Poverty levels and vulnerability to climate change of inshore fisher-mangrove-dependent communities of the Rufiji delta, Tanzania

Abstract

This chapter assesses how fisher-mangrove-dependent societies such as those of the Rufiji Delta in Southern Tanzania are being affected by and what is their capacity to adapt to climate change impacts that are occurring in the area. The objective of the study was not only aimed at improving linkages between the practice of community-level assessments and efforts to develop and implement vulnerability-reducing interventions; it was also an attempt to address the critique about the need for a more integrative, community-engaged approach to assessments in vulnerability scholarship. This study aimed to measure three key dimensions of vulnerability, i.e. exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. Socio-economic data was collected from two purposely selected coastal communities in the Rufiji Delta. Sites were selected to provide a spectrum of social and environmental conditions. For each community, data were obtained on exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. Findings show that, despite differences in wealth status, community members of the study villages generally shared similar socio-economic characteristics and were thus anticipated to be impacted in similar magnitudes. What was needed was community education on climate change impacts and the presence of social networks to assist in creating awareness on climate change impacts and livelihood diversification to reduce direct dependence on the fisher-mangrove ecosystem. Such livelihood diversification strategies included provision of capital for small businesses and establishing environmentally friendly activities such as compound-based livestock keeping (zero-grazing) and modern beekeeping.