halima picture

Name
Dr. Halima Mvungi Amir

Academic Rank
Lecturer

Department
Biological Sciences

Biography

Biography

Dr. Halima Mvungi Amir is an experienced Botanist and interdisciplinary researcher with expertise spanning Ethnobotany, Ethnomedicine, Ecology, Climate change science and Plant taxonomy. She holds a PhD and Master’s degree in Botany, as well as a Bachelor of Science with Education in Chemistry and Biology, all from the University of Dar es Salaam. Her research explores the interactions between plant communities, human societies, and environmental systems, with a focus on carbon dynamics, ecosystem services, biodiversity conservation, waste management and sustainability and Indigenous Knowledge Systems. 

She has conducted extensive fieldwork and scholarly research on a wide range of topics, including: Ethnobotany and Ethnomedicine; Plant Community Dynamics and Biodiversity Conservation; Ecosystem Restoration and Functioning, including Carbon Dynamics, Soil Fertility, Nutrient Cycling, Climate Resilience, Sustainable resource use and waste management; plant taxonomy; Knowledge Transmission and Cultural Preservation. 

Dr. Amir’s work emphasizes the integration of Indigenous knowledge systems in biodiversity conservation, food security, and ecosystem sustainability. 

She is also actively involved in teaching and mentorship, delivering courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Her teaching responsibilities include: Plant Ecology, Taxonomy of Higher Plants, Plant Physiology, Environmental Education, Biodiversity Conservation and Management. Dr. Amir's interdisciplinary approach and integration of science with Indigenous knowledge make a valuable contribution to both academic research and applied sustainability efforts.

Contacts

Email:

Email Address
halima.amir@duce.ac.tz

Mob:

Research Interest

Research Interest
Ethnobotany and Ethnomedicine, Natural Products and Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Ecosystem Functioning and Resilience, Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Change Adaptation, Food Security and Community-Based Resource Management

Google Scholar

View Profile

Projects

Projects

  1. Screening of phytochemicals, toxicity, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the mostly used plants for treatment of respiratory disorders in Tabora region. Researchers: Halima Mvungi Amir (PI), David Sylvester Kacholi, and Steven Nyandoro (Co-PIs). Funding: UDSM the 5th Call for competitive research and innovation grants 2022/20223; DUCE-BSD23025. 

  2. Development of poultry feed from under-utilized food wastes: A strategic step towards value added food wastes and improved public health in Tanzanian Cities. Researchers: James Tano Zacharia (PI), David Sylvester Kacholi, Halima Mvungi Amir, and Rita Alex Lyatuu (Co-PIs). Funding: UDSM the 5th Call for competitive research and innovation grants 2022/20223.

  3. An Ethno-linguistic Survey of Datooga Plant names and their usage in treatment of human and Cattle Diseases. Researchers: Kuria Michael Mdoe (PI), Amani Lusekelo Mwamakombe and Halima Mvungi Amir. Funding: UDSM the 5th Call for competitive research and innovation grants 2022/20223; DUCE-LLD23039.

  4. Ethnolinguistic and Ethnobotanical Investigation of Medicinal Plants Used by Nyamwezi and Sukuma People in Tanzania: A Case of Treatment of Respiratory Disorders. Lusekelo (PI), and Halima Mvungi Amir, Funding: University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) Competitive Research and Innovation Grants – 2020; DUCE-20172 1.1.

  5. Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants in Tabora region, Tanzania. Researchers: David Sylvester Kacholi(PI) and Halima Mvungi Amir, Funding: DUCE Competitive Research and Innovation Grants–2019. Project Registration Number DUCE- 20030.

  6. Species composition and carbon sequestration in regenerating Miombo woodland in Tabora region. Funding: NORAD through the NORHED project (UGA-13/0019).

  7. Taxonomic study of selected Aloe species of Tanzania and the associated indigenous Knowledge Funding: World bank through STEP project DUCE-2009. 

  8. Tree species composition incongruence in Miombo woodland along the successional gradient in Tabora region, Tanzania.

  9. Status of the soil nutrients along the successional age of the Miombo woodland in Tabora region, Tanzania. 

  10. Contribution of the soil seed bank to early succession of trees in Miombo woodland in Tabora region, Tanzania.

  11. Carbon storage of tree species in regenerating Miombo woodland in Tabora region.

  12. Taxonomy of selected Aloe species of Tanzania.

  13. Indigenous knowledge on use and conservation of Aloe spices in Tanzania.

Publications

Publications

  1. Kacholi, D. S., & Amir, H. M. (2024). Indigenous Knowledge and Quantitative Analysis of Medicinal Plants Used to Remedy Respiratory Tract Disorders in Mid‐Western Tanzania. BioMed Research International, 2024(1), 8534815.

  2. Kacholi, D. S., & Amir, H. M. (2024). Ethnobotanical survey of anticonstipation medicinal plants used in Sikonge District, Tanzania. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 28, 1–11.

  3. Kacholi, D. S., Kalokora, O. J., Amir, H. M., & Mogha, N. G. (2023). Ethnogynaecological medicinal plants used by Tanzanian communities against female infertility and menstrual disorders – A comprehensive review. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 26, 1–25.

  4. Kacholi, D. S., & Amir, H. M. (2023). Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants traditionally used against erectile dysfunction in Tabora region, Tanzania. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 25, 1–12

  5. Kacholi, D.S. & Amir, H.M. (2022). Ethnomedicinal survey of antidiarrheal plants of the Nyamwezi people of Nsenda ward in Urambo District, central western Tanzania. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 24,1-14.

  6. Kacholi, D.S. & Amir, H. M. (2022). Herbal remedies used by traditional healers to treat haemorrhoids in Tabora region, Tanzania. Pharmaceutical Biology, 60(1) 2182-2188.

  7. Mogha, N.G., Kalokora, O.J., Amir, H.M. & Kacholi, D.S. (2022). Ethnomedicinal plants used for treatment of snakebites in Tanzania – a systematic review. Pharmaceutical Biology, 60(1), 1925-1934.

  8. Lusekelo, A., & Amir, M. H. (2022). Naming of plants in Nyamwezi and Sukuma societies of Tanzania. Kioo cha Lugha, 20(2), 217-238.

  9. Kacholi, D. S., and Amir, M. H. (2022). "Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used by traditional healers in managing Gonorrhoea and Syphilis in Urambo District, Tabora Region, Tanzania." Journal of Herbs, Spices & Medicinal Plants 28(2):179-192.

  10. Kacholi, D.S. and Amir, H.M, 2021. Plants Used by Nyamwezi Traditional Health Practitioners to Remedy Sexually Transmitted Infections in Sikonge, Tanzania. Journal of Education, Humanities and Sciences, 10 (6): 89–101.

  11. Kacholi, D. S., Amir, H. M., & Isidory, A. J. (2024). Traditional medicinal plants used for gastrointestinal disorders by the Nyamwezi traditional health practitioners of Tabora region, Tanzania. Ethnobotany Research and Applications, 29, 1-16.

  12.  Amir, H. M., & Manoko, M. L. (2020). Does the Seedling Emergence Technique Limit the Detection of Seeds of Miombo Species in Miombo Woodlands?.Journal of Education, Humanities & Science (JEHS), 8(2).

  13.  Amir, H. M., Grace, O. M., Wabuyele, E., & Manoko, M. L. K. (2019). Ethnobotany of aloe L. (Asphodelaceae) in Tanzania. South African Journal of Botany, (122): 330-335.

  14. Amir, H., & Manoko, M. (2018). Similarity coefficients influence the delimitation of species in the genus Aloe l.(Xanthorrhoeaceae). Tanzania Journal of Science, 44(3), 93-102.