Analysis of climate variability, perceptions and coping strategies of Tanzanian coastal forest dependent communities

Kashaigili, J. J.; Levira, P.; Liwenga, E.; Mdemu, M. V.

dc.creator	Kashaigili, J. J.
dc.creator	Levira, P.
dc.creator	Liwenga, E.
dc.creator	Mdemu, M. V.
dc.date	2014-12-03T07:17:35Z
dc.date	2014-12-03T07:17:35Z
dc.date	2013
dc.date.accessioned	2022-10-25T08:51:58Z
dc.date.available	2022-10-25T08:51:58Z
dc.identifier	DOI: 10.4236/ajcc.2014.32020
dc.identifier	https://www.suaire.sua.ac.tz/handle/123456789/302
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/91981
dc.description	This article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ajcc.2014.32020
dc.description	Climate variability and change are among the biggest challenges of the 21st century. Like in many other areas globally, the coastal communities of Tanzania have always been facing climatic variability at various time scales. Using focus group discussion and a household survey, this study analyzes the perceptions of climate variability and change and the strategies for coping and adaptation by the selected coastal rural and peri-urban communities in Tanzania. The perception of climate variability and change is complemented with the time-series analysis of rainfall and temperature data from Julius Nyerere International Airport Met. station and Kisarawe using Instant Statistical Software. Results indicate that households are aware of climate variability and identify indicators of climate change and variability as being decreasing rainfall trends, increasing incidences of droughts, unpredictable rainfall patterns, disappearance of wetlands and failure to predict on-set of rainy season using traditional knowledge. Households primarily attribute reduced crop yields to changes in rainfall pattern and increasing incidences of drought leading to soil moisture stress. The implications are that the agriculture dependent households are now food insecure. As a way of coping to the observed changes, the coastal communities among others have shifted to production of high value horticultural crops and use of forest resources. Nevertheless, the increased use of forest resources is threatening the existence of coastal forests and contributes to the decline of forest resources and disappearance of wildlife in the forest reserves. It is concluded that the communities studied are aware of climate issues as revealed from perceived indicators of climate variability and changes. The results from statistical analysis of 30 years climatic data are consistent with community’s perception of climate variability and change. The study recommends examining the present coping strategies for the sustainability of the coastal forests and in designing of alternative adaptive strategies such as alternative energy options, crop diversification and environmental friendly activities such as beekeeping.
dc.description	NORAD funded research programme—Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation (CCIAM) of the Sokoine University of Agriculture.
dc.format	application/pdf
dc.language	en
dc.subject	Adaptation
dc.subject	Climate variability
dc.subject	Coping strategies
dc.subject	Coastal communities
dc.subject	Tanzania
dc.subject	Community perception
dc.title	Analysis of climate variability, perceptions and coping strategies of Tanzanian coastal forest dependent communities
dc.type	Article