Faculty of Environment and Resource Development
http://41.89.96.81:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/657
2024-03-28T14:50:06ZFactors influencing sustainable water resource management practices in Amalo and Mulot locations,Mara river basin,Kenya
http://41.89.96.81:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/3341
Factors influencing sustainable water resource management practices in Amalo and Mulot locations,Mara river basin,Kenya
Mwangi, Jane Gachambi
Globally there has been a growing concem on the decrease in water quantity in surface waters during the prolonged dry spells leading to impact on household’s wellbeing and ecosystem. Mara River Basin (MRB) in Kenya is not an exception. It has been estimated to have an annual population growthrate of more than 3%. This compounded by associated effects of water abstractions, for livestock, irrigation agriculture and domestic purposes have been on the rise leading to decreased water quantity in Mara River, with major impacts on household socio- economic human wellbeing. The objectives of the study were to determine the influences of household’s characteristics and community institutions on sustainable water resources management practices in Amalo and Mulot locations. Purposive sampling was used in the selection of Amalo and Mulot locations as study sites. From these sites Amalo, Kiptaragon, Mulot and Olchoro-Oiruwa sub-locations were then selected for study because of their location along the river. The last stage used simple random sampling to list proportional number of households living along the river from each of the four sub-locations. A sample of 189 households was selected. Means, standard deviations, frequencies, percentages and cross tabulations were used for descriptive statistics, while multiple regression analysis was used for inferential statistics at 5% level of significance. Results from the study indicated that the household’s awareness of conservation activities significantly influenced on adoption of sustainable water resource management practices and that there was a significant influence of households’ membership in Water Resource Users’ Associations on adoption of sustainable water resource management practices (B=0.2l4, p<0.05). In conclusion, membership of household and community members in Water Resource User Associations is likely to promote adoption of sustainable water resource management practices. The study recommends the need for Kenya government to empower Water-Users Associations and organizations through awareness creation and capacity on sustainable water use and support them in implementing the sustainable water resource management practices so as to optimize local water resources management.
2014-03-01T00:00:00ZEffect of stem size and planting orientation on vegetative propagation of african teak (milicia excelsa (welw.) ecotypes in Kenya
http://41.89.96.81:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/3266
Effect of stem size and planting orientation on vegetative propagation of african teak (milicia excelsa (welw.) ecotypes in Kenya
Nyiramvuyekure, Verene
African Teak (Milicia excelsa (Welw.) is a giant deciduous forest tree which belongs to the Moraceae family. Slow and erratic seed germination and the dioecy characterize the species. Vegetative propagation has been proposed to overcome some of the reproductive biology challenges in the species. This study therefore assessed the effect of stem size and planting orientation on vegetative propagation of Milicia excelsa (Welw.) ecotypes in Kenya. The experiment was conducted at the Agroforestry Tree Nursery, Egerton University, Njoro, Kenya. The aim of this study was to investigate the ideal stem cutting method of M. excelsa based on size (length) and planting orientation of stem cuttings. The propagation materials were collected from healthy mother trees from the Coast and Western regions of Kenya. A factorial experiment of two factors (cutting lengths and planting orientations), with 3 levels each, was laid in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with nine treatments, replicated 3 times. The cutting lengths were 3, 6 and 9 cm, which were then planted in three positions (horizontal, vertical, and slanting angle). The planting medium was composed of river sand. The polyethene sheet tunnel with 1 m and 1.5 m height and width respectively was established and the nursery containers were covered inside. Data was collected monthly on the number and height of sprouts and the cutting survival at the end of 150 days. Data was then subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using GENSTAT 15th Edition. Separation of means was performed using the SED. The results showed that the cutting length had a significant effect on the number of sprouts, F43.45, df=2, p= 0.001 and height of sprouts produced, F48.25, df=2, p=0.001. The planting orientation had a significant effect (p≤0.05) on the number and height of sprouts produced by cuttings throughout the experiment as well as survival of cuttings at the end of experiment. The ecotype had a significant effect, F6.99, df=1, p=0.012 on the number of sprouts obtained by stem cuttings at 30,120 and 150 days after propagation. The highest percentage of cutting survival obtained was 48.41% from the cuttings of 9 cm length and the least was 31.75% from cuttings of 3 cm length. The ecotype and length interaction, and length and orientation were also significant, F3.31, df=4, p=0.001. It was concluded that vertical and slanting positions should be considered as well as the 9 cm length of the cuttings before planting, and their interaction as well as ecotype and length interaction. Further studies should consider the optimum cutting length, age and position of stem cutting.
2023-08-01T00:00:00ZSocioeconomic and ecological outcomes of community conservancies: a case study of Naibunga community conservancy in Laikipia County, Kenya.
http://41.89.96.81:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/3225
Socioeconomic and ecological outcomes of community conservancies: a case study of Naibunga community conservancy in Laikipia County, Kenya.
Oburah, Ken Ogao
The community conservancy model is regarded as an important approach for reducing land degradation, bolstering wildlife conservation, and enhancing pastoral livelihoods. However, this model necessitates some trade-offs such as alteration of traditional livestock grazing management practices and increased costs of wildlife conservation to local pastoralists. Therefore, there is need to understand the socioeconomic and ecological implications of community conservancies in communal rangelands, if we are to better enhance the sustainability of such rangelands. This study evaluated the socioeconomic and ecological outcomes of the community conservancy model in Naibunga Community Conservancy in northern Kenya. Specifically, the study assessed the level of pastoralists‟ involvement in conservancy conservation and management activities, their perceptions of conservancy-driven socio-economic impacts, and the conservancy‟s effects on vegetation, livestock and wild ungulate numbers. Regression analyses were performed on Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) collected from Landsat 4, 5 and 7 for the periods before (1989-2003) and after (2006-2020) conservancy establishment. The analysis was also performed on wild ungulate and livestock population data obtained from the Directorate of Remote Sensing and Resource Survey (DRSRS) for the same period. Data collected from 19 experimental plots measuring 30 m x 30 m were also analysed for vegetation species diversity and composition. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise quantitative data and chi-square analyses used to test for association between categorical socioeconomic variables. Qualitative data were analysed thematically. Over 75% of respondents indicated that they were involved in conservancy management and conservation activities. Large proportions (65–90%) of respondents perceived conservancy-related improvements in their overall socioeconomic status. Involvement was positively associated with perceived socioeconomic improvements (χ2 = 83.5, p < 0.01). On the other hand, NDVI significantly declined before and assumed a significantly positive trend after conservancy establishment (p<0.05). Wild ungulates showed significant temporal trends before and not after (p=0.033) while livestock showed non-significant temporal trends before and after conservancy establishment (p>0.076). Based on these findings, the community conservancy model appears to have beneficial socioeconomic and ecological outcomes. These benefits c
2022-11-01T00:00:00ZThe impacts of introduction of Cyprinus carpio L. (common carp) to fisheries of lake Naivasha Kenya
http://41.89.96.81:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/3186
The impacts of introduction of Cyprinus carpio L. (common carp) to fisheries of lake Naivasha Kenya
Macharia, Simon
2009-01-01T00:00:00Z