Scientific and Technical Symposium on Sustainable Mangrove ...

The Social-Ecological Resilience of Urban <strong>and</strong> Rural Mangroves Ecosystems inZanzibar, Tanzania: present status <strong>and</strong> future strategiesSoud M. Jumah 1 , Wahira J. Othman 2 <strong>and</strong> Yussuf H. Kombo 11 Department of Commercial Crops, Fruits <strong>and</strong> Forestry, P.O. BOX 3526, Zanzibar, Tanzania2 State University of Zanzibar (SUZA), P. O. Box 4232, Zanzibar, Tanzania.ABSTRACTThis paper discusses the social-ecological resilience of urban <strong>and</strong> rural mangrove forests<strong>and</strong> the associated coastal communities. The responsibilities of various managementregimes <strong>and</strong> different organisation are examined in relation to the accomplishment of healthysocial <strong>and</strong> ecological systems.A survey was conducted to collect primary <strong>and</strong> secondary data. Wood cutters, fishermen <strong>and</strong>mangroves products users provided the main information through unpromptedquestionnaires <strong>and</strong> focus group discussion. The head of households, traders, governmentofficials <strong>and</strong> key informants were r<strong>and</strong>omly sampled <strong>and</strong> surveyed. Forest resourceassessments were also conducted using systematic sampling techniques to assess thedistribution <strong>and</strong> abundance of mangrove tree species <strong>and</strong> associated macro-fauna. The datawere used for detailed resilience analysis using a conceptual framework for social-ecologicalresilience <strong>and</strong> the adaptive cycle.The study findings revealed that the mangroves of urban <strong>and</strong> rural coastal communities ofboth Unguja <strong>and</strong> Pemba Isl<strong>and</strong> have been controlled by contrasting management regimeswhich have impacted their resilience differently. The rural mangroves forest of Chwaka-Bay,Menai Bay <strong>and</strong> Makoba in Unguja has been heavily degraded in recent years <strong>and</strong> themangrove ecosystem has shifted from a mature tree-dominated mangrove forest to a stumpdominated mangrove st<strong>and</strong>, thereby seriously undermining the resilience of the socialecologicalsystem.This is explained by the high degree of dependence of rural communities on mangroves, thescarcity of other sources of income, <strong>and</strong> the Government’s lack of legitimacy in the area. Incontrast, in the urban mangrove ecosystems of Kinazini-Maruhubi, Kiembesamaki-Chukwaniin Unguja <strong>and</strong> Chakechake, Wete <strong>and</strong> Mkoani in Pemba, where town-dwellers are notofficially involved in the management system, the forest is flourishing <strong>and</strong> the ecosystem isshifting into a more resilient ecological state. This has been attributed to the relativeeconomical stability of the surrounding community who attach less value to the mangrovesresources leading to a low level of dependence on these mangroves.The study identifies the need to improve management regimes for resilience of mangroveson the isl<strong>and</strong>s of Unguja <strong>and</strong> Pemba, permitting local communities to play a great actual rolein executing forest resources management plans, including more realistic restrictions tomangrove harvesting, <strong>and</strong> more effective support from the Government for implementation ofplans <strong>and</strong> development of alternative sources of income. The study calls for more effectivecollaborative plans which will involve all participating stakeholders in the management <strong>and</strong>utilisation of mangroves ecosystem of Zanzibar.Key words: mangrove management, social-ecological Resilience, urban, mangroveharvesting18