Browsing by Author "Mbaabu, P. R."

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Factors enhancing the Level of Utilisation of Research Knowledge on Ecosystems
(Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, BANGLADESH, 2021) Eschen, R.; Mbaabu, P. R.; Ramamonjisoa, B. S.; Robledo-Abad, C.
The significant resource investment in research on ecosystems for development of the Global South does not necessarily result in high levels of research knowledge utilisation (RKU). Understanding the factors associated with various levels of RKU can inform funding agencies and researchers developing new projects. We applied a combination of a ques- tionnaire survey and follow up interviews with members of research teams of multiple, broadly comparable projects to make an assessment of achieved RKU levels using a combi- nation of quantitative statistical hypothesis testing and narrative description of survey responses. Research knowledge dissemination by members of the project team who work for non-academic institutions or champions, e.g. particularly motivated people that promote and facilitate implementation or adoption of the project results, and via television was asso- ciated with higher research knowledge utilization. By contrast, dissemination by members of the project team working for academic institutions and via peer-reviewed journals was asso- ciated with lower RKU. The achieved level of RKU was consistently lower than the targeted level of RKU across spatial scales. The discrepancy between the perceived level of RKU and the evidence provided by survey respondents indicates the need for better monitoring the utilisation of research knowledge in development pathways. Our results further suggest that three years project duration is too short to achieve high levels of RKU in socio-ecologi- cal systems. We recommend involvement of non-academic members of the project team in project design, leadership and dissemination for increasing RKU.
How well do local stakeholders’ perceptions of environmental impacts of an invasive alien plant species relate to ecological data?
(Elsevier Ltd., 2022) Bekele, Ketema; Linders, T. E.; Eschen, R.; Shiferaw, H.; Haji, J.; Legesse, B.; Schaffner, U.; Choge, S; Eckert, S.; Mbaabu, P. R.
Invasion of Savannas by Prosopis Trees in Eastern Africa: Exploring Their Impacts on Lulc Dynamics, Livelihoods and Implications on Soil Organic Carbon Stocks
(2021) Mbaabu, P. R.; Eckert, S.; Schaffner, U.
Trees of the genus Prosopis from the Americas, were introduced in Eastern Africa in the 1970s to mitigate land degradation and its associated disservices. However, over time these trees have spread and invaded valuable grasslands and croplands and consequently led to significant land use and land cover (LULC) changes and livelihood stress. Early detection of invasive species is essential for formulating effective management strategies to prevent further spread into non-invaded lands and for monitoring the outcome of management interventions. We mapped the spatio-temporal evolution and dynamics of Prosopis invasion, its impacts on LULC and livelihoods in Baringo, Kenya by applying a Random Forest classifier on Landsat satellite data over seven-year intervals from 1988 - 2016. We then linked the LULC changes to soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks that we had measured for the different LULCs and also to socio-economic data on annual costs of clearing Prosopis from farmlands. By 2016, Prosopis had invaded 18,792 ha of land, spreading at a rate of 640 ha/yr, while all other land uses and land cover declined, each by over 40% of its original coverage in 1988. Through LULC specific SOC measurements, and relating the changes to annual costs of clearing Prosopis, we found that Prosopis removal and restoration to grassland is more effective for climate change mitigation compared to Prosopis ―cultivation‖ while also avoiding trade-offs with other ecosystem services and livelihoods. Therefore, future management of this species in Kenya and Eastern Africa should be based on a more collaborative and integrated approach.
Pathways towards the Sustainable Management of Woody Invasive Species: Understanding What Drives Land Users’ Decisions to Adopt and Use Land Management Practices
(MDPI, 2022) Adoyo, B.; Ehrensperger, A.; Eckert, S.; Mbaabu, P. R.; Kiteme, B.; Mukhovi, S.; Schaffner, U.
Sustainable land management (SLM) practices are key for achieving land degradation neutrality, but their continued implementation lag behind the progression of various forms of land degradation. While many scholars have assessed the drivers of SLM uptake for restoring land affected by desertification, drought, and floods (SDG 15.3 and partly SDG 2.4), little is known about the implication of SLM implementation on invasive alien species (IAS) management. This study aimed at understanding the challenges and proposing solutions for the uptake of SLMs with respect to the management of the invasive tree, Prosopis juliflora, in Baringo County, Kenya. Data were collected with semi-structured questionnaires, the responses were coded into themes, and c-coefficient tables were used to determine code linkages. Our results show that the availability of incentives is the main motivation for invasion management. Thus, management efforts have often focused on private parcels, while communally shared lands tended to be neglected despite their vulnerability to invasion. We conclude that sustainable IAS management lies at a landscape scale, and thus the national IAS management strategies should adopt a collective approach by empowering local actors to engage in SLM implementation.
Spatiotemporal Trajectories of Invasive Tree Species Reveal the Importance of Collective Action for Successful Invasion Management
(Taylor & Francis Group., 2022) Adoyo, B.; Schaffner, U.; Mukhovi, S.; Kiteme, B.; Mbaabu, P. R.; Eckert, S.; Choge. S.; Ehrensperger, A.
Biological invasions are complex processes requiring coordinated and spatially targeted management. This study assessed spatiotemporal tra- jectories and determinants of Prosopis cover in Baringo County, Kenya. Land cover data for every seven years between 1988 and 2016 revealed the presence of Prosopis. We tested for trajectory clusters using spatial autocorrelation and overlaid the trajectory categories with landscape features. Generally, most plots were only temporarily managed or not managed at all, while continuous management of Prosopis occurred mainly near rivers and on plots suitable for cultivation. Parcels within 250 m from roads, which are dispersal pathways for Prosopis seeds, were rarely cleared of Prosopis. We conclude that successful management requires incentives for stakeholders’ engagement in collective manage- ment action at a landscape level. Trajectory mapping should be integrated into planning tools to foster the prioritization of timely and context- specific response mechanisms.