Thesis and Dissertations

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    Sensitivity of Indigenous Plant Species Diversity to Climate Change in a Semi- Arid Environment:
    (Great Zimbabwe University, 2023) Madzikatidze Wellington
    The research examined the sensitivity of indigenous plant species diversity to climate change in a semi-arid environment over 36 years (1984–2020) in Chegutu district of Mashonaland West Province in Zimbabwe. This research was premised on the pragmatic research model and implemented the mixed-methods research design. Precipitation and temperature-related variables were first analysed to ascertain the climate system changes. Indigenous plant species diversity data were collected from 180 sampling plots identified using the nonaligned sampling framework. Correlations between observed indigenous plant species data along with the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were determined, resulting in the use of NDVI as a proxy indicator for indigenous plant species diversity. Thus, NDVI was used in the determination of modifications in indigenous plant species over time. The indigenous plant species diversity data were regressed with climate variables data over the study period to establish the cause-effect relationships. Questionnaire surveys, interviews and direct field observations were used to understand further the climate-indigenous plant species dynamics from the perspective of local people in the area over the study period. Significant (p<0.05; α=0.05) trends in climatic variables were observed over the period under study, signifying a changing climate in the district. Significant correlations between different bioclimatic elements (precipitation and temperature) and the Shannon index of diversity were also observed, indicating the sensitivity of plant species to climatic variables. The study concludes that the changing climate partly influences the trends and dynamics of indigenous plant species in Chegutu District. Thus, indigenous plant species are considerably sensitive to climate change. There is need to equip organizations responsible for managing ecosystems for effective monitoring of the impacts of climatic changes on indigenous plant species, given the importance of indigenous plants to humanity. Capacitating organizations responsible for managing ecosystems would go a long way in preventing the likely invasions, migrations, and extinctions of key indigenous plant species within and from local ecosystems.
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    Local Knowledge Adaptation Measures In An Era Of Climate Change:
    (Great Zimbabwe University, 2019) Tshuma Doreen Taurai
    The study sought to explore possibilities of local knowledge adaptation measures used by the people of Chivi in the era of climate change. The interpretivist paradigm was employed to investigate various ways used by the participants to adapt to climate change. Purposive sampling was utilized to select the main respondents who met the age criterion of fifty (50) years and above, and who were born and bred in Chivi district. This procedure was to ensure that the participants had witnessed climatic changes occurring in Chivi. The age was taken to authenticate lived experience of climate change by the participants Data was gathered through focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, observations and transect walks. Information collected through these methods and their associated tools was presented in tables, figures as well as qualitatively in words. Photographs were taken and presented to substantiate information gathered from observations and transect walks. The study was guided by indigenous knowledge held by the respondents. This community based approach was chosen over the top-down approach which is usually imposed on people by stakeholders. Research findings revealed that climate in the area has changed as evidenced by accounts given by people who have stayed in the area in the last fifty (50) years or more. Extreme weather events such as droughts, high temperatures and sometimes floods were cited. The numbers of rain days have reduced whilst there is an increase in the occurrence of dry spells during the rain season. Some of the evidence in the area to support the changing climate was that of the drying of rivers which used to flow right through the year, the extinction of some species and the reduction in biodiversity. Although quite a number of local knowledge adaptation measures were known in the area, a small percentage of people were using them. These measures included dug out water infiltration trenches, temporary migration of livestock, the zunde raMambo concept iii and crop diversification and rearing of drought resistant animals. A number of barriers were found to be hindering the widespread and effective use of local knowledge adaptation measures. The study concluded that the importance of using indigenous knowledge systems as adaptation measures has been relegated for top-down scientific measures. It is recommended that indigenous knowledge systems be documented so that present and future generations benefit by enhancing their adaptive capacity to climate change. Education platforms should be established to teach and empower young generations on the importance of using and respect for indigenous knowledge systems. Growing of drought resistant crops and keeping drought resistant animals should be embraced by every household in the area to eradicate poverty brought by increased climate variability and climate change being experienced in Chivi District. A framework for pathway to integrating indigenous knowledge systems in climate change adaptation was developed as a pathway to sustainable climate change adaptation for communities