Browsing by Author "Meire, P."

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Analysing ecosystem services at watershed scale: implications for conservation in Upper Kikuletwa Sub-Catchment, Tanzania
(DAAD, 2014) Lalika, M. C.S.; Meire, P.; Ngaga, Y. M.; Ngowi, S. E.
Catchment forests perform myriad ecological functions including provision of ecosystem services. They are, however, increasingly degraded due to anthropogenic activities in such a way their capacity to regulate and supply watershed services is significantly dwindling. We carried out this study in order to identify and document ecosystem goods and services in Upper Kikuletwa Sub-Catchment, Tanzania. A structured questionnaire was administered so as to solicit socio-economic data. Qualitative data was collected through group focus discussions and formal and informal interviews. Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used to compare means and MS excel was applied to generate figures. T-test and one-way ANOVA was applied to test the variation between location and across villages. Wild fruits, vegetables, grasses, birds, mushrooms are the ecosystem goods available in the area. Ecosystem services encompass control of soil erosion, climate regulation, water flow regulation, production of hydroelectricity, water purification, etc. The reason for WTP was people’s reliance on irrigated agriculture. We concluded that sustainable supply of ecosystem goods and services in depends largely on how forests and watersheds are conserved. Therefore, we recommend designing of a feasible PWS scheme that could ensure increased and sustainable supply ecosystem goods and services especially water flow for irrigated agriculture.
Exploring watershed conservation and water governance along Pangani River Basin, Tanzania
(2015 Elsevier Ltd., 2015) Lalika, M. C. S.; Meire, P.; Ngaga, Y. M.
tWater scarcity is among the contemporary problems of our time across the globe. The problem is wors-ened by policy failures to enforce water governance and watershed conservation. Consequently, it hascurtailed the capacity of watersheds to release hydrological services, water in particular. We carried outthis study to explore approaches for watershed conservation and investigate water governance challengesin Pangani River Basin, Tanzania. We collected data by using structured questionnaires and meetings withdifferent actors in the study area. We found that retaining riparian vegetation is the appropriate strategyfor watershed conservation and sustainable water flow. Water governance challenges include ineffectiveand uncoordinated water governing institutional structures; and untrustworthy financial management.We feel that building the capacity of water users association could bring about positive outcomes forboth watershed conservation and water governance. We recommend that strategies and policies aimedat improving the flow of hydrological services should also focus on improving the welfare of the localcommunities, who are the primary beneficiaries of water from watersheds.
Willingness to pay for watershed conservation: are we applying the right paradigm?
(Elsevier Sp. z o.o., 2017) Lalika, M. C. S.; Meire, P.; Ngaga, Y. M.; Sanga, G. J.
The values of watershed services from watersheds has for many years been neglected, underestimated and not factored in land use decisions for sustainable management. Sustainable management of watersheds and environmental friendly economic activities are vital for sustained water flow, steady supply of ecosystem services for societal needs and enhancement of aquatic vegetation and animal species. The problem of the failure to capture actual values of ecosystem services from watersheds and incorporate them in the national income accounting is profound in developing countries which are characterized with constrained budget for financing conservation programs. To resolve this problem attention has moved to market based instruments such as payment for watershed services (PWS). However, the approach to elicit the necessary information for PWS to kick off is still lacking. Furthermore, Ecohydrology, defined as an integrative sustainability science using the interactions between hydrology, biota and natural processes as management tools to reinforce ecosystem services on a broad range of landscapes (Zalewski, 2015) is a basis for the development and application of market-based approaches in watershed conservation. This study investigated small holder farmers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for watershed services in Pangani River Basin. A contingent valuation method was employed to elicit the willingness to pay for watershed conservation. A probit model was used to determine respondents’ response to WTP and factors conditioning the maximum amount they are WTP. Findings indicates that majority of respondents are willing to pay for watershed services. Similarly, result reveals that marital status, household size and distance from the water source positively influence smallholder farmers’ WTP and the maximum amount to be paid. Equally important occupation, household size, income from irrigation, and amount paid for irrigation were found to negatively influencing smallholder farmers’ WTP. The result also revealed that education level, total land size and yield from irrigated farm plot positively influence smallholder farmers’ WTP. These results therefore, indicate that establishment of PWS is feasible.