Social-Ecological resilience of Pete and

Maruhubi Mangrove Ecosystems in

Zanzibar, Tanzania

Wahira J. Othman

The State University of Zanzibar

P. O. Box 146, Zanzibar, Tanzania

INTRODUCTION

Concepts of resilience
Mangrove resilience: The capacity of mangrove
ecosystem to withstand disturbances and
management uncertainties
Social resilience: capacity of human communities
surrounding the mangroves to remain robust
when the resources decline or disappear
Social-ecological resilience conceptual framework
as summarise by Berkes and Folke (1998),
Walker et al. (2002) and www.resilience.org

Knowledge gap

There has been virtually no research which has

investigated the social-ecological resilience of
mangrove ecosystems of Zanzibar, Tanzania.

A review of the Zanzibar mangrove literature

reveals several species lists and that the
distribution, zonation and uses of the mangroves
and associated fauna have been well
documented.

Study's contributions

Understand how resilience can be assessed and

optimised and the processes and conditions
necessary for.
Serve as a preliminary study that will assist
scientists, resource managers and policy makers
in Zanzibar to make informed decisions on
mangrove management, with a view toward
strengthening the adaptive capacity of mangrove
ecosystems and coastal communities

Study objectives

To investigate how mangrove ecosystems in Zanzibar

are capable of withstanding human disturbances and
environmental uncertainties, that is, the extent to which
these systems are ecologically resilient.

To understand the roles of mangrove management

regimes and relevant institutions in providing the
surrounding communities with opportunities for
diversified livelihoods strategies in the event of the
decline or disappearance of mangrove resources.

STUDY SITES

Fieldwork carried out at two contrasting sites in Zanzibar.

(1) Maruhubi-Kinazini, which lies within Zanzibar Town,

the states capital, involving people either living or
working close to this forest from three Shehias
(administrative units) of Gulioni, Shaurimoyo and
Muembemakumbi

(2) the mangrove forest of Pete, located in the rural

Pete-Jozani Shehia in the southern region of Unguja,
about 24 km south-east of Zanzibar town.

Methodology
Data collection
Field inventories for
biophysical data
Semi-structured
interviews and group
discussions
Secondary data
collections from
relevant institutions

Data Analysis
adaptive cycle
concept
Chi square test
Shannon Weiner
index of diversity
SPSS and Excel
Resilience Frame
work by Walker et al,
2002

Study findings
Management regime and its impact on
resilience
MARUHUBI
Maruhubi mangrove forest resources are under
Government management regime.
Although little is being done by the responsible
institution and without involving the local
community but the ecosystem is moving into
more resilient state

Results cont.
PETE
Co management has turned into co

option reducing the resilience of social

ecological system through overexploitation
Local people were used as a means to
achieve government conservation interest
Rules developed were overly restrictive

State of mangroves social-ecological

resilience in Pete
Shift of mangrove ecosystem dominated

with stumps and seedling which abruptly

moved the ecosystem into the release
() stage of the adaptive cycle of the
ecosystem characterised by:
High number of stumps which is three
times its standing density with
Few species of mangroves and macro
fauna of crabs and gastropods

Maruhubi

Pete

Ecosystem characteristics cont

Serious decline of some species which

changes mangroves structure and species

composition, reducing ecological resilience
Increase level of mangroves dependence
Increasing the difficulties on obtaining
mangroves of desired quality threatening
the peoples ability to meet daily needs,
hence undermining social resilience

Causes of reduced resilience in

Pete
Over exploitation which have been

promoted by illegitimate of the

Government related to:

Transform of agricultural land into reserve

Crop raiding by monkeys without realistic
compensation
Strictly laws which prevents the use of the
resources
Complex livelihoods were deduced and replaced
by tourism

Underlying

factors are:

Poverty

results on high dependence

Limited

livelihoods diversification

Lack

of law enforcement and monitoring

State of mangroves socialecological resilience in Maruhubi

The ecosystem is at the r (exploitation) phase of

the adaptive cycle flourishing into more
resilience state which characterised by:

increased of mangroves cover of mature plants

higher numbers of mangrove species and macro fauna

increase in the availability of desired mangroves

products

decrease in the level of mangrove dependence

Causes of increased resilience in

Maruhubi

relative economical stability of the surrounding

community due to the availability of income
sources not related to mangroves, e.g trade,
wage employment and masonry.
Low dependence to the resources.
current uses of the mangrove forest which seem
to be more beneficial to the ecosystem although
not socially desired. Example, part of forest is
used for waste disposal and provides hiding
area for thieves and drugs uses.

Conclusion

It is generally accepted that a CBM approach should be

the most successful management regime, but has
proved to be the opposite in the case of Pete mangrove
forest. Special kind of top-down co-option controls the
resources and undermine the resilience of socialecological system.

Neither management regime nor high population densities

necessarily determine the resilience of a system but he

economic stability of the people depending on the
resources, strong Government commitments, the
availability of inputs even outside the responsible
institutions and the types of goods and services provided

Recommendations

local communities should be allowed to play a

stronger actual role in shaping management
plans
more realistic restrictions to mangrove
harvesting
more effective support from the Government for
implementation of plans and
development of alternative sources of income to
compensate peoples efforts

Thank you for your attention