Understanding the complexity and dynamics of mangrove social-ecological systems through the use of a resilience approach in Unguja, Zanzibar
type: CreativeWork
description: There has been growing concern by policy and other decision makers that timber extraction by local communities is the main threat to achieving sustainable management of mangrove systems in Unguja Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania. However, this concern, and responses to the perceived threat to date, do not appear to be informed by a clear understanding of the complexity and capacity of mangrove Social-Ecological Systems (SES) at different scales to adapt to this and other disturbances. The aim of this study was to assess the resilience of mangroves to the increased demand for provisioning ecosystem services and other drivers with a view to identifying options for sustainable mangrove management on Unguja Island. This study was guided by broad resilience concepts and specific approaches, particularly the components-relationship-innovation-continuity framework developed by Cumming et al. (2005). Data relating to both social and ecological components of the mangrove system was collected. A total of 185 plots were surveyed within mangrove forests from three case study sites of Pete- Jozani, Charawe and Michamvi Shehia (lowest administrative unit) on Unguja Island in which mangrove tree species, diameter and height of trees, the numbers of seedlings and stumps were collected to assess the ecological condition of the forests. Key informant interviews (with government officials and village stakeholders), semi-structured household interviews, village meetings and focus group discussions (with beekeepers, mangrove harvesters, village elders and village conservation organisations) were used to collect social-economic data from the three case study sites. The results showed that between the 1920s and 1970s at each case study site local communities reported that they were able to obtain diverse ecosystem services while the key variables that defined the identities of the mangrove SES were maintained. The mangrove SES from each case study site was found to have changed over the past th…
abstract: There has been growing concern by policy and other decision makers that timber extraction by local communities is the main threat to achieving sustainable management of mangrove systems in Unguja Island, Zanzibar, Tanzania. However, this concern, and responses to the perceived threat to date, do not appear to be informed by a clear understanding of the complexity and capacity of mangrove Social-Ecological Systems (SES) at different scales to adapt to this and other disturbances. The aim of this study was to assess the resilience of mangroves to the increased demand for provisioning ecosystem services and other drivers with a view to identifying options for sustainable mangrove management on Unguja Island. This study was guided by broad resilience concepts and specific approaches, particularly the components-relationship-innovation-continuity framework developed by Cumming et al. (2005). Data relating to both social and ecological components of the mangrove system was collected. A total of 185 plots were surveyed within mangrove forests from three case study sites of Pete- Jozani, Charawe and Michamvi Shehia (lowest administrative unit) on Unguja Island in which mangrove tree species, diameter and height of trees, the numbers of seedlings and stumps were collected to assess the ecological condition of the forests. Key informant interviews (with government officials and village stakeholders), semi-structured household interviews, village meetings and focus group discussions (with beekeepers, mangrove harvesters, village elders and village conservation organisations) were used to collect social-economic data from the three case study sites. The results showed that between the 1920s and 1970s at each case study site local communities reported that they were able to obtain diverse ecosystem services while the key variables that defined the identities of the mangrove SES were maintained. The mangrove SES from each case study site was found to have changed over the past th…
author: Othman, Wahira Jaffar
language: en
keywords: QH Natural history
date published: 2014-05
date modified: 2026-07-24T02:25:50Z
provider: University of Greenwich
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Greenwich