Natural Sciences
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- ItemEnergy conservation practices at household level in Chalimbana ward, Chongwe district.(The University of Zambia, 2024) Chewetu, AlfredEnergy conservation is a subject that has continued to attract global attention as it is essential in ensuring that the growing energy demand does not pose a threat to the environment. In view of this, the current study aimed at finding out the household energy conservation practices used in Chalimbana ward of Chongwe District, Zambia. The study adopted a convergent mixed method research design. Qualitative data from 10 purposively sampled key informants was collected through in-depth interviews using semi-structured interview guides. Additionally, quantitative data from 175 households selected through cluster sampling technique was collected using a questionnaire. The qualitative data was analysed through content analysis, whereas quantitative data was analysed through descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression. The study found that most households in Chalimbana ward depend on traditional biomass expenditure on household energy consumption in the study area was influenced by social and economic factors such as family size, house size and education. To conserve energy, the households in this area used a variety of conservation methods, of which the most used involves switching or putting off unused household energy appliances or sources. The energy used among these households is perceived to cause air pollution, habitat loss, land use change, and exposure to hazardous waste, among other environmental atrocities. While the study findings show that households in Chalimbana ward do practice energy conservation, this is not done at a substantive level that can yield sustainable environmental, economic and social benefits of household energy conservation.
- ItemThe impact of coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) on household food security in high density residential areas of Lusaka, Zambia: experiences from Ng’ombe settlement.(The University of Zambia, 2024) Michelo, LizzyCOVID-19 undermines food security both directly by disrupting food systems and indirectly through the impacts of lockdowns on household incomes and physical access to food. COVID-19 and responses to the pandemic weaken food production, processing and marketing but the most concerning impacts are on the demand side, economic and physical access to food. This dissertation therefore, was assessing the experiences of residents of high density residential areas of Ng’ombe in terms of household food security before and during COVID-19 pandemic era. The objectives of the study were to: identify experiences attributed by COVID-19 on household food security, determine the dietary diversity before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and assess how the households are responding towards food security strategies associated with COVID-19 in Ng’ombe. A mixed method approach was used to conduct this study. The study sample was 235 respondents. Data was collected using interview guides and questionnaires. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-test and chi-square using R statistical computing software and excel. The results were presented using tables, pie charts and graphs. The study revealed that Ng’ombe residents had a devastating experience during the COVID 19 era among which include reduction in income, hunger, job loss, skipped or reduced meal sizes and compromised diet. The above findings would cause malnutrition and other illnesses in line with nutritional deficiencies. The Covid-19 had significant impacts on food security and dietary diversity in Ng’ombe. This dissertation also pinpointed on areas that government and other actors would intervene to protect the food security of households left vulnerable by COVID-19 for example empowering the affected households with money for businesses and jobs creation to those that have qualifications. Keywords: COVID-19, Food security, High density areas, dietary diversity
- ItemMapping of human wildlife conflict hotspots in Silowana complex of Western province in Zambia.(2024) Chilambe, BrianThis dissertation is about a study conducted on mapping HWC hotspots in Silowana Complex of Western Province in Zambia. Spatially identifying HWC (hotspots) and possible mitigation measures is necessary to inform HWC management in order to facilitate a nonviolent coexistence of humans and wildlife. This study used Earth Observation techniques, Geographic Information Systems and spatial modelling to identify areas at risk of HWC and possible mitigation measures to address the conflict, based on the Silowana Complex (SC) as a case study area. The study achieved three (3) specific objectives: it analysed forms of HWC; modelled HWC hotspots and established possible HWC mitigation measures in the case study area The study achieved its objectives through a total of 200 HWC incident records covering 2020 to 2021 acquired from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW). To supplement this dataset, a semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 100 respondents. The study modelled HWC occurrences together with environmental predictor variables extracted from the land cover map. The land cover map was classified from entinel 2 Level 1C satellite images using the Supported Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm in ArcGIS Pro (Version 2.4.1). Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) software (Version 3.4.1) was used to model HWCs. The outputs were analyzed and mapped using ArcGIS Pro (Version 2.4.1). Further, the study found that, HWC is caused by the following species of wildlife in their order of magnitude; African elephants (Loxodonta Africana) at 47%, Common Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius) at 24%, Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) at 21%, Blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus), African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and Spotted Hyena (Crocuta crocuta) at 2% each, Lions (Panthera Leo) at 1% and Common duiker (Sylvicapra grimmia) at 1 %. Further, the study analyzed seasonal patterns of HWC and found that HWC occurred throughout the year with peaks in March and October. Further, the study found that a total of 550 km2 or 55,000 hectares of SC (5% of its area) was at risk of HWC. The results showed that of the total HWC hotspot areas, 60% were in the GMA, 22% were in the Open area, and 18% were in the National Park. The study also established that community members practiced exclusionary and deterrent methods to mitigate HWC. The practice of these methods show that community members had knowledge of how to mitigate HWC. The study concluded that Lower West Zambezi GMA experienced more HWC than Sioma Ngwezi National Park. Further, human communities in the GMA are the most affected by HWC than those in the National Park. The study recommended that, DNPW and its conservation partners should consider promoting community-based HWC management, conservation education, livelihood diversification, and prioritize integrated land use planning in addressing HWC in both the National Park and GMA. In addition, future studies on this topic could largely replicating this model in other landscapes in Zambia. Further research is needed focused on quantifying the impacts (Physiological, Social and Economic) of HWC on local human communities.
- ItemEnhancing integration of local food systems into spatial planning in Lusaka, Zambia.(The University of Zambia, 2024) Kaulule, ChongoMost sub-Saharan African cities face a lack of cogent integration and consideration of food systems (FS) in spatial planning. This has exacerbated the ongoing food insecurity in urban regions. This exigent situation calls for the integration of food systems into spatial planning. In Zambia, the proposed Lusaka City Region Food System (LCRFS) can aid the inclusion of Food systems in spatial planning. Unfortunately, in the global south, systems for food production, distribution, and processes are at odds with spatial planning. This is because they have been approached as parallels instead of different sides of the same coin. This research has developed a framework that will serve as a roadmap for improving how food systems are integrated into spatial planning. The next step involved the evaluation of the food systems in Lusaka, which was done in two phases. The first phase was to determine the city's level of food security from three residential areas: Chazanga, Mtendere East, and Kalikiliki. The second phase evaluated the sources of various foods from within the LCRFS to address the characteristics of spatial planning and the food system for Lusaka. This was done by conducting 1500 farm surveys of fresh foods within the LCRFS and 75 traders from certain markets were selected. The nexus between spatial planning and food systems was identified by evaluating existing connections, strengths, and weaknesses of this nexus, and how the existing policies address both formal and informal actors. Thematic analysis was used to assess the study's qualitative components and univalent analysis for quantitative components. The pragmatism philosophical approach was used to operationalize the integration of food systems in spatial planning and a case study was employed for Lusaka city. This was accomplished by first conducting a critical analysis of Lusaka's spatial planning environment, supplemented by key informant interviews with five snowball-selected individuals who had knowledge of Lusaka's historical development and considered the personnel of the Lusaka City Council (LCC). An embedded mixed method was possible with this method. The flux of processes, experiences, and practices served as the foundation for the ontological assumption. The epistemological presumptions were centred on the practices and applicability in real-world situations. The theoretical framework is interdisciplinary and is influenced by several sources in spatial planning, including normative and substantive planning theories, knowledge co-production, and city food region systems. The results show that many methods have been employed to reduce food insecurity in urban areas and informal settlements. Some of the strategies are the production of food in peri-urban areas; the zoning of land for agricultural use in the LCRFS; the provision of water for domestic and agricultural use; the upkeep and construction of roads; and the opening of trading points closer to consumers. However, despite these initiatives, there is still a lack of a defined framework for proactively integrating food systems into spatial planning and a weak integration of these techniques. Furthermore, the study established that both formal and informal food sources play a critical role in ensuring food security in Lusaka. The use of a modernistic approach in governing spatial planning visa food systems in Lusaka was centre as such, contributing to the continued loss of agricultural land both in the city and surrounding districts that constitute the proposed LCRFS. Some of the recommendations provided include collaboration; the development of larger markets; the encouragement of backyard gardening; and the rerouting and improvement of road networks from agricultural areas. The study concluded that various legal frameworks that speak to spatial planning and food systems are in silos and that planning professionals have neglected the issue of food. The implications of the findings call for a robust involvement of all stakeholders. There is a need to examine the current planning legislation applicable to the local context in tandem with the problems being experienced. The following papers have since been published; “Food Insecurity in Informal Settlements of Lusaka: Spatial Planning as the Missing Link” and “Situation Analysis of Provider and Consumer in the Food System Concept of Sub-Saharan Africa with spatial planning taking centre stage: Some insights from Zambia.
- ItemApplication of GIS techniques in flood extent mapping and management on Matebele flood plain in Shangombo district, Zambia.(The University of Zambia, 2024) Manyika, Morris KambeuFloods are among the world’s most devastating hazards, and their effects negatively affect ecological and socioeconomic systems. Ecologically, they affect the distribution of provisional and regulatory services. Socio-economically, loss of lives, property, and financial costs. Application of GIS and Remote Sensing techniques in flood mapping is increasingly becoming significant to establish extents and effects of floods. This study focused on establishing the spatial extents and trends in the flooding events on Matebele Plain in Shangombo District of Zambia from 2008 to 2018 using GIS techniques. Using stratified and simple random sampling, a descriptive research design was adopted to collect data through interviews with 173 respondents. Primary data was sourced using questionnaire on 160 respondents and interview guides on 13 key informants. Sentinel 1A provided Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images in the C-band or C-SAR. Interview data were analysed thematically with simple statistics, while Satellite images were processed and analysed using ArcGIS 10.3 software and Sentinel Application Platform (SNAP). Results indicated that the maximum aerial coverage of floods was recorded in 2018, covering an area of 16,441 km2, representing 78% of the total area. A hypothetical analysis of the trends in time series using the Regression statistical analysis gave (p-0.001), with r2 of 70% indicating significant geospatial variations in the aerial coverage of floods from 2008 to 2018. A thematic analysis of the responses on the effects of floods on various land use activities gave a positive response rate of 97%. The general conclusion was that Matabele Plain experiences flooding with geospatial variations in extents. Further research to consider the impacts of floods on specific land uses is highly recommended.