Integrating conservation and livelihood activities towards community adaptation to climate change challenges along Wami-Ruvu mangrove ecosystem, Bagamoyo, Tanzania

Abstract

The health condition of mangrove ecosystems in Bagamoyo district is largely threatened by over-exploitation from various human uses and high vulnerability to climate change impacts. Poverty level within communities in the district has accelerated unsustainable resource use in quest for daily living and livelihoods. It is difficult to isolate local communities from mangrove exploitation which they depend on as major source of generating income. Fighting Against AIDS Poverty and Environment Conservation (FAAPECO), which is a non-governmental organization working in Bagamoyo district embarked on dealing with some of these challenges since 2005. FAAPECO conducted a research on exploitation of mangrove for different uses by communities in Magomeni and Makurunge villages in Bagamoyo District. The findings showed that average mangrove use in a year was firewood (28%), charcoal (30%), building (14%), timber (18%) and others (11%). Though the percentage did not reached even 50% for a specific use but a combination of percentages for the uses is that threatens the future of mangrove ecosystem. Following these results, FAAPECO developed a project that accommodated community livelihoods and conservation initiatives among its core activities. It involves a wide local community stakeholder’s awareness raising on sustainable mangrove forests conservation in association to climate change impacts. Other activities included participatory mangrove replanting in degraded areas, strengthened alternative livelihood opportunities through promoting beekeeping and strengthened natural resources governance. Capacity building was conducted at different local leadership levels. The project covered Magomeni Ward with focus on three villages: Mjimpya, Razaba and Kitame within the Wami-Ruvu rivers mangrove ecosystem. Training and awareness campaigns were conducted to 100 community members. Trainees were facilitated to form four groups for implementing a pilot alternative livelihood activity of beekeeping using 80 modern beehives. The four groups and quantity of beehives provided are Utondwe (15), Chanyuki (15) Tuwepamoja (25) and MACAG (25). Based on this work by FAAPECO it is obvious that community based initiative contribute significantly on natural resources conservation income to associated local communities