Remote sensing based assessment of small wetlands in East Africa [Elektronische Ressource] / vorgelegt von Emiliana Mwita

Emiliana Mwita

Sujets

• Biologie

Informations

• Publié par: rheinische_friedrich-wilhelms-universitat_bonn
• Publié le: 01 janvier 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 72
• Langue: Deutsch
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 7 Mo

Extrait

Remote sensing based assessment of small wetlands in East Africa


Dissertation
zur

Erlangung des Doktorgrades (Dr. rer. nat.)

der


Mathematisch_Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät

der


Rheinischen Friedrich_Wilhelms_Universität Bonn



vorgelegt von



Emiliana Mwita

aus

Dar es Salaam, Tansania



Bonn, September 2010E. Mwita
___________________________________________________________________________


Angefertigt mit Genehmigung der Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Fakultät der
Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn

























1. Referent: Prof. Dr. G. Menz (Universität Bonn)
2. Referent: Prof. Dr. S. Misana (Universität Dar es Salaam, Tansania)
Tag der Promotion: 19.11.2010

E. Mwita Declaration
___________________________________________________________________________

Declaration

I declare that this thesis is my own original work and that it has not been presented and will
not be presented to any other University for a similar or any other degree award.






Ich versichere, dass ich diese Arbeit selbständig verfaßt habe, keine anderen Quellen und
Hilfsmaterialien als die angegebenen benutzt und die Stellen der Arbeit, die anderen
Werken dem Wortlaut oder dem Sinn nach entnommen sind, kenntlich gemacht habe. Die
Arbeit hat in gleicher oder ähnlicher Form keiner anderen Prüfungsbehörde vorgelegen.




Emiliana Mwita
Bonn, September 2010
i
E. Mwita Acknowledgement
___________________________________________________________________________

Acknowledgement
I thank the Almighty God for without his divine assistance this work wouldn’t have been
accomplished. My sincere gratitude goes to my supervisor Prof. Dr. Gunter Menz for his
tireless guidance, constructive discussions and criticisms, which have made this study, a
reality. His extended care beyond academics made my studies and stay in Bonn convenient
and pleasant. Prof. Dr. Salome Misana, co- supervisor deserves special appreciation for her
great contribution in my academic career since my first degree; her ideas shaped my
thoughts and work. I also thank her and Professor Mwafumpe for recommending me for the
Volkswagen (VW) Foundation scholarship.

I acknowledge the support of the SWEA team of coordinators lead by Prof. Dr. Mathias
Becker, Dr. Helida Oyieke, P.D. Dr.Matthias Langenspien, P.D. Dr. Bodo Möseler and Dr.
Christina Kreye. Their guidance greatly contributed to achievement of the study. I am
indebted to the Volkswagen Foundation who offered financial support to facilitate my
study. I thank my colleagues in SWEA PhD students’ team, Beate Boehme, Collins Handa,
Hellen Wangechi Kamiri, Naomie Sakane, Neema Mogha and our postdoc Dr. Miguel
Alvarez. The challenges we went through while working together as a multi- disciplinary
team of young scientists were a lot, but they were a strong motivation to our success and
left a remarkable landmark in my academic and social life. I acknowledge the support of Dr.
Jonas Franke of Centre for Remote Sensing Research on Land Applications (ZFL) University of
Bonn, and Pamela Nienkemper of Remote Sensing Research Group (RSRG) Geography
department, University of Bonn who worked together with me in realization of the aerial
survey. Pamela also allowed me to use part of her Diploma thesis to complement my study.
Dr. Castilla offered me the Land Cover Change Mapper (LCM) software for my analysis I
thank him very much.

I extend my gratitude to the University of Dar es Salaam and National museums of Kenya for
authorising our research work. The Regional and District administrative officers, agriculture
extension officers, village leaders, key informants, drivers and all field assistants are
acknowledged for their great support without, which the study would not have been
achieved. I thank also my employer, Dar es Salaam University College of Education (DUCE)
ii
E. Mwita Acknowledgement
___________________________________________________________________________

administration for a study leave that enabled me to concentrate on my work. The Head of
the Geography Department and all staff members are thanked for their moral support.
Harun Makandi is especially thanked for his support in field data collection and pre-
processing.

Special thanks go to the RSRG and ZFL colleagues for offering me a conducive working
environment. I thank the RSRG secretary Mrs. Bärbel Konermann-Krüger who was
personally very supportive from the beginning of my study to its completion. Her family was
my home away from home, their door stayed open for me all the time, thanks in deed for
your sincere kindness. Tomasz the departments’ Information Technology administrator is
appreciated for trouble shooting all my computer problems and programs installation.
Roland offered much support with data analysis and interpretation together with Doris
Klein, many thanks. I am also grateful to Rainer and Pierre, my office mates, Henryk, Kerstin,
Andreas and Julia for their contributions and nice company.

I thank my former lecturers Dr. Sokoni, Kisanga, Mwanukuzi and Noe for their interest in my
study and offering me support to make it successful. Dr. Sokoni assisted me a lot in the final
stages in shaping the thesis. Prof. Sharma and Dr. Mbuna of DUCE are also appreciated for
their encouragement. I thank all my friends for their encouragement; Sally Muriuki is
especially appreciated for her kindness during my field trips in Kenya and the write up; Mrs
& Mr. Pamba, Mrs & Mr. Mussa, Mrs & Mr. Mbukwa, Mrs & Mr. Shani, Mrs & Mr. Joash,
Mrs & Mr. Rugarabamu and Mrs & Mr. Mwanyika are acknowledged for being close to my
family during my absence. Mama Sarah Kasule and Alice Mangat are thanked for their love
and care.

Father Pisa is acknowledged for his prayers and organizing my stay in Washington during the
AAG 2010 conference and subsequent days due to flight cancellation following the volcanic
eruptions in Iceland. St. Thomas Mores English speaking Catholic community under Fr.
Steven and all the church members, it was a nice experience being with them. Colleagues
from Biota Dr. Elizabeth Nambiro, Dr. Thuweba Diwani, Dr. Kevin Mark and Dr. Francis
Ngome will be remembered for their good cooperation.
iii
E. Mwita Acknowledgement
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My mother Cecilia and my grandparents the late John and Mary deserve special
appreciation for their sincere efforts in bringing me up and educating me. My sister and her
husband Mrs & Mr. Mgonja, brothers’ Henry and Steven, my nieces’ and nephews’ are
acknowledged for their moral support. Auntie Suzan, Christine and Agnes and uncles’ Patrick
and Zakaria together with their families are sincerely thanked for their endless care and
encouragement. My gratitude is also to my in laws’ family the late Sebastian Marenga the
father, and Mary, the mother; they supported my education advancement very much.

My special appreciation also goes to my sister in law Philomena Marenga who took care of
my family during my absence. I can’t thank her enough since without her sacrifice it would
have been difficult for me to pursue my studies. Christina, Kenneth, Peter, Anne, and Teddy
extended their hands of support, I deeply thank them.

The sacrifice, prayer, love and concern of my little son Sebastian Junior, pretty and
understanding daughter Agnes and beloved husband James had a significant contribution in
the successful completion of this thesis. I immensely thank them so much. It may not be
possible to mention everyone here, I acknowledge each and every support I received from
different people during this study and may God bless you all.





iv
E. Mwita Dedication
___________________________________________________________________________

Dedication
I dedicate this work to the following:-
My mother who gave me every support I needed to achieve my dreams.
My late grandparents Johannes Mwita and Maria Magdalena, who brought me up and
appreciated the need to educate every child, with special emphasis to girl child thus built my
education fou