Browsing by Author "Athumani, Paulo"

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    Reconstructing Historical Distribution of Large Mammals and their Habitat to Inform Rewilding and Restoration in Central Tanzania
    (SAGE Publications Ltd, 2023-04-05) Athumani, Paulo; Munishi, Linus; Ngondya, Issakwisa
    Backgroundand research aim:In the anthropogenic landscapes where historically wildlife existed, there can be a potential for rewilding to reverse extinction. However, there is limited literature providing approaches to achieve successful rewilding. The current study aimed at providing empirical based methodological procedures for successful rewilding of the University of Dodoma (UDOM) and nearby degraded landscape by assessing past and current vegetation and large mammal species’ occurrence. Methodology:The past occurrence of mega-herbivores and their habitat was assessed using systematic literature survey, past vegetation maps and key informant interviews. EBSCOhost database and Google Scholar search engine were used for literature searching. A survey was conducted at UDOM area which is one of the remaining habitat patches in central Tanzania to examine present plant diversity. Results:The baseline vegetation map of 1960 indicated that the study area was mainly Savanna woodland. Literature suggested that anthropogenic activities resulted into Land-Use Land-Cover Changes (LULCC) leading into wild animals’ extirpation leaving remnant populations in the surrounding protected areas. While the key informant interviews verified local loss of mega-herbivores, field data collected at UDOM campus in 2022 indicated the vegetation transformation to bushland dominated by Dichrostachys cinerea. The area’s past vegetation composition was 33% grasses, 29% herbs, 21% shrubs and 17% trees while the current was 18% grasses, 42% herbs, 30% shrubs and 10% trees. Conclusion:The study revealed that central Tanzania hosted spectacular large mammal populations that interacted with the savanna which has recently been transformed to bushland. However, observed evidence on past existence of large mammals and recent elephants’ sightings at UDOM area indicate great potential for rewilding. Implication for conservation:Reconstructing historical information of ecosystems is crucial for successful rewilding. Such information can guide conservation efforts aiming at reversing extinction and reestablishing connectivity of large herbivore population across ecosystems.
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    Reconstructing historical distribution of large mammals and their habitat to inform rewilding and restoration in central Tanzania
    (NM-AIST, 2023-07) Athumani, Paulo
    In the anthropogenic landscapes where historically wildlife existed, there can be a potential for rewilding to reverse extinction. However, there is limited literature providing approaches to achieving successful rewilding. The current study aimed at providing empirical based methodological procedures for the successful rewilding of large mammals at the University of Dodoma (UDOM) and nearby degraded landscapes by assessing past and current vegetation and wild mammals’ occurrence and soil fertility. The past occurrence of mega-herbivores and their habitat was assessed using literature survey, past vegetation maps and key-informant interviews. The EBSCOhost-database and Google Scholar search-engine were used for literature searching. A field survey was conducted at UDOM, one of the remaining habitat patches in central areas of Dodoma, Tanzania to examine present plant diversity, soil nutrients and seedbank status. The results indicated that historically, the study area was Savanna woodland but later anthropogenic activities had resulted in Land-Use Land-Cover Changes (LULCC) that led to wild animals’ extirpation leaving remnants in the surrounding protected areas. While the key informant interviews verified the local loss of mega-herbivores, data collected at UDOM in 2022 indicated vegetation transformation to Dichrostachys cinerea dominated bushland. The study further revealed moderate soil fertility with relatively high seedbank. These results indicated that the study area occupied specular wild-mammal populations that were later extirpated leaving the area transformed into bushland. For rewilding programmes, among other things, the information generated from this study is essential and should be used to guide the long-term success of re-introduction at UDOM and its adjacent areas with/without modification.