Small scale farming on Wetland resource utilisation: a case study of Mandlanzini, Richards Bay (original) (raw)
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Community strategies to promote sustainable wetland-based food security in rural areas of Zimbabwe
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Greener Journal of Environmental Management and Public Safety
Sustainable livelihoods based on wetland resources have proven to be very delicate. As a wetland ecosystem degrades, the livelihoods of most rural poor people deteriorate. This study assessed the livelihood challenges that the Chingombe community of Gutu district, Masvingo, Zimbabwe, encountered following the drying up of Mutubuki wetland. A total of 26 household heads and 6 key informants were directly involved as questionnaire respondents, interviewees, focus group discussion participants and subjects directly observed. Following the drying up of Mutubuki wetland, the range, quantities and quality of functions and products the ecosystem provided to the local population significantly declined. The degradation of the wetland significantly influenced the dwindling of livelihood options available to local households and worsened the plight of the rural poor. The residents experienced food insecurity, malnutrition, water shortages mostly during the dry season, income loss among other survival challenges. Engendering partnerships, coupled with national wetland policy realignment with wetland wise use would enhance opportunities for local community survival beyond wetland loss and degradation.
2008
The size of the Ga-Mampa wetland (1 km 2 ), in the Olifants river catchment in South Africa, was halved between 1996 and 2004. This jeopardizes the ecological integrity and influences the benefits people obtain from the wetland. This study therefore analysed the economic values of the provisioning services derived from the Ga-Mampa wetland and evaluated their contribution to the livelihood of local stakeholders. Using a direct market valuation technique and based on a mix of data collection approaches that include questionnaire survey, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, field observation and measurements and collection of market prices, we estimated the economic value of the main provisioning services provided by the wetland (collection of edible plants, crop production, livestock grazing, fishing, hunting, fuel-wood, reeds and sedge collection). The results show that the contribution of the wetland to the livelihood of local community estimated at an annual net financial value of 211perhouseholdfarexceedsitsannualcashincomeof211 per household far exceeds its annual cash income of 211perhouseholdfarexceedsitsannualcashincomeof35 per household and is about half of the average monthly cash income from all sources. Crop production contributes the highest gross and net financial value, whereas sedge collection yields the highest cash income. Most of the materials harvested from the wetland are used for household subsistence and are rarely sold. The wetland services are also essential to sustain the social and cultural responsibilities in gift giving to neighbours and relatives. The study concludes that the local people are highly dependent on the wetland ecosystem services but that current use levels exceed sustainability levels, which jeopardizes the future livelihood of the local people. We therefore recommend that the local stakeholders be supported in identifying alternative sources of livelihood while simultaneously developing sustainable management strategies for small wetlands such as Ga-Mampa. In addition, other ecosystem services (regulating, supporting) provided by the wetland to local and downstream stakeholders need to be further studied and economically assessed.
Livelihood Activities that Impact on Sustainable Wetland use
2016
Worldwide, countries are facing pressure to meet the livelihood needs of their fast-increasing populations. This often leads to overuse of natural resources and consequent encroachment on fragile ecosystems such as wetlands. The deteriorating state of wetlands and consequent threats to sustainability of livelihoods remains a matter of concern to many governments, especially in developing countries. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of livelihood activities on wetlands. The study used a combination of cross-cultural and cross-sectional, longitudinal survey to elicit information and data. Purposive and non-purposive sampling strategies were applied. The following data collection instruments were used: survey questionnaires, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, observation checklists, community vulnerability assessments, maps from Survey of Kenya, digital camera, geographical positioning and reference equipment, satellite images, and literature in journals and gov...
IntechOpen eBooks, 2023
The study assessed the impacts of human activities on wetlands' provisioning and cultural services in Epworth's Ward 6 (Overspill), Zimbabwe. The researcher adopted a case study approach which implemented both the qualitative and quantitative approach. Semistructured interviews, questionnaires and field observations were conducted to gather primary data that was synthesised with collected secondary data. Data obtained from the field was analysed through Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) software version 20.0 and Microsoft excel. Findings show that the majority of households (31.6%) were motivated to utilise wetlands due to the availability of market for agricultural products. Wetland use was influenced by population increase, availability of rainfall and donor funding for sustainable food security projects. The dominant wetland use is agriculture as indicated by 35.1% of respondents. Essential services of the wetland include supply of water for agriculture (26.3%), livestock grazing, spiritual enrichment, cultural heritage, ecotourism etc. Agriculture, urbanisation, dumping of waste and livestock grazing negatively impacted the wetland. The study advocates for support of environmental conservation initiatives from key stakeholders. It also recommends that relevant authorities come up with an integrated land use planning approach that will go a long way in addressing issues of land degradation and fragmentation.
Livelihood Activities that Impact on Sustainable Wetland use in Upper Nzoia River Basin, Kenya
Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, 2014
Worldwide, countries are facing pressure to meet the livelihood needs of their fast-increasing populations. This often leads to overuse of natural resources and consequent encroachment on fragile ecosystems such as wetlands. The deteriorating state of wetlands and consequent threats to sustainability of livelihoods remains a matter of concern to many governments, especially in developing countries. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of livelihood activities on wetlands. The study used a combination of cross-cultural and cross-sectional, longitudinal survey to elicit information and data. Purposive and non-purposive sampling strategies were applied. The following data collection instruments were used: survey questionnaires, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, observation checklists, community vulnerability assessments, maps from Survey of Kenya, digital camera, geographical positioning and reference equipment, satellite images, and literature in journals and government reports. Stakeholder participatory forums of focus group discussions, community vulnerability assessments and key informants were used to evaluate and rank impact mitigation options in wetland conservation. Results of the study showed that encroachment does not follow any fixed pattern but, rather, is driven by existing conditions of poverty, pursuit of livelihoods in the wetland. The study concludes that wetland encroachment and subsequent degradation is caused by land hunger due to fast rising population, and that participatory management and control measures are best suited to stem further deterioration of wetlands and entrench their conservation. The findings are of significance to policy and extension support institutions, as well as communities in wetlands. The results may also assist researchers and other stakeholders in the furtherance of knowledge on wetland conservation for sustainable development
Physics and Chemistry of The Earth, 2005
Wetlands contribute in diverse ways to the livelihood of many people in Africa. One of the major constraints to the wise use of African wetlands is lack of knowledge by planners and natural resource managers on the benefits that they provide and techniques by which they can be utilised in a sustainable manner. This paper presents findings from a study undertaken in Kilombero Valley, Tanzania, on the dynamics and benefits of natural resource use in the wetlands. The paper specifically focuses on opportunities and challenges related to integrated water resource management. The study was conducted in two villages, Idete and Signali located in Kilombero District, Morogoro Region. Participatory assessment and household interviews were employed to obtain both qualitative and quantitative information, respectively, pertaining to biophysical, agronomic and socio-economic facts that influence community access to, and utilisation of the wetland resources.
Research Square (Research Square), 2021
The study assesses drivers of wetland utilisation patterns and the current status of provisioning and cultural services in Driefontein and Intunjambili wetlands, Zimbabwe. A total of 280 questionnaires were administered together with semi-structured interviews conducted with key informants in the two wetlands. Qualitative data obtained through the questionnaire survey and key informant interviews were analyzed using the content analysis method. The majority of the households in Driefontein (86%) and Intunjambili (75%) indicated that there is no change in wetland utilisation patterns over the past decade as horticultural activities remain the predominant activity. Most households (90%) in Intunjambili indicated that the availability of water is the major factor in uencing wetland use. This was different from Driefontein where market availability for horticultural products (66%) was the main reason for wetland use. Land use land cover (LULC) changes established through analysis of remotely sensed imagery for the years 1999, 2009 and 2019 indicate an increase in the spatial extent of the cultivated area, bare land and a decrease in the area covered by water. Results also show that the two wetlands are providing water for drinking and crop cultivation, pasture for livestock grazing and opportunities for academic incursions. Overall, the two wetlands provide essential provisioning and cultural services hence the need for wise use and proper management to prevent their degradation and possibly loss of human bene ts.
Conservation, Land Conflicts and Sustainable Tourism in Southern Africa Contemporary Issues and Approaches, 2022
This study assesses the conflict arising from conservation between iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the community of KwaNibela, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. To achieve this, a qualitative research approach was adopted, which included one-on-one in-depth interviews with fifty people from the community of KwaNibela who were randomly selected. In-depth interviews were further conducted with three officials from iSimangaliso Wetland Park who were purposely selected to understand their perceptions. The findings suggest that iSimangaliso Wetland Park conservation strategies have a negative impact on the socio-economic wellbeing of the people in KwaNibela due to limited access to natural resources and lack of economic opportunities. This has led to conflict between the stakeholders of iSimangaliso Wetland Park and the community. iSimangaliso Wetland Park generates income from tourists who visit the park, while the community of KwaNibela receives little to no benefits from both tourism and conservation. This has led to conflict since the community of KwaNibela feels that iSimangaliso is generating income from their traditional land and natural resources while they (the community) are left poverty-stricken. In order to achieve conservation that caters to the needs and livelihoods of local people, it is suggested that iSimangaliso Wetland Park includes the community of KwaNibela in their conservation efforts and creates economic opportunities for the same community through conservation and tourism.