The potential of riparian forests in anthropogenic stressed river ecosystems

Abstract

The study was conducted to examine riparian vegetation species, anthropogenic interactions, and the due impact on the Ngerengere River riparian ecosystem in Tanzania in view of riparian forests potentials on river ecosystems. Vegetation data were collected by belt transect and field observation, and socio-economic data by household interview methods. Upon descriptive and content analyses, Pennisetum purpureum, Phragmites mauritianus, Typha domingensis, Phragmites australis, Cyperus rotundus, Sesbania sesban and Ficus sycomorus constituted the riparian zone. Most of them (80%) were grass, affected by cultivation (54%) and sand extraction (34%), causing vegetation extinction (36%), riverbanks collapse and increased sedimentation (31%). Highly vegetated areas had clean water and were ecologically stable. Riparian forests were sought vital for sustainable management of river ecosystem through enhanced carrying capacity, water cleansing and banks stabilization.