Assessing the Values of Wetlands in Tanzania: A Case Study of Lake Victoria in Musoma Municipality, Tanzania

Abstract

Wetlands are amongst the most productive ecosystems of the Earth, yet, many wetlands in Tanzania are being converted into other land uses. This study was conducted to evaluate the values of Lake Victoria in Musoma Municipality. Primary data were gathered by administering the questionnaire to a sample of 340 households. Participatory Rural Appraisal techniques, participant observation and checklist were employed in data collection. The land use types and land use changes was examined by using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System. The socio-economic data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Quantification of wetland benefits was done by using Microsoft Excel. Both market and non-market techniques were deployed to determine wetland values in agricultural production, fisheries, recreational activities, water for domestic use and for brick making. The average yield and wetland-water productivity for paddy and non-paddy production was estimated at 1,824.57 kg/ha; 2,219.02 kg/ha; 0.93kgm-3 and 0.66 kgm-3 respectively. The gross margin for livestock production and fisheries production were estimated at Tsh. 1,505,208.3 (US$ 1,075.2) and Tsh. 207,006,053.5 (US$ 147,861.5) per season respectively. Consumer's surplus in recreation was Tsh. 1,462,666,996 (US$ 1,044,762.1) per annum. Wetland value as a source of water for domestic use was Tsh. 93,347.9 (US$ 66.7) per household per month. There was a strong relationship (r=91.3%; p=0.001) between land use type/changes and the anthropogenic activities. Through evaluation of wetland values in Tanzania this study concluded that Lake Victoria has great potential in supporting local people's livelihood. Conversely, lack of awareness on the role of wetland to local people was found to impede the participation of local people to Lake Victoria conservation. Thus, increase in awareness on wetland values can significantly reduce the negative impacts on wetland by a multiplicative factor of 0.71. Based on these results the null hypothesis was rejected in favour of the alternative hypothesis. Among others, this study recommends that, natural resources management should be integrated in the curriculum of all education levels to foster awareness raising campaign on role of wetland benefits to local people's livelihoods.

Date of Award	9 Sep 2011
Original language	English
Supervisor	Emmanuel Boon (Promotor), Rik De Vreese (Jury), Allyson Marek (Jury) & Ngaga Yonik M. (Co-promotor)