Land Use Change Patterns and Root Causes on the Southern Slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
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Date
2003
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Academic Journals
Abstract
This paper presents the findings of a study that analyzed land use and cover change, their driving
forces and the socio-economic implications on the southern and eastern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro.
This study is based on data extracted from remote sensing techniques using 1973, 1984 and 1999/2000
satellite images and household interviews. The major change detected in the study area from satellite
images was expansion of cultivation at the expense of natural vegetation. The area under cultivation
increased from 54% in 1973 to 62 and 63% in 1984 and 2000, respectively. Expansion and intensification
of cultivation were noted particularly in the lowlands while some forest areas in the highlands had
become degraded. These changes led to changes in cropping patterns and crop diversification,
declined productivity of land and food insecurity. The underlying drivers of these changes were
demographic, government policies, economic factors, socio-cultural factors including the land tenure
system, institutional factors, technological change and infrastructure development. Investments in
irrigation technology, introduction of new crop varieties and government interventions to support the
poor are required to improve the productivity of land and reduce the vulnerability of the people to
environmental perturbations, including drought.
Description
Keywords
Land-use/cover change, Kilimanjaro, Agricultural intensification, Conversion, Diversification
Citation
Mbonile, M.J., Misana, S. and Sokoni, C., 2003. Land use change patterns and root causes of land use change on the southern slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.