Viva Voce Announcement – Mr. Elkana Hezron

This is to inform you that the School of Life Sciences and Bio-Engineering of the Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST) wishes to announce the VIVA VOCE Examination for Mr. Elkana Hezron, a PhD scholar in Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management.

Research Title: CHARACTERIZATION OF ALALILI SYSTEMS IN RANGELANDS OF NORTHERN TANZANIA.

Abstract

The rangelands and their associated Alalili systems in northern Tanzania face diverse threats from climate and land-use change, tenure security, and unsustainable practices that negatively impact biodiversity,livelihoods, and ecosystems. This study aimed to gather information on the structure and distribution of Alalili systems in different land uses of northern Tanzania’s rangeland. It further gathered data on fodder species composition, density, and diversity as well as compliance of Alalili systems with management principles and guidelines and their potential benefits to local communities.

The study employed the mixed purposive and stratified random sampling technique to explore and assess the validity of the effects of different land uses on Alalili structures and types and fodder species composition, densities, and diversities. Q-GIS, ANOVA, sampled T-test, and Chi-square were used to assess the distribution and structure of Alalili and test the significant differences in the species composition, density, diversity, and compliance of practices, respectively. Household interviews using closed and openended questionnaires, meetings, and discussions with key informants were used to collect data related to local people’s perceptions of the importance of Alalili systems. Data analysis deployed Q-GIS, Microsoft Excel 11, N-Vivo 14, and R version 4.2.3

The results indicated the existence of both communal and private Alalili systems, with varying sizes. Communal Alalili systems were larger than the private Alalili systems. It depicted that most of the historical fodder plants observed in the rangelands of northern Tanzania commonly appeared in the Alalili systems. The historical fodder plants’ composition of the northern Tanzania rangelands was higher than that of the Alalili systems. Low fodder species diversity in the private Alalili systems may increase the risk of species homogeneity in contrast to the communal Alalili systems that were high. More than 50% of the surveyed Alalili systems are not complying with management principles and guidelines thus increasing their risk of being degraded. The Maasai community regards Alalili practices as the system that maintains their livestock wealth, socio-cultural prestige, and moral identity.

Therefore, this study emphasizes formulating sustainable practices and suitable policies that will contribute to effective rangeland management through ILK and TEK.

Elkana Hezron VIVA Announcement Document