Natural Ponds Alterations and their Impacts to the Ecosystem and Perimeter Community Livelihood in North Unguja, Zanzibar
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The State University of Zanzibar
Abstract
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Natural ponds are a biologically important habitant type for their specialized collection
and the considerable numbers of rare and endemic species they support and play critical
role in maintaining biodiversity. Continued increases in anthropogenic behavior and
climate change, act in concert to cause alteration to pond and pond perimeter. In
Zanzibar, there are several ponds that impound rainfall runoff; however, there is little
concern in conservation in spite of its great support to ecosystem and livelihood with
little information in literature. This study aimed to determine the current changes within
the natural pond perimeter of both natural and anthropogenic events, to examine the
impact of the changes to the ecosystem and livelihood benefit, to assess the vulnerability
of the natural pond to the changing climate and to indicate the community perception to
the changes and efforts to adaptation in north region of Unguja, Zanzibar. The total of
six ponds sites (Vuga, Kichungwani, Mbiji, Muwanda, Kinyasini, and Ketwa) involved
in the study. Observations made within ecosystem service providing units focused on
the general condition of natural pond, livelihood activities, conservations, biodiversity
and settlements. Spatial indications (using Google satellite image of February 2020)
have been used to locate and indicate the demarcation points of the pond. The
questionnaire used to capture different change from past to the present in pond
environment and sources of economic activities for livelihood incomes, climate
variability and anthropogenic activities impacts to pond ecosystem and community
livelihoods with their vulnerability as well as to access the community perception to the
changes and efforts to adaptation. Measurement also has been used where the actual area
in m2
has been obtained using Google Earth - using Google satellite image of February
2020 and tape measure used to take other distances. A floating objects and weighted
cord/thick string/rope marked in feet, used to take depth and in dry portion ranging pole,
long string and spirit level have been used. The study revealed four major
changes/alterations around the ponds: (i) decreased in area (ii) changing in condition of
water (iii) settlement encroachment and (iv) changing in vegetation cover. Due to these
changes, the following impact revealed: decreased numbers of organisms (among the
organism found in pond area 31 (83.8%) reduced); extinction of the Gombakofi
(Typhonodorum lindleyanum); habitat destruction and fragmentation; emergence of
small tortoises (Geochelore giganter) as non native organism; reduced economic
production in quality and quantity; decline on water source; and reduced of wood
resources. The study also reveals that the ponds are vulnerable to changing climate
because they are (a) exposed to climate change and variability (b) sensitive to climate
change and variability (c) low adaptive capacity. People are aware concerning to
changes, however there is insufficiency effort to adaptation and protect the ponds. In
general the study showed that the ponds are in great change from which alter the
ecosystem composition and human livelihood. The finding of this study will awakened
the stakeholders upon the worse conditions of the ponds hence will boost toward the
conservation process to sustain the pond ecosystem services
Keywords
Environmental changes of natural pond and how, Impact of environmental changes to the ecosystem and livelihood benefit.