Assessing the Inter-Relationship between Rural Population Migration and Environmental Change in the Dano Watershed, Burkina Faso

The study analyses the Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) dynamics as an important environmental factor and links it to migration trends towards the study area. The work uses data collected across two (2) villages, both located in the Dano watershed. Three sets of 30-m Landsat images were used to measure the changes in LULC types for the years 1986, 1999 and 2014. Cumulatively focus group discussion and household interview were employed for socio-economic data collection. Census data for the periods 1987, 1996 and 2006 were also collected from the national census reports. LULC analysis revealed that vegetation area was progressively converted into croplands with an annual rate of 0.92% during the period of study. Pearson correlation analysis between population and cropland on one hand and population and vegetation on the second hand revealed a high positive correlation between population size and cropland (r = 0.99), while there was a high negative correlation between population size and vegetation (r = 0.96). The survey of 180 farmers revealed a diversity of questions about environmental change on their livelihood. Most 78% of farmers believe that deforestation is the main driver of environmental change as a result of the decrease of rainfall and strong wind. Many strategies are used by local communities as a response to environmental changes and migration is seen by 31% of the respondents as a common strategy used by the affected communities. These results from the study showed that migration is one of the major local responses to environmental change.

Elephant Population Status, Distribution and Conservation Threats in Kibale National Park, Uganda

This study focused on the estimation of the African elephant population, distribution, and conservation threats in Kibale National Park (KNP) from August 2019 to February 2020. The objectives of the study were to: generate population estimates, distribution and assess threats to the conservation of elephants. The line transect method based on the dung pile count density from line transect, dung decay, and defecation rates were used to estimate the elephant population. The density was calculated by multiplying the decay rate with the ratio of dung density to defecation rates. The overall elephant population was estimated at 566.27 (95% Confidence limits 377.24-850.02). This was a slow increase from 393 recorded in 2005 to 566 animals in 2019. Elephants were widely distributed within the park and these pose challenges such as increasing human-elephant conflicts. With a steady increase in the elephant population and seasonal movements out of the park, there is a need to continuously monitor elephant population growth and ranging behaviour vis-a-vis available habitat range and how this impacts ecosystem dynamics and human-elephant conflicts

Evaluation of two Non-Edible, Wild Indigenous Botswana Crops (Croton megalobotrys (Motsebi/Letsebi/Moshoole) and Ricinus communis (Mokhure)) as Potential Feedstocks for Petroleum and Cosmetic Industries

Croton megalobotrys and Ricinus cummunis plants produce high-quality non-edible seed oils at relatively high quantities of 39.65 ± 0.06 % w/w to 53.74 ± 0.04 % w/w. The Iodine values of 85.97 ± 1.62 g I2/100 g to 96.51 ± 1.31 g I2/100 g; the low acid values of 0.96 ± 0.05 mg KOH/g to 5.31 ± 0.76 mg KOH/g; and high saponification values of 139.65 ± 1.06 mg KOH/g to 153.01 ± 1.67 mg KOH/g show that these seed oils can be useful feedstocks in the petroleum, soap, and cosmetics industries. GC-MS results revealed that R. cummunis seed oil is made up of eight (8) fatty acids with the bulk being ricinoleic acid at 81.51 %. Ricinoleic acid is the main fatty acid used in oleochemical industries. C. megalobotrys seed oil is made up of five (5) fatty acids, the most abundant being Linoleic acid which makes up 58.01 % of the seed oil. The other two significant fatty acids in C. megalobotrys seed oil are palmitic and oleic acids at 19.51 % and 18.37 %, respectively. These acids are important as starting materials in soap, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. The fatty acids of the two seed oils absorb light at the ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum. This means that cosmetic products made from these seed oils will be effective in protecting the human skin against ultraviolet radiation. The FT-IR peaks for the two seed oils show that even though these seed oils are made up of different fatty acids, the active sites of their fatty acids are similar, implying that these seed oils can be used as starting materials in similar industries.

Settlement Schemes and their Implication on Eastern Mau Water Catchment, Kenya

Settlement schemes are aimed at settling landless people and those displaced by disasters to support socio-economic and environmental development of a country. Eastern Mau Forest Reserve is an important water catchment that has settlement schemes established, which has led to encroachments and degradation of the catchment. This paper, therefore, assesses the implications of human settlements on Eastern Mau water catchment by examining the trends in land use/cover change and river flows for four decades. Primary data was collected from key informant interviews based on purposive sampling whereas secondary data was derived from Landsat satellite images over a 10-year period and analysed using Maximum Likelihood Function from ArcGIS. Data on river flows from River Njoro was obtained from Water Resources Authority Office in Nakuru. Rainfall and temperature data were obtained from Kenya Meteorological Station in Nakuru. Time series analysis is used to understand the trend in river flows over time while Pearson correlation is used to determine relationship between farmlands and river flows. The results indicate a sharp decline in forest cover by 42.7% and an increase in farmlands by 41%. Dense vegetation and farmlands have an inverse relationship as an increase in farmlands lead to a decrease in forest cover. People have settled beyond the established settlement schemes boundaries leading to encroachment and drying up of some rivers. There is also an increase in rainfall and river flows over the years, with monthly river flows increasing in peak flows and declining during low seasons. There is a positive correlation between farmlands and river flows between 1989 and 2020. There is need for regeneration of encroached areas and defining boundary of Eastern Mau to allow initiatives and interventions that help with sustainable management of the catchment area.

Assessing effects of Human Activities Kipranye Wetland, Sondu Miriu River Basin, Kericho County, Kenya.

Governments, researchers, and environmental conservationists agree that wetland resources need to be utilized sustainably to ensure continued presence of wetlands and their ecological goods and services. Ideally, sustainable use of the wetlands should be integrated into the national and local land use plans to ensure sustainable use and management of the resources. However, this is not the case as far as Kenya is concerned. Instead, there is rampant exploitation of the wetlands by individuals, organizations, and even government agencies with no regard for environmental conservation. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate the effects of human activities on Kipranye wetland, Sondu Miriu river basin, Kericho County. The specific objective of the study was to assess the effects of the human activities on wetlands. The study was grounded on the Systems Theory and Integrated Water Resource Management Theory. The study adopted a concurrent triangulation research design which entailed a combination of both qualitative and quantitative data. The sample population of the study was 162 respondents in which a sample of 124 respondents were selected accounting for 76.5%. The sample was randomly selected with the inclusion criterion being that the chosen respondents were homogeneously engaged inhuman activities that affected wetland conservation. The results of the study inform on policy and practice in the management and conservation of Kipranye wetlands. The study established that human activities such as farming, logging, construction, drilling, building. and construction and settlements were immense in the study area and they hamper conservation of Kipranye wetland. There was a gap in the integration of the legal framework to manage wetlands in the study area. The following conclusions were derived from the study wetlands in the study area need urgent redemption and reclamation; inclusion of the local communities in the conservation of the Kipranye river wetlands would enable the people to take responsibility and own the solutions to the problem. There is a need for an integrated approach to their planning and sustainable use. The Ministry of Environment, Water and Natural Resources in conjunction with NEMA and the County Government could formulate policies and technical tools needed to counteract the lack of appropriate information and intervention failure that cause wetlands to be used in an unsustainable way

Characterizing Permeability from Geological and Geochemical Data in the Olkaria Domes Field in Kenya.

Olkaria geothermal field is located in the Kenyan Rift Valley that is a part of the Great East Africa Rift System (EARS). The geothermal field continues to be associated with a high geothermal gradient that arises from shallow magmatic activities which are ongoing in the enormous igneous province. Exploration and drilling of wells that were undertaken in the past revealed the existence of exploitable geothermal steam. The Olkaria field is divided into seven sections namely; Olkaria East field, Olkaria North East field, Olkaria North West field, Olkaria South East field, Olkaria South West field, Olkaria Central field, and Olkaria Domes field. The productivity of the geothermal wells continues to be influenced by factors such as subsurface permeability. Permeability is one of the parameters used for the characterization of geothermal fields. Other parameters used for characterization are associated with geotechnical weak zones and include features such as; fractures, vein bodies, and deformational fault systems. The research work involved geoscientific characteristics of the Olkaria Domes field based on the geological and geochemical factors to characterize the permeability of the field. The research involved studying rock types in the area by analysing drill cuttings obtained from six drilled wells in the Olkaria Domes field. Three of the six drill wells were considered for correlative description for the purpose of this paper. Correlation of the main lithologies and zones for loss of circulation in the field was also undertaken as well as the creation of mineralogical maps to capture the distribution of the minerals that were derived from hydrothermal weathering processes. The depths and formation for major loss circulation zones in the reservoir section of the field were identified and included in the description. Analysis of soil gas survey using radon as a geochemical tool in the Domes field was also carried out successfully. The relatively high levels of the soil gas ratios that were analysed captured the ratio distribution of carbon dioxide to radon at various reservoir depths. The detection of the two gases at the surface showed the existence of permeable zones which facilitated the movement of the gases through the fault-controlled structural systems of the studied Olkaria Domes field.

Perceptions of Natural Resources Use in Rwanda - A Partial Proportional Odds Model

The scarcity of natural resources is a challenge in Rwanda. Although Rwanda has improved water supplies, projections show a further increase in water demand. Particularly, agriculture continues to place further demands on water resources through intensification and industrialization. Similarly, although the dependence on biomass for cooking has improved over the past two decades in Rwanda, the ratio is still high and is projected to increase. Unfortunately, the heavy dependence on biomass is damaging to the environment in general, forests in particular. As the consumption of water and charcoal increases, it is important to study how people perceive their consumption. Research shows that people who perceive their consumption of natural resources are more likely to conserve them as they can see how much they are consuming. This study investigated perceptions of water and charcoal consumption among farmers in northern Rwanda. A survey was used to collect data from 323 farmers involved in a poultry development project in the district of Musanze, northern Rwanda. A Partial Proportional Odds Model (PPOM) was used to analyse the effect of different factors on the perception of natural resource consumption. Results indicate that the perception of charcoal consumption was associated with three variables: living in the urban section of the district, the amount of feed consumed by chicken, and elevation at which the coop is located. Results from this study can improve how food security projects are implemented by incorporating people’s perceptions of their consumption of natural resources.

Ecological Responses of Macroinvertebrates to an In-Stream Ecosystem Restoration Technique in a Tropical Stream in Eastern Uganda

A field experiment was conducted to examine the ecological responses of macroinvertebrates to an in-stream ecosystem restoration technique called woody debris introduced in a stream in different arrangements to show how they (woody debris) affected the macroinvertebrate ecology, specifically assemblage composition and biometrics in River Nabongo. The experiment was carried out in two heterogeneous stream environments i.e., i) in a riffle found in the middle reaches of the river at a higher altitude and ii) a pool in the lower altitude and reaches of the river. Each of these two treatments had a control plot for comparison purposes. Four macroinvertebrate sampling campaigns were launched in experimental sites from September 2019 to April 2021. All restoration structures had more macroinvertebrates than control and pre-treatment sites. The introduction of simple structures at the riffle site led to an increase in collector-filterers from 9-128 individuals, while at the pool site all the structures increased macroinvertebrates by 1151 individuals. Taxon richness was highest in the complex plot with 14±0.41 which significantly differed from the rest of the sampling plots at P<0.05. The relative abundance of taxa at the pool site varied significantly from one sampling plot to another at P<0.05 with the highest mean abundance registered in complex and simple structures having 61.3±0.10 and 23.5±0.11 respectively. It was concluded that complex woody debris structures increase the diversity, abundance and richness of aquatic macroinvertebrates by providing hard substrates for colonization by algae and microorganisms on which macroinvertebrates feed. We recommended that other researchers should study the impact of other in-stream ecosystem restoration techniques such as floating islands, constructed wetlands, D-deflectors, a comparison of which with restored woody debris will enable ecologists to choose the most suitable technique to apply at different stream points.

Drought Management by Formal and Informal Organizations of Kajiado County, Kenya; Special Reference to Role of Women.

The study aimed at investigating the role of women’s organizations in the management and reduction of drought impact formally and informally in Kajiado County, Kenya. The study, therefore, examined how women’s organizations create awareness in ownership rights to empower women and determined how gender policies by women’s organizations influence the empowerment of women. The study also examined how income generating activities by women’s organizations led to women's empowerment and the extent to which women’s organizations mobilize resources to empower women. The systems theory of organizations was used to understand the dynamics of women group organizations. A total of 20 women group organizations were included in the study, accounting for 500 members. Questionnaires were used for data collection and the data was analysed through quantitative means. Most women’s organizations creating awareness in ownership rights to empower women do not own assets of their own and believe that the land they live in belongs to their husbands and that they are in control over it. Most of the organizations generate income for women through activities such as the sale of farm produce, cash from labour activities and cash from their husbands. Based on the findings, the study recommended that leaders should establish women’s councils to participate in leadership matters to empower them and be part of agenda formulation and decision making

Environmental Conservation, A Factor for Promoting Tourism Industry in Rwanda: A Case Study of Rubavu District.

This study sought to examine the contribution of environmental conservation in promoting the tourism industry in Rwanda, the Case study of the Rubavu District using a mixed research design of quantitative and qualitative techniques. The study established that environmental conservation increases the number of tourists that would be hosted in the area; encourages repeat visits of tourists; increases the satisfaction of tourists and attracts new tourists and retains existing ones in the area. However, it experiences some challenges that include, air and water pollution, availability of different rubbish, population growth, and deforestation. These become constraints to environmental conservation and the tourism industry development in Rubavu District. On the other hand, taking preventive measures against air and water pollution, limiting overpopulation, avoiding deforestation and minimizing rubbish have worked to mitigate against the challenges. The study concludes that environmental conservation has played a vital role in promoting the tourism industry in Rwanda. The study recommends that the government of Rwanda in collaboration with the administration of Rubavu District should minimize rubbish by deploying responsible rubbish disposal methods and providing rubbish bins near roads. This will promote cleaner spaces with less environmental stress