Impact Assessment of Urbanisation On the Environment a Case Study of Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania0

ABSTRACT This study was conducted in 2004 in four wards, Saba Saba, Mji Mpya,Mji Mkuu and Sultan area within Morogoro municipality. During the study thirty seven people were interviewed from the four wards. The aim ofthe study was to assess the impact of urbanisation on the environment in Morogo~o mun~cipality. Data were collected through questionnaires, focused group discussion and field observations in which both open and closed ended questionnaires were used during the study. Increase in number of people in Morogoro municipality ~as observed to have negative effects in environment within the municipal especially in regard to waste management, water supply, water pollution, energy use and urban planning. For instance the study showed that about 48.6% ofthe responoents interviewed depend on charcoal as the main source of energy whereas 32,4% use fire wood and 18.9% use electricity.This implies that there is much exploitation of forest resources to supply the said energy sources to the municipal residents. The study concluded that for effective environmental management in Morogoro municipality, more emphasis should be put on community participation as its mostly suffer. Also the government should focus more on the economy ofthe rural to enable rural population to have more access in their economic endeavors. This will reduce the rate ofrural-urban migration and enhance sustainable rural development.