Coastal Communities’ Perceptions on Climate Change Impacts and Implications for Adaptation Strategies in Mtwara, Southern Tanzania

Abstract

This chapter discusses vulnerability and adaptation of the coastal communities to climate change impacts with the aim of contributing to an understanding on how vulnerability and livelihoods are constructed among coastal communities, with particular focus on Mtwara communities along the southern coast of Mtwara Region, Tanzania. This study aimed at identifying pathways to reduce vulnerability and enhance resilience of livelihoods of the concerned coastal communities. The study was conducted in four villages purposively selected based on the existing diversity reflecting issues related to fishing as well as farming livelihoods. The selection of the villages was also made to cover both the coastal strip and the nearby zone, to capture issues related to coastal fishing and farming. A total of 200 households were included in the survey, 122 of whom were males. The research methods used in the two phases included key informant interviews, FGDs, transect walks and on-sight observations. The study also employed an integrated assessment of socioecological systems’ vulnerability to climate change and variability as well as adaptive capacity and the implications of these in resilience. Climatic data from the TMA were also obtained in order to complement the observations from the field. Data from this study show that challenges and impacts associated with climate change are evident in this coastal environment of Tanzania. Common impacts included destruction of coral reefs, coastal erosion, destruction of coastal infrastructures and human settlements. They also included intrusion of seawater into freshwater wells and crop fields in the areas. Sea level rise was probably the most challenging climate change issue in the region since it threatened not only the livelihoods of the already stressed coastal communities but also the economy and integrity of the coastal ecosystems and resources.