Browsing by Author "Shirima, Deo D"

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Carbon stocks of Hanang forest, Tanzania: An implication for climate mitigation
(Academic Journal, 2014-03) Swai, Godgift; Ndangalasi, Henry J; Munishi, Pantaleo K.T; Shirima, Deo D
The study assessed carbon stocks of Hanang mountain forest, Tanzania. Thirty-four sample plots (40 × 50 m) were established along an altitudinal gradient. All trees with diameter at breast height ≥10 cm were identified and measured, and herb species and soil were sampled from four 1 × 1 m quadrats -1 within 10 × 10 m subplots. Mean carbon stock was 48.37 and 0.26 t C ha for tree and herb species, -1 respectively. Soil organic carbon (SOC) was 64.2, 41.93 and 31.0 t C ha in the upper, mid and lower layers, respectively. It was found that there was significant difference in tree carbon (p<0.05) along an altitudinal gradient. However there was no significant difference (p>0.05) in herbaceous carbon and SOC in the three layers along an altitudinal gradient. Tree carbon was low compared to other tropical areas where allometric models were employed. In contrast, SOC was high compared to other similar forests in the tropics. Anthropogenic threats will likely diminish the SOC hence conservation measures are needed.
Deforestation and connectivity among protected areas of Tanzania
(MDPI, 2020-02-04) Gizachew, Belachew; Rizzi, Jonathan; Shirima, Deo D; Zahabu, Eliakimu
Protected Areas (PAs) in Tanzania had been established originally for the goal of habitat, landscape and biodiversity conservation. However, human activities such as agricultural expansion and wood harvesting pose challenges to the conservation objectives. We monitored a decade of deforestation within 708 PAs and their unprotected buffer areas, analyzed deforestation by PA management regimes, and assessed connectivity among PAs. Data came from a Landsat based wall-to-wall forest to non-forest change map for the period 2002–2013, developed for the definition of Tanzania’s National Forest Reference Emissions Level (FREL). Deforestation data were extracted in a series of concentric bands that allow pairwise comparison and correlation analysis between the inside of PAs and the external buffer areas. Half of the PAs exhibit either no deforestation or significantly less deforestation than the unprotected buffer areas. A small proportion (10%; n = 71) are responsible for more than 90% of the total deforestation; but these few PAs represent more than 75% of the total area under protection. While about half of the PAs are connected to one or more other PAs, the remaining half, most of which are Forest Reserves, are isolated. Furthermore, deforestation inside isolated PAs is significantly correlated with deforestation in the unprotected buffer areas, suggesting pressure from land use outside PAs. Management regimes varied in reducing deforestation inside PA territories, but differences in protection status within a management regime are also large. Deforestation as percentages of land area and forested areas of PAs was largest for Forest Reserves and Game Controlled areas, while most National Parks, Nature Reserves and Forest Plantations generally retained large proportions of their forest cover. Areas of immediate management concern include the few PAs with a disproportionately large contribution to the total deforestation, and the sizeable number of PAs being isolated. Future protection should account for landscapes outside protected areas, engage local communities and establish new PAs or corridors such as village-managed forest areas.
Effects of the abundance of parthenium hysterophorus On the composition and diversity of other herbaceous Plant species in Simanjiro rangeland, Tanzania
(ACADEMIA, 2020-05) Musese, Leticia J; Andrew, Samora M; Shirima, Deo D; Witt, Arne; Kilewa, Ramadhan
Parthenium hysterophorus is an annual herbaceous plant native to tropical America; and an invasive plant in Africa causing distressing effects on natural flora. This study investigated the effects of P. hysterophorus on the composition and diversity of native herbaceous plant species in Simanjiro rangeland, Tanzania. Plant species count data were collected from 60 (1m2) quadrats. Using generalized linear models (GLM), the abundance of P. hysterophorus was regressed against the abundance and diversity of the native herbaceous plants. Also, Jaccard’s similarity index was used to compare species composition. Results showed that there were 14 herbaceous plant species belonging to 13 genera and 10 families in the study area. Parthenium hysterophorus was the most dominant species recorded. The abundance of P. hysterophorus has a substantial negative effect on the abundance and diversity of other herbaceous plant species. Moreover, Jaccard’s similarity index showed a slightly significant difference between the infested and non-infested areas. This finding suggests that P. hysterophorus has a substantial potential threat on other herbaceous flora which are sources of food and nutrients to livestock and wild animals in the area. Thus, integrated management strategies are required to control the weed from spreading to other nearby rangelands.
Pastoralists’ perceptions on an invasive alien plant parthenium hysterophorus and its management control in Simanjiro district, Tanzania
(International Journal of Research-GRANTHAALAYAH, 2020-08) Macrice, Samora A; Shirima, Deo D; Witt, Arne; Kilewa, Ramadhan; Musese, Leticia J
The Maasai pastoralist community resides in Simanjiro District, Manyara Region, Tanzania. As a pastoralist community they are largely dependent on rangelands as a source of forage for their livestock. However, plant invasions are threatening rangeland productivity, displacing valuable forage species, leading to a reduction in livestock populations. The noxious weed Parthenium hysterophorus has recently been established in Simanjiro District and may pose a significant threat to livelihoods if effective control strategies are not put in place. This study was therefore conducted to determine pastoralists’ understanding of P. hysterophorus in Simanjiro District, Tanzania. Semi-structured and open-ended questionnaires were used to collect information on, among others, the date of introduction, means of spread, area coverage, effects of P. hysterophorus on livestock health and management control for P. hysterophorus. Pastoralists were unaware of when P. hysterophorus was introduced although they mentioned vehicles, people and livestock to be the main vectors of introduction and spread. They confirmed that P. hysterophorus has little/some expanding its range since it was first noticed at the beginning of this decade. Furthermore, most pastoralists were not aware of the effects of Parthenium weed in livestock although few reported it causing distasteful and less milk and diarrhoea after consuming the weed. There were no major efforts in place to control Parthenium weed. Therefore, efforts need to be made to motivate pastoralists through community awareness campaigns to impart knowledge on how to control