English

Amos Majule

doi:10.5897/ajest11.249

Abstract

This study explored the implications of both ecological and social economic characteristics on community livelihoods and environment in distinct villages namely Mwanambaya and Kwala in Mkuranga and Kibaha districts respectively. Both districts located in coastal areas of Tanzania experienced pressure on natural resources appearing in different ecological settings. Data were collected using different tools and the analysis employed SPSS package. Results showed that agriculture production is the main source of livelihoods by 78 and 74% of respondents in Mwanambaya and Kwala respectively. Fertile soils, available water, more and suitable pasture, more vegetation with large trees attracted pastoralist in particular Wasukuma and Maasai tribes to Kwala area. Exploitation of different natural resources including cutting trees for charcoal and building, overgrazing contributed to land degradation mostly in Kwala by 40 and 20% of respondents in Mwanambaya. This study has established that community livelihoods in both urban and rural areas of Tanzania depend on natural resources organized in a form of an ecological gradient. This organization allows for different livelihood systems to interact and thus creating impacts on ecosystems and social economic undertakings. In order to sustain ecosystems productivity, establishment and implementation of village land use plans is a necessity. This will further address conflicts over resource uses that may arise due to livelihood systems interactions. Key words: Agriculture, coastal region, ecological gradient, livelihoods, Ruvu river, Tanzania.

Highlights

In Sub-Sahara Africa, the majority of community obtains their livelihoods through exploitation of natural resources and their products (Liwenga, 2005; Majule et al, 2009)
Different natural resources found in the region including Tanzania are widely distributed depending of ecological settings which are diverse in nature (De Pauw, 1984)
The Great Rift Valley that runs from north east of Africa through central Tanzania is another landmark that adds to the scenic view of the country (De Pauw, 1984)

Summary

INTRODUCTION

In Sub-Sahara Africa, the majority of community obtains their livelihoods through exploitation of natural resources and their products (Liwenga, 2005; Majule et al, 2009). On the other hand presence of conducive social economic activities and social infrastructures are clearly known to bring about in migration of people from different areas within the country Such kind of relationship is very common in many other parts of Africa and has been documented by a number of scholars including Bernard et al (1989) Campbel et al (2003) and Majule et al (2009). A common tendency has been for agro pastoralist to move with their livestock to potential areas that receives significant amount of rainfall exceeding 1,000 mm per season (Maitima et al, 2009) In this case climate change is likely to intensify drought and increase potential vulnerability of the communities to future climate change (Hillel and Rosenzweig, 1989), where crop production and livestock keeping are critically important to food security and rural livelihoods. The study established driving forces for immigrants in study areas

METHODOLOGY

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Conclusions