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Research Article
Barriers to Livelihood Diversification and Welfare Outcomes of Artisanal Fishing Households Along Shiroro and Kainji Dams, Nigeria
Yohanna John Alhassan*
,
Tsukutado Istifnus Isreal,
Cuba James
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 3, September 2026
Pages:
41-50
Received:
10 March 2026
Accepted:
27 July 2026
Published:
17 August 2026
Abstract: This study examined the barriers to livelihood diversification and welfare outcomes of artisanal fishing households along Shiroro and Kainji dams, Nigeria and welfare outcomes of artisanal fishing households along Shiroro and Kainji dams. A cross-sectional survey of 300 fishers across 50 villages was conducted, with data analyzed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and the Simpson Diversification Index (SDI). Economic constraints high cost of fishing gear (72.0%), limited access to credit (72.7%), and inadequate operating capital (71.0%) were the most severe factors affecting livelihoods. Institutional challenges, including limited extension services (52.7%) and inadequate training (49.0%), alongside environmental stressors such as seasonal water-level fluctuations (36.3%) and climate variability (36.3%), also influenced outcomes. EFA identified Economic Welfare (Factor 1), comprising fishing income (0.82), income from other activities (0.79), and household expenditure (0.75), as the most influential determinant of well-being. Access to services (Factor 2), Food Security (Factor 3), and Asset Ownership (Factor 4) further shaped household welfare. Livelihood diversification was high (SDI = 0.955), dominated by arable farming (59.3%), poultry (50.2%), and livestock (45.9%) and supplemented by petty trading, night guarding, and small-scale processing. The study concludes that diversified livelihoods help households mitigate risks from declining fish stocks and environmental variability. Policy interventions promoting financial inclusion, access to affordable inputs, institutional support, and market development are essential for sustaining welfare and fostering resilient artisanal fisheries.
Abstract: This study examined the barriers to livelihood diversification and welfare outcomes of artisanal fishing households along Shiroro and Kainji dams, Nigeria and welfare outcomes of artisanal fishing households along Shiroro and Kainji dams. A cross-sectional survey of 300 fishers across 50 villages was conducted, with data analyzed using Exploratory ...
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Research Article
Biomass Estimation Models for Combretum-Terminalia Woodlands of Western Ethiopia: Implications for Carbon Accounting, Climate-Change Mitigation, and Biodiversity Conservation
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 3, September 2026
Pages:
51-61
Received:
27 May 2026
Accepted:
16 June 2026
Published:
18 August 2026
Abstract: Biomass models play a crucial role in accurately estimating carbon storage potential of forests and evaluate the contribution of forest ecosystem services. However, an allometric model which is specifically tailored to diverse tree species in Ethiopia is currently lacking. Therefore, establishing species-specific allometric models and determining the biomass expansion factor for dry woodland ecosystems is essential for comprehending the role in mitigating climate change impacts. This study tested and validated diffrent allometric models on six dominant tree species in the Combretum-Terminalia woodlands of the Benishangul-Gumuz region, which collectively account for approximately 69% of the total basal area. The study applied an explanatory research design method and data were collected through systematic sampling across 40 plots, involving the destructive sampling of 67 representative standing trees. The Allometric models were developed and tested using log-transformed data to satisfy the assumptions of linear regression and ensure statistical rigor. This is done by applying log-transformed data to develop the models to ensure high statistical accuracy. The models performance was validated using key metrics such as R2, RMSE, and Model Efficiency (EF) to ensure the reliability of the carbon storage and biomass estimations. The study demonstrated that aboveground biomass for all six species is highly predictable using species-specific allometric equations with coefficients of determination (R2) consistently exceeding 96%. The DBH-based model (M1) was the best fit for five species, notably achieving the highest R2 (0.985) for Terminalia laxiflora and the most stable performance for Lonchocarpus fruticosa (EF = 0.953). In contrast, Syzygium guineense required the inclusion of height (M2) to reach the study's highest precision (EF = 0.992, MAPE = 3.42%), while Combretum hartmannianum showed the greatest individual variability (EF = 69%). Biomass Expansion Factors (BEF) were statistically uniform across all taxa (P = 0.482), with a collective mean of 2.077 ± 0.343. These findings conclude that while DBH is a robust primary predictor for most woodland species, species-specific architecture particularly the vertical growth of Syzygium guineense and the high absolute residuals in Pterocarpus lucens necessitates tailored models and correction factors to ensure accurate regional carbon accounting and forest management in the Combretum-Terminalia woodlands. Utilizing these models (M1 & M2) can enhance the accuracy of biomass estimations, leading to more effective management practices and conservation strategies via biomass and carbon estimation.
Abstract: Biomass models play a crucial role in accurately estimating carbon storage potential of forests and evaluate the contribution of forest ecosystem services. However, an allometric model which is specifically tailored to diverse tree species in Ethiopia is currently lacking. Therefore, establishing species-specific allometric models and determining t...
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Research Article
Temporal Patterns of Climate Variability and Malaria Incidences Among Children (0-5) Years in Uganda: A Time Series Analysis
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 3, September 2026
Pages:
62-78
Received:
26 May 2026
Accepted:
8 June 2026
Published:
22 August 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.eeb.20261103.13
Downloads:
Views:
Abstract: Background: Malaria remains a major public health challenge in Uganda, particularly among children under five years of age. Between 2019 and 2023, the prevalence increased with age, from 3% in infants under six months to 12% in children aged 48–59 months, and was markedly higher in rural areas (11%) than in urban areas (3%). However, analysis of the data on malaria has been focused on a single variable, while the impact of climate variation on malaria is over several factors and over time. This study assesses the temporal patterns of climate variability and malaria incidence among children aged 0–5 years in Uganda using a time series analysis. Methods: The study analysed 150 monthly time series records from 2015 to 2022. It used the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM), which allows examination of both short-term changes and long-term relationships among variables. The variables included confirmed malaria cases in children under five years, rainfall, minimum and maximum temperatures, and vegetation cover. Data were obtained from the Ministry of Health/DHIS2, NASA Earth Data, CHIRPS, and NASA EOSDIS. Results: The results revealed significant long-term relationships and short-term feedback mechanisms between malaria incidence and climatic factors. The error correction term (ECT) for malaria was -0.006, indicating a slow adjustment to equilibrium. In contrast, rainfall, minimum temperature, and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) showed correction behaviours, adjusting upward following deviations. Short-term changing aspects revealed that previous values of malaria cases among children under five years (coefficient = 0.091) and rainfall (coefficient = 0.061) positively influenced current malaria trends. The minimum temperature displayed strong autocorrelation (coefficient = 0.810), whereas the NDVI showed a large short-term response (coefficient = 140.100), highlighting its sensitivity to environmental shifts. Maximum temperature had a negative short-term association with malaria incidences (coefficient = -0.259), suggesting inverse seasonal effects. Conclusions: The study reveals significant short-term and long-term interactions among malaria cases among children under five years, rainfall, temperature, and NDVI. The presence of statistically significant error correction terms indicates that the system adjusts to restore equilibrium following deviations, with malaria cases among children under five years exhibiting consistent correction. Lagged coefficients show that past changes, particularly in minimum temperature and NDVI, exert a strong influence on current conditions.
Abstract: Background: Malaria remains a major public health challenge in Uganda, particularly among children under five years of age. Between 2019 and 2023, the prevalence increased with age, from 3% in infants under six months to 12% in children aged 48–59 months, and was markedly higher in rural areas (11%) than in urban areas (3%). However, analysis of th...
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Research Article
Physicochemical Characteristics and Macroinvertebrate Communities of the Crenon and Potamon of the Lobo River in the Rainforest Zone of Cameroon
Issue:
Volume 11, Issue 3, September 2026
Pages:
79-91
Received:
18 June 2026
Accepted:
9 July 2026
Published:
22 August 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.eeb.20261103.14
Downloads:
Views:
Abstract: A study of the physicochemical water quality and the diversity of Benthic Macroinvertebrates (BMIs) in the Lobo River was conducted to characterize its upper and lower reaches. Sampling was carried out between May 2020 to May 2021 across four stations (two in the crenon and two in the potamon), using standard methods for physicochemical analyses. BMIs were collected with a 30-cm square, 400-µm mesh dip net over a 100-meter stretch at each station, following the multi-habitat method. Physicochemical parameters were generally low and homogeneous between the crenon and potamon (p > 0.05), with recorded values for dissolved oxygen (61.23 ± 4.37%), turbidity (17.43 ± 2.15 FTU), and suspended solids (16.81 ± 2.29 mg/L); nitrogen forms (0.54 ± 0.08 mg/L NH4+; 0.36 ± 0.18 mg/L NO3-) and orthophosphates (0.85 ± 0.37 mg/L PO43-) being higher in the crenon (L2), whereas nitrites were lower at that zone (0.012 ± 0.004 mg/L NO2-). A total of 86 BMIs species belonging to 3 phyla, 5 classes, 10 orders, and 38 families were recorded. Key bioindicators recorded were: Caridina nilotica and Phyllomacromia bifasciata in the crenon; Micronecta sp., Tramea transmarina, and Canas macateei in the potamon. The Shannon-Weaver diversity index indicated sites with low diversity encompassing both pollution-sensitive (Atyidae and Polymictarcyidae) and pollution-tolerant (Libellulidae and Belostomatidae) organisms, as revealed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA).
Abstract: A study of the physicochemical water quality and the diversity of Benthic Macroinvertebrates (BMIs) in the Lobo River was conducted to characterize its upper and lower reaches. Sampling was carried out between May 2020 to May 2021 across four stations (two in the crenon and two in the potamon), using standard methods for physicochemical analyses. B...
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