Land degradation in refugees settlement areas; a case of Ulyankulu, Urambo district, Tabora region, Tanzania
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Date
2009
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
The study was carried out in Ulyankulu refugee’s settlement, Urambo district, Tabora region. The district is among the districts with the oldest refugees settlements in Tanzania. It is also among leading districts producing tobacco crop in the country. A review of available literature provides some evidence of land degradation in refugee accommodating areas. The country has become more sensitive to the potential economic loss due to environmental damage once refugees are repatriated. This study assessed the extent and trend of land degradation particularly vegetation and soil degradation, and it identified the socio-economic factors influencing land degradation. Aerial photographs, satellite imagery, topographic maps, soils map and questionnaire were used during the study. Soil sample analysis was done to determine the trend of soil fertility. Questionnaire survey was conducted to collect information on socio-economic activities responsible for land degradation and the data were analysed using SPSS software. The results revealed that about 85% of the woodland area degraded during the period from 1978 to 2006 period at a rate of 3.0% per year. Forest was degraded to about 100%. The area with soil erosion above tolerance level was increased from 3.4% in 1978 to 5.9% in 2006. The status of nutrient level particularly nitrogen, organic carbon, phosphorous and level of pH varies between the study periods. Farming practices, agricultural land expansion and firewood collection for domestic use and curing of tobacco were among major factors influencing the land degradation observed in the study area. Human population dynamics, education level, farming systems practices were also found to contribute on soil degradation. It is recommended that government and other agencies sensitize and involve refugee’s community in all stages of natural resources utilization planning and management and they assess the land capability of the refugee’s settlement areas
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Land degradation, Refugees settlement areas, Ulyankulu, Urambo district, Tabora region, Tanzania