| dc.description.abstract | This study was carried out in the Mount Marsabit area of Marsabit District of Eastern
Province in Kenya. The study was carried out to establish the relationship between the
climatic trends and land-use changes in the study area.
This study area was selected in conjunction with Agricultural Research Foundation
(AGREF). The main objective of AGREF was to assess the resources of the area, identify
challenges associated with their use and to provide information for the conservation of
Mount Marsabit through sustainable resource management.
Rainfall data for a period of 45 years (1960-2004) and temperature data for a period of 9
years (1992-2000) were used. Satellite images for 1973, 1986 and 2000 were used to
establish the changes in land use for this period. Time series analysis was used in this
study to establish the rainfall and temperature trends. The Geographical Information
System (G.I.S) technique was used in the analysis of the satellite images to find out land
use change in the Mount Marsabit region between 1973 and 2000.
The study established a rainfall decrease of approximately 5.18 mm per year during this
period of study while maximum and minimum temperatures increased by approximately
O.OloC and 0.050C respectively. Forest lands have decreased from 190 square kilometers
in 1973 to 160 square kilometers in 2000, which is about 11% decrease in area. The
rangelands have increased in area from 1840 square kilometers in 1973 to 1885 square
kilometers in the year 2000 'with an increase of about 2.4%. Agricultural land has
increased from about 50 square kilometers in 1973 to 200 square kilometers in 2000,
which is about 400% increase. Urban lands have also increased by about 85.7% from 3.5
square kilometers in 1973 to 6.5 square kilometers in 2000. Whereas the forests are
decreasing in area the other land uses are increasing. There is a possibility that a decrease
in forest area could be affecting the local rainfall amounts of the Mount Marsabit area as a
result of the removal of the cloud forest. The impact on rainfall could also be due to
reduction of the orographic effect of the forest cone.
A reduction in rainfall has important implications on the livelihoods of the people and
water resources and ecosystems in the study area. This change in rainfall amounts is
likely to impact negatively as this could give rise to conflicts between wildlife and
humans.
The study recommends that all stakeholders - government, NGOs, CBOs and
development partner's should contribute through relevant policies to carry out appropriate
conservation measures such as afforestration, reforestation and agro forestry. There is
need to create awareness and educate the communities in and around Mount Marsabit on
sustainable management of natural resources. Future research should focus on the effects
of population growth on the socio-economic aspects in relation to climate variability and
educate the community to ensure that the Mount Marsabit forest is protected. Future
research should focus on the implication of declining rainfall trends on the socioeconomic
activities of the Mount Marsabit area. | en |
