Unlocking the potential of ecohydrology in climate stressed water bodies: experience from Mara River Basin, Tanzania
Loading...
Date
2022
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ResearchGate
Abstract
Mara River is a transboundary water body between Tanzania and Kenya that drains into Lake Victoria.
This transboundary water body is crucial for various ecosystem services for the local communities
along the catchment. Despite its ecological and economic significance, the river is under increasing
pressure and losing many of its important functions with serious consequences in aquatic biodiversity,
significant reduction of livelihood opportunities, water eutrophication, changed water regimes and
increased water use conflicts. This study identify the drivers of climate change and environmental
degradation, effects of mining activities on water quality, effects of agricultural activities on stream
discharge and establish approaches for river basin management and environmental conservation.
Socio-economic data were collected through household questionnaires, interviews and participant
observation. Ecological data on water quality, flow and heavy metals concetration were obtained from
gauging stations and Lake Victoria Basin Offices for analyses. The Statistical Packing for Social Sciences
and Microsoft Excel were used in the analyses. The study revealed that environmental degradation
along the Mara River Basin is caused by direct and indirect drivers. Direct drivers for environmental
degradation are identified as agriculturel (41%), mining (34%), livestock keeping (13%) and
deforestation (12%). It is found that impairment of water quality is due to excessive NO3- and PO43-
concentrations that exceed the recommended in most sites by direct drivers which cause adverse
impact on the ecosystem. Ecohydrology and management framework that encompasses integrated
water resource management along the entire basin should be applied and also, developing new species
susceptible to the impacts of climate change.
Description
Journal
Keywords
Water regimes, Agriculture activities, Hydrological services, Mara River Basin, Tanzania
Citation
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/363231395_Unlocking