THE CAUSES AND IMPACTS OF SOIL EROSION ON THE UPPER SLOPES OF MOUNT KILIMAJARO~ A CASE STUDY OF TEMA VILLAGE, MBOKOMU WARD, MOSHI RURAL DISTRICT

4~STRACT

In this 21St century the problem facing rural areas in developing

countries like Tanzania are numerous. Formidable Social and

Economic services are deteriorating and proving to be

unsustainable; school enrollment rates are declining, food

situation is precarious, infant and maternal mortality rates

continues to be high, unemployment is on the rise, land

shortage, triggering off high population which led to the land

degradation.

This study investigated the causes and impact of soil erosion on

the upper slopes of Kilimanjaro Mountain which carried out in

Tema village, Mbokomu ward, Moshi rural district. In this study

the main variables were the forms of soil erosion, causes, impact,

conservation measures in Tema village and recommendation to

control soil erosion in Tema village. Various methods for data

collection were used including interviews, questionnaires,

observation and photographs.

The findings show that soil erosion is caused by rainfall,

topography, vegetation destruction, drainage, ignorance,

inadequate extension services and disruption of transport among

others. Findings also revealed that population pressure has

enhanced soil erosion through deforestation, land fragmentation,

over cultivation, burning and socio-economjc development in

terms of infrastructure like roads which have placed much

burden to the soils of Tema Village hence leading to erosion,

Agriculture maipractices like digging up and down the slope

without strips, bands and terraces have accelerated soil erosion.

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It was also found out that, the impact of soil erosion are loss of

soil fertility, loss of living organisms, destroyed crops, soil loss,

declining agricultural yields, and impact on road.

In order to reduce the impacts, the following techniques were put

in place terracing and contouring, crop intercropping, mulching

agro-forestiy and using of animal manure. Basing on the above it

is recommended that Farmers have to practice a forestation and

re~aforestation, checking the population numbers to reduce

fragmentation of land carrying out land surveys, surface

drainage, educating and training local communities on how to

control erosion.