Impacts Of Space Use By Humans On The Species Diversity Of Large Mammals In The Kwakuchinja-Mbugwe Wildlife Corridor, Northern Tanzania

Abstract

Assessment of the impacts of settlements and agriculture on species diversity of large mammals was carried out in the Kwakuchinja-Mbugwe Wildlife corridor, northern Tanzania, from early June to mid July 1998 by foot sampling along transects. The corridor connects Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Parks and is vital for the migratory and resident species of large wild mammals as well as for pastoralists. Species richness of large mammals was found to have decreased by 72% while the number of historical migratory routes had declined from five to three. On the other hand, agriculture and settlements grew by 130.4% and 23.5% respectively since 1989. The study further found that there was local extinction of eight species of large mammals specifically eland, Tragelaphus oryx (Pallas); Coke's hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus (Gunther); buffalo, Syncerus caffer (Sparrrman); oryx, Oryx gazella (Linnaeus); lesser kudu, Tragelaphus imberbis (Blyth); cheetah Acinonyx jubatus (Schreber); and leopard, Panthera, pardus (Linnaeus). A negative relationship between density of settlements and large mammals (p < 0.05) was observed suggesting that settlements hamper the movement of migratory species in the corridor. The study recommended execution of Management Zone Plan (MZP) and later a General Management Plan (GMP) to enable allocation of land uses to appropriate land units. The plans are vital given that the current status of the area has minimum limitation to human use of natural recourses of the area. Establishment of Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and Biodiversity Conservation Projects (BCPs) such as Api-Agro-forestry among land uses in villages within the corridor and those adjacent to Lake Manyara and Tarangire National Parks are emphasized.

TJFNC Vol. 76 2007: pp. 134-143