Edwin Tambara

Last update: 10 April 2013

Title: Impact of spatial agriculture intensification on biodiversity and vegetation productivity in the Mid-Zambezi Valley, Northern Zimbabwe.

Summary

Biodiversity facilitates the functioning of ecosystems and life support systems responsible for sustaining productive capacity such as nutrient cycling, protection and enrichment of soils, pollination, and regulation of microclimate and soil infiltration (OECD, 2001). Clearing of native vegetation, some grazing practices and inappropriate fertilizer uses contributed to the decline of biodiversity and alteration of water quality and ecosystem functioning. Such anthropogenic activities as industry, agriculture and hunting often negatively affect biodiversity. Communities in the mid-Zambezi valley of Zimbabwe are largely dependent on tillage agriculture and forestry resources for their livelihood. The main crops grown in the area include cotton, sorghum and maize. Thus, agriculture represents the most significant human impact on biodiversity and biogeochemical cycles. The expected result will be continual disappearance of primary habitats accompanied by a decline in biodiversity at all trophic levels. Past studies in the mid-Zambezi Valley have largely focused on assessing changes in land use and ways of improving agricultural yield none have examined the response of biodiversity to tillage agriculture during and after land clearing. Therefore, the question that remains unanswered is “What is the response of biodiversity to continued loss of primary habitats due to agricultural intensification in the mid-Zambezi Valley?” The present study investigates how agricultural intensification affects woody species diversity and productivity along an agricultural intensification gradient, with examples provided by perennial vegetation species. In addition, it seeks to establish the diversity of bio-indicator fruit-feeding arthropods (Nymphalidae: Charaxes and Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae).

Last update: 10 April 2013