TITLE : THE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF URBANISATION: A CASE STUDY OF
Mwense FOREST IN Mwense DISTRICT-LUAPULA PROVINCE
NAME OF CANDIDATE
MATHEWS BESA
EXAMINATION NUMBER
160203720016
CLASS
YEAR
2021
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1Background of the Study
Rapid urban growth or urbanization is a major challenge in most developing countries.
While urban growth is associated with socio-economic benefits such as lower per capita
costs of providing energy, health care, infrastructure and other associated services. With it
comes a plethora of environmental ills. This is in line with Harris and Todaro (1970), who
put it that the rapid industrialization, increases in population and brings about various
environmental problem. Mwense District Of Luapula Province has experienced rapid
urbanisation from the start of the 21 century. This field project therefore, explored the
environmental effects of urbanisation: a Case Study of Mwense Forest In Mwense DistrictLuapula Province. It unearthed various negative effects of urbanisation in relation to the
study area.
st
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The Environmental effects of Urbanisation have serious economic, social and
ecological implications. Any failures to mitigate environmental degradation
impacts in all their forms would lay human and animal existence impossible. It is
therefore, critical that environmental degradation problems are seriously
mitigated.
1.3 Significance of the Study
It is very clear that when towns grow the space becomes smaller, due to the
increasing number of activities occurring in towns such as making of new roads,
building of health centers, schools, pitches for playing games, offices, houses,
industries and shops. Therefore, this field project will find out whether
Urbanisation has direct effect on the deteriorating of an environment. Moreover,
this project will endeavor to try to find solutions to the causes of environmental
degradation due to Urbanisation. Henceforth, this study will help the
government to come up with developmental policies and programmes which will
be sustainable.
1.4 Aim/ Objectives
1.4.1 Aim of Study
- To investigate the Environmental effects of Urbanisation on Mwense Forest
Of Mwense District-Luapula Province.
1.4.2 Specific Objectives of the Study
To investigate factors that lead to Urbanisation.
To find out the effects of Urbanisation on the Environment.
To evaluate the possible solutions to the identified environmental problems.
CHAPTER TWO
METHODOLOGY
2.1 Data Collection
The researcher used the following techniques of data collection.
2.1.1 Primary Data Collection
Primary data was collected using observation and interviews. Pictures were
captured from the observed phenomenon and interviews were used on selected
residents who have lived for a minimum of twenty years in Mwense district in
order to provide comprehensive information on the social, environmental and
economic changes the district has undergone.
2.1.2 Secondary Data Collection
Secondary data in form of published and unpublished environmental
textbooks also set the platform for explaining observed phenomenon.
2.2 Sampling
Simple random sampling was used to select the 30 participants from the
central business District. Information obtained through observation and
interviews from the respective areas provided enough information on the effects
of urbanisation in relation to environmental degradation.
2.3 Research Instruments
This part highlights the main instruments used for data collection in this
research.
2.3.1 Interview Schedule
The fact that the research investigated the effects of urbanisation at Mwense
Forest of Mwense District, an interview schedule was relevant in that it helped in
gaining the views and explanations behind the observed phenomenon. The
questions were phrased in an open-ended manner so as to gain comprehensive
answers. The interviews were particularly useful when collaborated with the
secondary sources which served as the backbone for the explanations. The
Appendix has the interview schedule.
2.4.Location of the Study Area
The study was undertaken in Mwense District In The Luapula Province Of
Zambia. Mwense is situated approximately 1200 kilometers (Km) North of
Lusaka and about 110 Km south-east of Mansa district, the provincial capital of
Luapula. To the south, Mwense District boarders The Democratic Republic of
Congo, Mwansabombwe District to the north, Chipili District to the west.
Mwense Forest is located on the Eastern part of the CBD. This area blossomed
with both indigenous and exotic tree species in the 1990s. This area is also the
source of the Luapula river. However, urbanisation has posed a massive
environmental challenge to this area.
CHAPTER THREE
PRESENTATION OF FINDINGS
3.1 Factors that Lead To Urbanisation
- The following figure represents the factors that respondents mentioned to
have contributed to rural-urban migration leading to urbanisation.
Figure 1.
CAUSES OF RURAL URBA MIGRATION
Employment
Brigh lights
Availability of Social service
Availability of Industries
3.2 Effects of Urbanisation on the Environment
The following picture shows the observable phenomenon on the problems
associated with urbanisation.
ACTIVITIES TAKING PLACE IN THE ONCE VARIANT Mwense DISTRICT LOCAL
FOREST
• Brick making
• Charcoal burning and selling
• construction
3.2 Suggested solutions to Environmental problems as a result of
urbanisation
- Environmental specialist interviewed argued that since rural-urban
migration is the main cause of urbanization. Therefore, governments
of developing countries such as Zambia need to control the trend by
developing rural areas. Attractive amenities associated with urban
areas such as electricity, piped water, and leisure activities to mention
but a few need to be introduced in rural areas as well.
- Furthermore, he suggested that town dwellers in Mwense must be
empowered by providing projects that will ensure that they sustain
their welfare without tempering with the natural environment.
Population growth should be controlled by sensitizing couples in
urban areas on the benefits of having fewer or no children if possible.
These measures would see to it that environmental sustainability is
achieved for both present and future generations.
CHAPTER FOUR
INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS
4.1 Factors that Lead to Urbanisation
The data presented above indicates that there are several factors that has
contributed to urbanisation in Mwense town. People from different parts of
Zambia have come to Mwense for business and employment. Others have
simply been attracted to the area due to the perceived urban lights,
recreation facilities and the easy life. The rapid industrialisation in the district
has also accelerated the urbanisation process in Mwense. Therefore, the pull
factors in Mwense and industrialisation have lead to the urbanisation
process.
4.2 Effects of Urbanisation on the Environment
The information collected from the field show that Urbanisation causes a
lot of environmental problems. For instance the rapid demand for charcoal in
the town especially in the cold and rainy season has led to massive
deforestation. This is seen from the way Mwense Local Forest has been wiped
out.
Massive excavations and construction projects in Mwense have left
massive ecological footprints of urbanisation at Mwense local forest. This has
adversely affected the beautiful scenery. Moreover, the animal habitat has
also been adversely affected.
CHAPTER FIVE
EVALUATION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Evaluation
This research has yielded tremendous results as regards the relationship of
urbanisation to environmental degradation. The objective were positively
achieved. On the factors that leads to urbanisation in Mwense, it was
established that pull factors have attracted people from different places within
and outside Zambia. Some identified environmental problems as result of
urbanisation at Mwense Forest include; deforestation, and ecological foot prints
of urbanisation. Furthermore, solutions to identified environmental problems
due to urbanisation include; the government must see to it that there is an
effective urban land use planning policy and set up adhered management
policies. Moreover, the government of Zambia must increase awareness and
understanding about the value of urban forests, such as the Mwense local forest
which is almost in extinction, and the need to consider urban forests as essential
infrastructure when planning and managing communities.
5.2 Conclusions
The data presented in this report rightly show that there is
a positive relationship between urbanisation and environmental degradation.
There is no doubt that Mwense is increasingly being urbanized due to an influx
of people in the district and the continuous development of industries. This has
led to a wide range of environmental degradation evils such as deforestation,
and massive destruction natural landscapes. Henceforth, the environmental
situation will continue to be adversely affected if left unchecked. The need to
protect the environment in Mwense is needed now more than ever before.
5.3 RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Strengthening policies to regulate the use of energy resources such as fuel
wood will ensure that the flora is properly conserved.
1. Ecological footprints of Urbanisation can be avoided or mitigated through the
formulation and implementation of an Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) to guide new projects. EIA will see to it that any impact or
externality on the town’s natural environment is taken care of.
3.Establishing, reinforcing and strengthening Environmental Management Plans
(EMPs)
REFERENCES
Environmental Council of Zambia, (2008). Zambia Environment Outlook report 3.
UNEP
Estades, C.F., Temple, S.A., 1999. Deciduos-forest bird communities in a fragmented
landscape dominated by
exotic pine plantations. Ecological Aplications
Government of Zambia, (1993). Supplement to the Republic of Zambia Government
Gazette dated the 14th may, 1993. Unpublished Document.
Harris,J.R.andM.P.Todaro(1970).“Migration, unemployment, and development: a
two sector analysis”, American Economic Review.