Livelihood Continuity and Change: Adaptation to Climate and Environmental Change in Northern Unguja, Zanzibar 1916-2016

Abstract

Coastal community continuity and change in livelihoods become a prime adaptation strategy worldwide because of climate and environmental change. The changes in climate and environment along the coast have been associated with natural and human induced factors. This paper analysed the livelihood continuity and change as adaptation measures in northern Unguja, in relation to temperature and rainfall change. Archival and current reviews, interview and observation which represent the livelihoods change over last 100years were used. The paper also, analyzed how local community processes of continuity and change have interconnected with local climate events and changes over last 100 years. The results reveal that there were societal change both North Western Zone and North Eastern Zone in livelihoods activities as an adaptation mechanism due to gradual environmental changes, such as coastal erosion, coastal floods, unreliable rainfall and droughts. Such scenario increases the risk and vulnerability to the local community. The study also reveals that the identification of risks and vulnerability depends on the local community perceptions of what functions the coastal and terrestrial land should provide, as they informed by past experience, histories and current situation. Therefore, the successful adaptation from the local perspective should go beyond protecting what is already there and allow for future development of the village.