Digital Commons Network^™

Pollution In Stone Town’S Coastal Waters: An Assessment Of Environmental Influences On Fecal Contamination, Socorro Lopez

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Urbanized areas in Tanzania, including Zanzibar Town on Unguja, are struggling to deal with the large amount of waste generated by growing populations and increasing tourist industries. In 2010, the waters surrounding Stone Town, a subsection of Zanzibar Town, were found to be highly polluted by fecal waste. This study attempted to determine whether pollution has lessened or worsened in the past four years. Furthermore, environmental components of the coastal area, particularly tides, were tested in order to determine whether they had an impact on pollution in the waters. Using the membrane filtration method, mean enterococci were quantified in two …

Trouble In Paradise: State Of Coastal Erosion Of Unguja Tourist Destinations Shoreline Analysis And Community Responses Of Nungwi And Paje Beaches, Emily Pitman

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Beach erosion is a significant problem facing the coastlines of Zanzibar. This study addresses the current status of coastal erosion for the beaches of Paje and Nungwi, Unguja Island, Zanzibar. These sites were selected for their popularity as tourist destinations and likelihood of significant anthropogenic influence on shoreline change. Field observations were made and indicators of erosion were recorded during transects in both locations. Sediment samples were collected at fixed intervals along the transects and then analyzed statistically for grain size distribution trends at the Institute of Marine Science. Interviews were conducted with village residents to determine community response, and …

The Invading Fly: Innovative Pest Management Solutions For Control Of Bactrocera Invadens In Pemba, Zanzibar, Mccall Calvert, Lindsay Gucker

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

An integrated pest management study was conducted targeting the invasive fruit fly, Bactrocera invadens, on the island of Pemba, Zanzibar. Male annihilation technique (MAT) traps were set in geographically dispersed sites featuring mango fruit hosts. Three locally sourced essential oils,eucalyptus citriodora, clove and lemongrass were tested against the standard attractant methyl eugenol. Rainfall quantities at each site were collected and interviews with local farmers were conducted on the subject of B. invadens infestation and management. Over the course of the two week study, April 2^nd to April 18^th, 2014, methyl eugenol baited traps had an …

The Status Of Coastal Birds On Uzi Island: A Coastal Survey Of Birds And Their Interactions With Fishermen And Seaweed Farmers, Anna Curtis-Heald

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Birds are useful environmental indicators and play important roles in the lives of people. A survey of coastal birds was completed around the shores of Uzi Island, Zanzibar. Intertidal flats surveyed at low tide proved to be the most diverse. Mangrove habitat surveyed at high tide was less diverse, yet a mangrove island hosted an abundance of roosting birds.

Although the coastal bird species found on Uzi are of “Least Concern” according to IUCN ratings, conservation of bird habitat, such as mangroves, is a vital step in maintaining biodiversity. Human subjects reported that fishermen and seaweed farmers do not disturb …

Sustainable Development And The Issue Of Water In The Kagera Region Of Tanzania, Teresa M. Dresner

Theses & Dissertations

Over the last five decades, an abundance of research on sustainable development has emerged in multiple disciplinary areas, but few studies on the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainability have examined water issues for rural communities. Consequently, the purpose of this case study was to understand how a group of rural women from the Kagera region in Tanzania perceived and experienced sustainable development as a result of their improved access to water. The following central questions of the study sought to explore the local meanings of sustainable development and improved water sources: (a) How was life of rural women …

Species Censes & Local Conceptions Of Ornithological Fauna, Uzi, Alexandria Vandervest

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Uzi Island is a rapidly growing and developing island with a wealth of flora and fauna found in very few other places around the world. Study is needed in every field, this was a preliminary study into the residential and migrant bird species presence on Uzi Island. Birds were observed in two of the main habitats present on Uzi Island, intertidal/mangrove and coral-rag. Three transects were cut and laid through each of the two habitats and monitored in the morning and evening hours over the course of 20 days. A total of 1949 birds were recorded comprising 71 species (708 …

An Evaluation Of Potential Management Options For The Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops Aduncus) Population In Kizimkazi, Zanzibar, Rebecca Hamilton

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

A short-term study was conducted between November 3rd and November 30th of 2013 in which dolphin area usage was assessed and interviews conducted in order to evaluate which actions should be considered in order to improve dolphin management in Kizimkazi, Zanzibar. GPS coordinates during dolphin sightings were recorded while on tourist and volunteer boat trips to assess dolphin movement and distribution. While on the tourist boats, observations were also made regarding boat operator, tour guide, and tourist knowledge and behavior in relation to tourism interaction guidelines. Interviews were conducted with locals involved in the dolphin tourism sector, tour company representatives, …

Traditional Boat Building: An Intersection Of Zanzibar’S Culture And Environment, Eric Levenson

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study examined traditional boat building on Uzi Island as a manifestation of Zanzibar’s relationship of environment and culture. Information was gathered about traditional boat building practices, the resource use and management pertaining to boats, the cultural reliance on boats, and local views on environment and conservation. This information showed that the people of Uzi Island were dependent on the use of traditional boats to maintain their livelihood, however the tree types used for boat building are being over-harvested. This tension of culture and environment exposed the need for conservation of Zanzibar’s natural resources in a manner that does not …

Synthesis And Physico-Chemical Studies Of Azo Dyes From Anacardic Acid, An Inexpensive Renewable Resource, John Mkungu, Quintino Mgani, Stephen Mdachi

Tanzania Journal of Science

(3AP) and 4-aminophenol (4AP) with both unsaturated (UA) and saturated (SA) anacardic acidsand the calcium salt (CA) of the unsaturated acid. The six prepared dyes are, thus, given theacronyms 3APSA, 3APUA, 3APCA, 4APSA, 4APUA, and 4APCA depending on the source of thediazonium salt and the form of anacardic acid used. The dyes were characterized using UV-Visand FT-IR spectroscopic techniques. The UV-Vis absorption spectra of the dyes were found tohave maximum peaks at 520 nm for the dyes of 3AP origin and at 295 nm for the dyes of 4APorigin. The FT-IR spectra for the dyes indicated presence of the azo …

Bioremediation Mariculture In Zanzibar, Tanzania: A Viability Assessment Of Using Bath Sponge And Pearl Oyster Farms To Filter Highly Olluted Waters In The Zanzibar Channel, Hayley Oakland

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Bioremediation of polluted water off the coastline of the urban center of Zanzibar—Stone Town, Unguja—was assessed for implementation feasibility through bath sponge and pearl oyster mariculture. A vast research base of the city’s coastal area exists, including the pollution concentrations at various locations, the ramifications of this pollution on the fringing ecosystems, and the relevant water circulation system of eddies and passageways produced by the north flowing East African Counter Current. In following the experimental examples of bioremediation projects around the world, this study tested facets of the filtration abilities of marine sponges and oysters. Both organisms suggested strong pollution …

Comparison Study Of Fish Species Richness Of Two Mangrove Forests On Misali Island: Eastern (Extractive) V. Western (Core) Mangrove Forests, Spencer M. Mallette

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The fish species richness of two mangrove forests adjacent to non-extractive and extractive zones, respectively, was investigated on Misali Island, Tanzania. Observations were done at each site for seven samplings, recording the different species observed upon each visit. A general list of species found in the intertidal area was also composed to get an idea of what species use this region as well. A total of twenty-four species were observed between the two sites, leading to a similarity index of 0.29, representing very little similarity between the two stands. Two different diversity indices (Shannon-Wiener and Simpson’s) also supported the hypothesis …

Mangrove Species Identification On Uzi Island, Zanzibar Archipelago, Mariah Kuitse

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study assesses the population of mangrove species at three locations on Uzi Island off the coast of Unguja at their most highly populated regions: Nyeke, Dikokuu, and Chokaani. Collection of tree samples occurred for identification of mangrove species. Observations and fieldwork were used to obtain information regarding the species that populate the island and the makeup of those communities. Nine total species were found to live within the boundaries of Uzi Island. These species were identified as Xylocarpus moluccensis, Pemphis acidula, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Ceriops tagal, Rhizophora mucronata, Sonneratia alba, Xylocarpus granatum, Avicennia …

Evaluation Of Patterns And Spatial Trends Of Pesticide Residues From Vikuge Farm, Coast Region, Tanzania By Principal Components Analysis, Kf Kilulya, Gs Mhinzi

Tanzania Journal of Science

This paper reports on the analysis of organochlorine pesticides pollution data obtained from samples collected from Vikuge farm, Coast Region, Tanzania between 2000 and 2003 by principal component analysis (PCA). PCA of the data sets for pesticide residues in water, soil and sediments samples from Vikuge has shown that the obsolete pesticides dumped at Vikuge pasture farm for a number of years undergo degradation with time and the distribution pattern of the pesticides in the three environments is similar. Strong outliers were also identified in the data by the use of PCA score plots. Further analysis of the data by …

Status Of Pesticides And Degradation Products In Soil After Clean-Up Of Stockpiles And Treatment With Sodium Hydroxide At A Former Storage Site In Korogwe, Tanzania, Jam Mahugija

Tanzania Journal of Science

The status of pesticide residues in soil samples collected from a former storage site one year after clean-up of stockpiles and treatment with NaOH was investigated. The analytes were extracted from samples by pressurized fluid extraction using n-hexane:acetone (75:25) mixture. Clean-up of extracts was conducted by using silica gel and alumina with 3% H2O and the extracts were eluted with hexane:dichloromethane (1:1). Extra clean-up was performed through C18 SPE cartridges using acetonitrile as the eluting solvent. Labelled internal standards were used for identification and quantification. Analysis of the analytes was performed using a high resolution GC–MS. The dominant contaminants detected …

The Impact Of Income Generating Programs At Tarangire National Park, Tanzania, Dylan Mcdowell

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Tarangire National Park (TAR) is Tanzanian’s third largest grossing park, and is surrounded by 42 villages in five districts. The park’s single Outreach Warden has undertaken many projects since the park’s creation in 1970 to engage the villagers in natural resource conservation, including wildlife. The newest pilot project at TAR is Income Generating Programs (IGP) where community groups organize themselves around an activity that earns income. From September 24-29, 2012, TAR selected 10 members from three groups in the park’s northern end and 15 members from two groups in the park’s southern end to attend an all-expenses paid business class …

Performance Of Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetland For Domestic Wastewater Treatment, Jp Mairi, Tj Lyimo, Kn Njau

Tanzania Journal of Science

Constructed wetlands (CW) have recently emerged as efficient technology for secondary treatment of wastewater in developing countries because of its low cost, ease operation, maintenance and generally good performance. At present there are a number of small scale units of CW for wastewater treatment in Tanzania but information on their performance is scarce. This study investigated the removal efficiency of fecal bacteria indicators, inorganic nutrients and Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) from wastewater by a CW at the University of Dar es Salaam. The CW received wastewater from a primary facultative pond and was a monoculture system planted with Phragmites mauritianus …

How Does Climate Change Affect Agricultural Stability In Southeast Unguja? An Assessment Of The Threats To Agriculture And Food Security From Rising Temperature And Changes In Predictability And Intensity Of Rainy Seasons., Eloise Reid

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The relationship between climate change, agriculture, and food security on the island of Unguja was studied. Informal interviews were carried out in the south-eastern coastal communities of Bwejuu, Paje, and Jambiani in order to gain perspective and awareness of local knowledge concerning changes in climate and it's affects on crop production. Formal interviews were conducted in Stone Town with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Department of Environment, the Sustainable Management of Land and the Environment office, private climate change experts and environmental consultants, and local NGO's to gain insight on what aspects of climate change are most detrimental in the …

Assessing The Viability Of Desalination For Rural Water Supply In Chwaka, Zanzibar, Roy Yu, Daniele Packard

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Zanzibar has been struggling with water scarcity issues over the last few decades due to an increase in consumption on the island and a deterioration of existing supply infrastructure. Poor distribution has affected rural communities most, due to their absence of tourism development, which has gone hand in hand with infrastructure establishment. Foreign aid has begun to address the issue by investing in alternative forms of water supply. On November 15, 2011, The Minister for Housing, Lands, and Water, Ali Juma Shamhuna inaugurated the Mörk desalin® RO 100 SW desalination machine, a solar and wind powered desalination unit in Chwaka …

Environmental Status At Samunge Village (Tanzania) Following A Sharp Increase In Visitors, R Senzota

Tanzania Journal of Science

Starting early 2011, people from all over Tanzania, Africa and overseas flocked Samunge Village in northern Tanzania, to drink a cup of Carissa spinarum concoction claimed to treat diseases hitherto known to be incurable by conventional medicine including HIV-AIDS, hypertension and diabetes. The big number of visitors resulted into vivid environmental impacts including trampling on plants and animals, unplanned discarding of drink and food containers, haphazard sanitation undertakings and overall change in panorama. The present study made some quantification on environmental status in the village during the peak visitor days in March 2011. There was widespread trampling and denudation of …

A Perspective On Sea Level Rise And Coastal Storm Surge From Southern And Eastern Africa: A Case Study Near Durban, South Africa, Andrew A. Mather, Derek D. Stretch

East Africa

Recent coastal storms in southern Africa have highlighted the need for more proactive management of the coastline. Within the southern and eastern African region the availability of coastal information is poor. The greatest gap in information is the likely effects of a combination of severe sea storms and future sea level rise (SLR) on the shoreline. This lack of information creates a barrier to informed decision making. This research outlines a practical localized approach to this problem, which can be applied as a first order assessment within the region. In so doing it provides a cost effective and simple decision …

Effect Of Temperature And Relative Humidity On The Development And Fecundity Of Chilo Partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), A. Tamiru, E. Getu, B. Jembere, T. Bruce

All Peer-Reviewed Publications

The spotted stemborer, Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is one of the most important insect pests attacking maize and sorghum in Ethiopia. Recent studies have indicated that the pest is spreading to new locations where it was not reported before. In the current study, laboratory investigations were carried out to determine the combined effect of different levels of relative humidity and temperature regimes on the development and fecundity of C. partellus, as these physical factors are known to play an important role in the life cycle of insects and adaptability to local climate. Developmental time, longevity, potential fecundity and realized …

Calling For Justice In The Goldfields Of Tanzania, Madoshi H. Makene, Jody Emel, James T. Murphy

Geography

Tanzania is the third largest gold exporter in Africa, thanks in part to the liberalization of the mining sector which started in the early 1990s. Neoliberal mining reforms promised a win-win situation in which government, investors and local host communities would benefit through export earnings, profits, local employment, andcorporate social responsibility initiatives (e.g., the building of schools and clinics). While the rising price of gold and foreign investments in mining activities have delivered on some of these promises, many residents in mining regions have not benefited socioeconomically. Worse still, their communities have unjustly borne the brunt of the environmental, social, …

Variability In Parasites’ Community Structure And Composition In Cat Fish With Respect To Level Of Pollution In Mwanza Gulf, Lake Victoria, Tanzania, C. J. Mwita

Tanzania Journal of Science

This study investigated the composition and structure of the parasite communities in Cat fish with respect to levels of water pollution in Lake Victoria. A total of 1071 Clarias gariepinus with mean TL range of 19 to 27 cm were analyzed from three localities in Mwanza Gulf (Kirumba, 298 fish infected with 15 parasite species), Nyegezi (376 fish, with 15 parasites species) and Malimbe (397 fish, with 16 parasites species). Trematodes and nematodes dominated the population with six (35.3%) and five (29.4%) species, respectively. Mean species richness and heteroxenous/monoxenous ratio showed significant changes (Fr = 8.000; p = 0.0046), being …

A Study Of Sponge Aquaculture In Jambiani: Is Shallow Farming Feasible?, Sarah Friday

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

In the village of Jambiani, Unguja, a Swiss NGO called Marine Cultures has established an experimental sponge farming initiative to improve local employment and support economic development. Currently, the main farming site is only accessible through SCUBA diving. This is consistent with experimental farm sites in other oceanic regions, as most are located in depths of at least five meters with sponges suspended vertically to maximize water flow exposure. Farms located in shallower water may not be conducive to sponge growth due to highly variable environmental conditions; however, no conclusive research has been conducted on this matter (Duckworth 2009). Nonetheless, …

Seaweed Farmer Education: Is It Enough To Sustain The Industry? Analyzing The Status Of Stakeholder Investment In Muungoni And Jambiani, Unguja, Erika Davis

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

Since Filipino researchers arrived in Zanzibar to determine the potential for cultivation of seaweed more than 20 years ago, the islands' coastal communities have relied on the resource as a main or alternative source of income. When the companies started investing at the industry’s onset, trained personnel offered farmers' education on proper farming techniques for Spinosum (Eucheuma denticulatum) and Cottonii (Kappaphycus spp.) by establishing demonstrative (demo) farms and holding seminars. Today, informal training involves experienced farmers teaching the newcomers their techniques. While demo farms remain in some villages, companies offer no extension services based on the belief that the farmers …

Wood Usage In Rural Tanzania: An Investigation Into The Sources And Accessibility Of Fuelwood And Polewood For The Residents Of Kizanda Village, West Usambara Mountains, James Ray

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

This study was conducted over the course of 16 days between April 8^th and 28^th in Kizanda village, which borders the protected Baga Government Forest Reserve, in the West Usambara Mountains in Northern Tanzania. The goals of this study were to investigate the actual sources of fuelwood and polewood reported by the people of Kizanda village, to determine if these sources offer a sufficient amount of fuelwood and polewood, and to identify possible sustainable alternatives to wood products from the Baga Government Forest Reserve and other protected forest areas near Kizanda village. Key informant interviews (n = 9) …

Biogas Technology On Uzi Island, Zanzibar: A Feasibility Study, Peter J. Mcinerney

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

With realization of the finite quantity of fossil fuels and improved study on the effects of global climate change there has been an increasing demand for energy production from renewable, sustainable sources in developed and developing nations alike. The population of Tanzania relies overwhelmingly on biomass as a source of primary energy, with such impacts as deforestation and negative health effects. Biogas generation is a renewable energy technology that utilizes organic waste sources to produce a methane-rich gas suitable for cooking and lighting with the potential to replace current unsustainable energy sources and provide several environmental and socioeconomic benefits. A …

The Major Cause Of Observed Erosion Surge On The Beaches North Of Dar Es Salaam City, N. Nyandwi

Tanzania Journal of Science

Surges in coastal erosion north of Dar es Salaam city have been documented from 1977 to the early 1980s and around 1997/98. Analysis of the wind data shows that the documented increase in coastal erosion coincided with increased wind speeds. Extreme winds in excess of 10-11 m s-1 were experienced during 1976-78, 1984 and after 1996. Their coincidence with extreme high tides produced the high erosion rates. Using beach profile data for the years 1998-2000 the evolution of the beach profile with the changing monsoon winds and sediment input by rivers could be demonstrated. The beach erosion took place during …

African Water: An Experience With Project Management In Bulima, Tanzania, Robert Sharp

Honors Theses

Details the author's experiences researching, designing, and implementing a water system for a boarding school in Africa.

Conservation From The Bottom-Up: Human, Financial, And Natural Capital As Determinants Of Resilient Livelihoods In Kigoma Rural, Tanzania, Yared J. Fubusa

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Rhetoric of "community-based conservation" has gained prominence among development specialists and environmentalists, yet such projects are often implemented from the top-down in Africa. This dissertation contends that only a bottom-up approach can foster resilient livelihoods and environmental stewardship.

This study focused on determinants of household resilience within a poverty-stricken agricultural community near Gombe Stream National Park (GSNP) in western Tanzania. The research purpose was to explore: 1) relationships between villagers and GSNP management; 2) how groups and individuals view priority livelihood problems and solutions; 3) various attributes of households; and 4) perceived trends for household resilience and how these are …