ABSTRACT Most of our activities as human beings generate solid waste. As much as the solid waste that is generated may not be harmful in its current state, the methods through which this waste is handled, stored, collected and disposed can pose risks to the local populace as well as the community. The situation is aggravated by the fact that solid waste has no owner, and therefore the provision of quality solid waste management services is left for those who can afford it. The objectives of ...
ABSTRACT Urban farming makes a substantial influence on the household economy of the urban poor especially in developing countries. Urban soil the hot spot of urban farming is a natural sink for contaminants especially the potentially toxic trace elements derived mainly from anthropogenic activities. The sources of trace elements include effluents from sewerage drainage system, unprocessed wastewater from neighboring manufacturing industries in addition to farming activities along polluted r...
ABSTRACT The coffee plant (Coffea Arabica L) originated in the forests of Ethiopia, where it evolved as an understory tree species. Mimicking this native growth habit, coffee farmers have for centuries grown coffee under shade and intercropped with various fruit tree species to provide shade, foods, and income. The impact of these intercrops on coffee production is little known hence the need for this study. The study was carried out in an existing coffee intercropping plot at Coffee Researc...
ABSTRACT Ecosystems are largely dependent on the prevailing climatic conditions. The ever changing climate across the world has necessitated climate change adaptation projects as a coping mechanism to the adverse effects of climate change. The main objective of the study was to assess ecosystem services in climate change adaptation projects in the least developed countries of West Africa. Specifically, the study sought to; (i) assess the ecosystems changes in the Least Developed Countries o...
ABSTRACT Open defecation refers to defecating in bushes, fields, water bodies and other places that are open. Across the world, approximately 1 billion people are practicing open defecation. This is worse in sub-Saharan Africa where about 215 million people defecate in the open. In Kenya, an estimated 5.6 million people practice defecation in the open. The introduction of Community Led Total Sanitation strategy by the Ministry of Health has not achieved its goal of improved sanitation and hyg...
ABSTRACT The activity of the oil prospecting companies in the study area is mainly that of crude oil extraction from the subsurface. As a result of these petroleum activities, there is a continuous destruction of aquatic lives – flora and fauna destabilizing the entire aquatic eco-system. This study was focused on the impact of oil spillage on the water quality. Different physico-chemical parameters were analyzed, including Temperature, Taste, Colour, Odour, Total Dissolved Solid, Conducti...
ABSTRACT Erosion is one of the major environmental hazards currently ravaging the southeastern part of Nigeria, especially Imo-state. This present study was conducted to assess the impact of Umuagor-Urualla gully erosion site. Analysis of undisturbed soil samples collected at three distinct positions (surface, subsurface and base of the gully) showed that the liquid limit and plastic limit for sample 1 was NP (non-plastic), with Plasticity Index of 0%, while the Plasticity Index for samples ...
ABSTRACT African rainforests are lost at a high rate every year and most of the cleared areas are transformed to agricultural land. Such anthropogenic influences potentially result in biodiversity changes of major conservation concern. In ecosystems near Kakamega Forest, the conservation of some fauna depends on their survival in adjacent agricultural lands. Therefore, understanding the biodiversity potential of field margin vegetation or hedgerows and the interior of agricultural fields was...
ABSTRACT Climate variability is among major threats to food security in many agricultural based countries in Africa. In particular, it affects crop production due to temperature and rainfall changes, and more extreme weather events. Erratic rainfall and temperatures are said to reduce crop yields through shortening growing seasons, exaggeration of water stress and promote invasion and intensity of weeds, pests and diseases. Food security in Kenya is uncertain and communities in arid and semi...
ABSTRACT It is evident that forests have been managed for several years in the world, but in most cases especially in the developing world, various regimes have tried to come up with an institutional framework to guide forest management with no much success due to lack of forest monitoring systems. The study entailed detecting forest degradation and modeling forest future scenarios. Analysis of Satellite imagery provided spatial temporal data with ground truthing exercise using Global positi...
ABSTRACT Leachate flow from urban municipal dumpsites into surface and ground water sources can be detrimental to the urban population who use these waters sources. Gradual accumulations of contaminants in the water sources can result into high loads of pollutants which are potentially toxic to the users. In Kisii Town River Nyakumisaro that drain through the town and improved ground water wells are the main sources of portable water for most residents. The major aim of the study was to dete...
ABSTRACT Geothermal energy counts among renewable energies sources, with a long tradition, experience and great potential for the future. However, most of the geothermal power plants globally are located within important conservation sites where endemic and endangered species of birds inhabit. The presence of these geothermal power stations has an impact on biodiversity. The study was carried out between December 2015 to May 2016 within Hell’s Gate National Park. The specific objectives of ...
ABSTRACT This thesis is an assessment of the post drought recovery strategies among pastoralists in Turkana Central district. The main objective of this study was to assess how the pastoralists’ community in drought prone areas of Turkana Central district recovers their livelihoods in the post drought period. The study used structured questionnaires, participant observation and key informant interviews and focused groups discussions to collect both quantitative and qualitative prim...
ABSTRACT The Lake Victorian Nile Perch (Lates niloticus) industry in Kenya is the most important in the fisheries sub-sector and generates significant levels of revenue to the national economy besides creating employment opportunities along the value chain. In 2012, fish production from Lake Victoria-Kenyan waters was 118,992 metric tons with an ex-vessel value of USD 136 million. Information on the utilization of by-products and cleaner production is very important as the industry plays a s...
ABSTRACT Melia volkensii (Melia) is an indigenous tree species belonging to the plant family Meliaceae. In Kenya, the tree is commonly known as “Mukau”. Melia grows naturally in the arid and semi-arid zone of Tanzania, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya. It’s highly valued for its timber which is termite resistant and so imperatively durable. Despite its popularity, its domestication efforts have been minimal, as a result of poor access to quality planting material and lack of a comprehensive...