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Saadani-Wami-Mbiki wildlife corridor has been facing conservation threats as a result of various
land-use practices (LUP) carried out in and around the corridor. The understanding of changes
happening in the corridor over time is important for establishing the management baseline data. This
study aimed at identifying land use practices along the Saadani-Wami-Mbiki wildlife corridor and
their implications to wildlife conservation. Specifically, the study sought to determine the rate of land
cover changes in the corridor between 1975 and 2011 and the effects associated with land use
practices on wildlife conservation. The land sat imageries of 1975, 1995, and 2011 were used to
assess the rate of vegetation cover changes as a result of various land use practices carried out
along. The household survey and Key informants' interview methods were used to obtain socioeconomic
data which were analyzed using SPSS while GIS data were analyzed using the ERDAS
IMAGINE 9.1 and ArcGIS 9.3 programs. In the past 36 years (1975-2011), the cultivated land
increased by 25%, settlement by 13%, open forest by 10% while closed forest and grassland
decreased by 18% and 3% respectively. Shifting cultivation, overgrazing, charcoal burning,
settlements, and poaching were identified as major land use practices threatening wildlife
conservation within the corridor. Based on the results, it was recommended that, the Government should formulate a land use management plan and introduce a community-based natural resources
management strategy to improve natural resources utilization and reduction of human stress to the
corridor. |
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