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 adaptationstrategy worldwide because of climate and environmental change. The changes in climate and environment along the coast have been associated with natural andhuman induced factors. This paper analysed the livelihood continuity and change asadaptation measures in northern Unguja, in relation to temperature and rainfallchange. Archival and current reviews, interview and observation which represent thelivelihoods change over last 100years were used. The paper also, analyzed how localcommunity processes of continuity and change have interconnected with local climateevents and changes over last 100 years. The results reveal that there were societalchange both North Western Zone and North Eastern Zone in livelihoods activities as anadaptation mechanism due to gradual environmental changes, such as coastal erosion,coastal floods, unreliable rainfall and droughts. Such scenario increases the risk andvulnerability to the local community. The study also reveals that the identification ofrisks and vulnerability depends on the local community perceptions of what functionsthe coastal and terrestrial land should provide, as they informed by past experience,histories and current situation. Therefore, the successful adaptation from the localperspective should go beyond protecting what is already there and allow for futuredevelopment of the village.Keywords: Livelihood, Climate change, Coastal Change, Adaptation