Vulnerability and adaptation strategies of coastal communities to the associated impacts of sea level rise and coastal flooding

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the vulnerability of selected communities of the island to the impacts of sea level rise and associated coastal flooding, to examine the perception of local communities of North and South Regions of Pemba Island on the occurrence and impact of coastal flooding to their wellbeing and, lastly, to evaluate the adaptive capacity and different adaptation strategies adopted by the local communities in response to coastal flooding in the two administrative regions of Pemba Island. Within each district, three rice-growing areas were purposely selected for the study. Data collection techniques used included interviews, FGDs and physical observation. A total of 140 individuals were interviewed. Findings show that rice farmers in Pemba were highly exposed to sea level rise and coastal floods. As rice farming in the island is entirely rainfed, the rice-growing areas were sensitive to both declining rainfall and coastal flooding. Poor economic conditions and high levels of poverty exacerbated the low capacity of these communities to respond to the impacts of these stressors. Their vulnerability was manifested in overdependence on fishing, seaweed farming and subsistence crop farming which are highly impacted by sea level rise and associated coastal flooding. The observed building of seawalls was contributing to ameliorations of the impacts of coastal floods. There was a need to extend these walls to other villages for a similar purpose. Adaptation options such as the introduction of alternative sources of income or changing the use of the affected rice farms could also help to build resilience amongst rice farmers and thus reducing vulnerability to impacts of climate change.