This study describes the impacts of river development projects on land use and vegetation in a floodplain that includes old-growth forest and an important primate habitat located in eastern Kenya. River basin development activities include the construction of hydro-electric dams in the upper river basin, and an irrigation scheme, the Bura Irrigation and Settlement Project, in the lower basin. Through flood frequency analysis for both the pre- and post-dam period, I demonstrate that there has been a significant (p < 0.01) reduction in floods with a recurrence interval of 5 years or greater. A hydrological simulation model is used to estimate the frequency and duration of flooding of 73 vegetation sample plots for the pre- and post-dam period. Four of the plots, lying less than 1.25 m above dry season river level, show a slight increase in days flooded, whereas the rest show a significant decline in days flooded from the pre- to the post-dam period. Detailed descriptions of the structure and dynamics of the Tana riverine forest, and exploration into the influence of abiotic variables to species composition, are made using ordination and classification techniques. The three canopy levels examined, and the regeneration layer, had different species compositions. Many of the upper canopy species are not regenerating. Results of detailed land cover and change detection mapping using remotely sensed data reveal significant change. Forest cover declined slightly (about 2%) between 1975 and 1984. However, between 1989 and 1996, there was a 27% decline in riverine forest, while cultivated area within the forest increased by 45%. Over the same period, area of exposed soil increased by 112%. Several landscape measures are given and all indicate significant fragmentation of riverine forest. The extent of riverine forest along the active river channel declined by about 200 m between 1989 and 1996. Human disturbance now represents the greatest threat to continued survival of the forest. Results of a dendrochronologie investigation reveal that a number of species produce growth rings. Four species identified as offering the best chance for developing a ring-width chronology are; Acacia elatior, Acacia robusta, Tamarindus indica, and Newtonia hildebrandtii.

A research paper presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts (MA) Human Rights, Witwatersrand University, South Africa 16 February 2015 / The research looks at the coordination of land policy with population growth and biodiversity loss as a means through which economic, social and cultural rights may be achieved. The argument is made that poor coordination of land policy with social and environmental systems may perpetuate the circumstances that drive poverty in Africa. This given the fact that land policy is a public policy that may challenge the legitimacy of economic, social and cultural rights when not properly coordinated with social and environmental systems. The research questions what considerations are taken into account when determining land policy that reflects the economic, social and cultural needs of the people within a respective State. Given clearly identified dependencies on land for development by the majority of the African population, the research aims to address how land policy may be reformed in order to take on a multilateral perspective regarding coordination, as opposed to the current unilateral perspective that stays within the realm of land administration and commoditization of land. The hypothesis of the paper assumes that current land policies in Africa challenge the legitimacy of economic, social and cultural rights since coordinated with the systems of population growth and biodiversity loss as representatives of social and environmental sectors that most influence poverty are non-existent. The research focuses on the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Kingdom of Lesotho as comparative regions where; regardless of the differing characteristics of both regions, population growth and biodiversity loss prove to be common factors that influence society’s experience of poverty. The paper makes use of structural functionalism and conflict theory as a framework for analysis. Finally, the paper makes suggestions for further study into multilateral land policy reform as a contributing factor to the achievement of human rights. Key Words: Biodiversity Loss, Child Mortality, Corruption, DRC, Economic Social and Cultural Rights, Environmental Services, Food Security, Health, Housing, ICESCR, Land Policy, Land Tenure, Lesotho, Population Growth, World Bank

x, 117 p. : ill. (some col.) / This thesis interrogates the transfrontier conservation areas (TFCA) program of southern Africa. Promoted since the mid-1990s as the solution to the vexing problems of environmental degradation and rural development in the region, these cross-border projects have attracted a broad coalition of supporters including public and private donor groups, regional politicians, and the international conservation community. Though a large academic literature surrounds the program, a holistic understanding of its development--and an accounting of its success--has yet to emerge. This thesis seeks to rectify this by probing the nature and structure of transfrontier discourse, positing the program's success as directly born of its appeal to a triad of interests composed of donors, national politicians, and the regional conservation community. Further, it is argued that the heavy marketing of the program as a "win-win" scenario for conservation and development has effectively displaced once popular community-based narratives/approaches. / Committee in charge: Dennis C. Galvan, Chair; Alexander B. Murphy, Member; Derrick Hindery, Member