Human Population Growth and Its Implications on the Use and Trends of Land Resources in Migori County, Kenya
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HUMAN POPULATION GROWTH AND ITS IMPLICATIONS ON THE USE AND TRENDS OF LAND RESOURCES IN MIGORI COUNTY, KENYA PAULINE TOLO OGOLA A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Environmental Studies (Agroforestry and Rural Development) in the School of Environmental Studies of Kenyatta University NOVEMBR, 2018 1 DEDICATION To my loving parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ogola, With long life He will satisfy you i ACKNOWLEDGEMENT First of all, I am grateful to the Man above who gave me strength and health throughout this study. For sure, His goodness and Mercies are new every day. Secondly, I am greatly indebted to my supervisors Dr. Letema and Dr. Obade for their wise counsel and patience. Thirdly, I would like to convey my utmost gratitude to my parents and siblings for their moral support and prayers. Special thanks to my brother Stephen Ogeda for supporting me financially. Finally, I wish to express many thanks to my colleagues at the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development and friends who have offered their support in kind and deed. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION………………………………………………………………………… Error! Bookmark not defined. DEDICATION…………………………………………………………………………...i ACKNOWLEDGEMENT……………………………………………………………...ii LIST OF TABLES……………………………………………………………………...vi LIST OF FIGURES……………………………………………………………………vii ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS……………………………………………….viii ABSTRACT………………………………………………………………………………i x CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………..1 1.1 Background to the Problem .......................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem .............................................................................................. 3 1.3 Research Questions .................................................................................................. 5 1.4 Objectives of the Study ................................................................................................. 5 1.5 Research Hypothesis ..................................................................................................... 6 1.6 Significance of Study .................................................................................................... 6 1.7 Scope and Limitations of the Study .............................................................................. 7 1.8 Operational Definitions ................................................................................................. 7 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW……………………………………...9 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 9 2.2 Population Increase and Land Resources...................................................................... 9 2.3 Land Resources ........................................................................................................... 12 2.3.1 Forestland ................................................................................................................. 12 2.3.2 Cropland ................................................................................................................... 13 2.3.3 Water ........................................................................................................................ 14 2.3.4 Land Use Changes ................................................................................................... 14 iii 2.2.5 Sustainable Land Resources Management ............................................................... 16 2.2.6 Benefits of Sustainable Land Resources Management ............................................ 18 2.2.7 Policies and Frameworks that Promote Sustainable Land Resources Management in Kenya ................................................................................................................................ 18 2.8 Conceptual Framework ............................................................................................... 22 2.9 Research Gap .............................................................................................................. 23 CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY…………………………………………….25 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 25 3.2 Background to the Study Area ............................................................................... 25 3.2.1 Location and Extent ................................................................................................. 25 3.2.2 Population Distribution ............................................................................................ 26 3.2.3 Climatic Conditions ................................................................................................. 27 3.2.4 Socio- Economic Activities ..................................................................................... 28 3.3 Research Design ......................................................................................................... 28 3.4 Sample Size and Sampling Procedure ........................................................................ 28 3.5 Data Collection Tools and Procedures ........................................................................ 29 3.6 Land Use and Land Cover Methodology .................................................................... 31 3.6.1 Collection and Quality Checking of Ancillary Data ................................................ 31 3.6.2 Database Development ............................................................................................ 32 3.6.3 Landsat MSS, Landsat TM, and ETM+ Image Understanding and Acquisition ..... 32 3.6.4 Image Classification................................................................................................. 35 3.6.5 Ground Reference Data Collection and Accuracy Assessments .............................. 38 3.6.6 Accuracy Assessment .............................................................................................. 40 3.6.7 Change Analysis and Derivation of Statistics .......................................................... 45 3.6.8 Preparation of Final Land Cover and Change Maps ................................................ 45 3.6.9 Questionnaire Analysis ............................................................................................ 46 CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS………………………………..47 iv 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 47 4.2 Human Population Patterns in Migori Sub-county between 1979 and 2013 .............. 47 4.3 Trends and Pattern of Land Resources ....................................................................... 54 4.3.1 Land Use and Land Cover Mapping ........................................................................ 55 4.3.2 Land Use and Land Cover Change Mapping and Statistics ..................................... 63 4.3.3 Land Use and Land Cover Change for Epoch 1979-2013 ....................................... 73 4.3.4 Land Use Activities.................................................................................................. 75 4.4 Relationship between Human Population Growth, Forestland, Cropland and Water Resources in Migori Sub-county from 1979-2013 ........................................................... 79 CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.84 5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 84 5.2 Summary of the Findings ............................................................................................ 84 5. 3 Conclusions ................................................................................................................ 86 5.4 Recommendations ....................................................................................................... 88 5.5 Suggestion for Further Studies .................................................................................... 89 REFERENCES………………………………………………………………………….90 APPENDICES…………………………………………………………………………..97 Appendix I: Summary of Questionnaire Details……………………………………...97 Appendix II: Questionnaire for Farmers……………………………………………104 Appendix III: Questionnaire for Ministry of Agriculture Official………………...108 Appendix IV: Questionnaire for Ministry of Water official………………………..111 Appendix V: Field Photos…………………………………………………………….114 Appendix VI: Research Authorization Letter………………………………………116 v LIST OF TABLES Table 3.1: Field verification points……………………………………………..42 Table 3.2: Compliance matrix between interpreter and validation results……...44 Table 4.1: Population data for Homa Bay, Migori and Rongo (79, 89, 99, 09)……………………………………………………………………………….48 Table 4.2: Areas for Waterbody, Cropland and Forestland……………………...63 Table 4.3: Change area for Cropland, Waterbody and Forestland (79-89)...........66 Table 4.4: Change area for Cropland, Waterbody and Forestland (89-99)...........69 Table 4.5: Change area for Cropland, Waterbody and Forestland (99-09)...........72 Table 4.6: Change area for Cropland, Waterbody and Forestland (79-13)...........75 Table 4.7: Land Use Activities…………...……………………………………...76 Table 4.8: Land Resources Conservation Measures..............................................77 Table 4.9: Comparison between population, Cropland, Forestland and Cropland for the years 79, 89, 99 and 09……………….…………………….……80 Table