Park- Arusha- Tanzania

ABSTRACT

A study on assessing the impacts of agriculture on protected areas was carried out in Arusha National Park in Tanzania. The variables considered include identifying the factors influencing agriculture around Arusha National Park (ANAPA) and major type of agriculture activities carried out, examining the impacts of these activities on ANAPA and identify the effort of local community and NGOs and National Park Authority to address these effects of agricultural activities on ANAPA and also suggestion for further measures minimize the impacts. To investigate the above variables a general survey research design was used, the data collection tools used includes the interview; observation, questionnaires and literature review. The study further more identify the maj or reasons for practicing agricultural activities around Arusha National Park such as livestock keeping such as goats ,cattle, sheep’s and rearing pigs, cultivation of food crops such maize, beans, tomato, onions and banana and coffee to small extent. The study revealed the effects of agricultural activities around ANAPA in the general wild biodiversity in the Park and around the Park. The major impacts on the area of study identified ware transmissions of diseases from domestic’s animals to wild animals, loss of wild diversity habitats through clearing land to get more land for cultivation, distraction of migratory route of wild animals and disappearing of indigenous plant species. The researchers established what has been done to protect the wild biodiversity in and around the park through community participation, setting the policies and laws. The study comes up with recommendation that must be put in place in order to minimize the effects of agriculture on ANAPA and these include arising awareness of the public and decision makers, community participation and defining clear roles of relevant agencies.