Drivers of ecosystem change and their impacts on human well‐being in Lake Victoria basin

Abstract

To offer an increased understanding of the spatial patterns, temporal, social and physical predictors of the conversion and transformations of land use in Lake Victoria basin, an assessment of proximate and underlying forces is presented. This study discusses key theoretical underpinnings for the manifold linkages existing between selected drivers of land‐use changes around the basin and their consequences on human well‐being. Using a meta‐analytical research design, the paper analyses ecosystems level cases of the causes of land use and cover changes in the basin, to determine any spatio‐temporal or institutional patterns and dynamics. A suite of recurrent core variables has been identified to influence land use and cover changes in the basin. The most prominent of these at the underlying category are climatic factors, economic factors, institutions, national and regional policies, population growth and other remote influences. At the proximate level, these factors drive cropland expansion, overgrazing, infrastructure extension and rates of land degradation. These are supported by empirical evidence from the basin. This assessment is crucial for appropriate local and transboundary policy interventions, which have to be fine‐tuned to the locale‐specific dynamic patterns associated with the inherent ecosystems changes.

Living without buffers—illustrating climate vulnerability in the Lake Victoria basin

“…This complex bio-geo-physical interaction seems to reinforce farmers' sense of drought and/or intense rainfall (United Nations Environment Program 2006;Slegers and Stroosnijder 2008). Since soils in the study areas have low fertility, poor texture and are used intensively (Odada et al 2009;Swallow et al 2009), we argue that a combination of these factors and livelihood outcomes helps to explain why farmers' perceive rainfall as unpredictable or unreliable because it is simply no longer favourable to their food production needs. A comprehensive understanding of the way farmers interpret changes in rainfall dynamics is therefore important as an indicator of exposure to climate vulnerability.…”

“…Because of this 'epistemological trap' there is a need for in-depth, place-based assessments, especially in places like the Lake Victoria Basin (LVB) in East Africa, where imminent vulnerabilities are present (Fuggle 2002;United Nations Environment Program 2006;Odada et al 2009) and where such integrative investigations are missing. But there may be many financial and temporal constraints on the performance of such an inclusive vulnerability assessment ranging over a vast number of communities, including the knowledge and participation of affected stakeholders.…”

Coupled human and natural system dynamics as key to the sustainability of Lake Victoria’s ecosystem services

“…People migrated to the lakeside to enter the fisheries, which accelerated human population growth and altered the kinship relations that had existed previously. Human populations around the lake continue to grow at a higher rate than the African average (Odada et al 2009). …”

Water accessibility and womens participation along the rural-urban gradient: A study in Lake Victoria Region, Kenya

“…Within Kenya, the Lake Victoria region has been identified as a hot spot for rapid urbanization (Odada et al, 2009). In recent decades, many small towns have sprung up along the Lake's shores and in its catchment basin (UN-Habitat, 2008;Odada et al, 2009).…”

“…In recent decades, many small towns have sprung up along the Lake's shores and in its catchment basin (UN-Habitat, 2008;Odada et al, 2009). The dominant drivers of urbanization are rural-to-urban migration and the expansion of urban areas through annexations.…”