Coastal Community Responses to the Impact of Climate Change in Tanzania—A Case of North “A” District, Zanzibar

Climate change has severely impacted the coastal community livelihoods in Zanzibar. This study examines the coastal communities’ responses to the climate change impact in Nungwi, Matemwe, Pwani Mchangani, and Kidoti villages. A total of 400 respondents were selected randomly. The study used questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions as data collection tools. The results indicate that community awareness in climate change and its impact is significantly raised, particularly in Matemwe (49.2%) and Pwani Mchangani (43.4%). Furthermore, more than 50% in all villages strongly agreed with the relocation of fishing ground due to the changing environmental conditions. Shifting to other Economic activities has become among essential response, with a substantial percentage (between 53.8% and 80.9%) transitioning from fishing to agriculture and business, motivated by diminishing fish populations and wider socio-economic changes. Moreover, the establishment of social helping groups receives substantial endorsement (64.2% - 76.1%), indicating strong community solidarity and cooperative support among escalating climate-related adversities. The study shows migration is a strong adaptive strategy, with strong agreement in all villages (55% - 70%), indicating the vulnerabilities and adaptive mobility of these populations. Whereby, petty trade activities were identified as a key economic safety net, particularly in Nungwi and Pwani Mchangani, where more than 60% of individuals strongly agreed on its significance, highlighting the role of informal markets in household resilience. Agroforestry was articulated as a significant support in all villages (46.7% - 50.9%), reflecting an increasing acknowledgement of their environmental and economic advantages. Finally, the community mobilization demonstrates the strong engagement levels (67% - 70.1%), indicating successful collective action bolstered by outreach initiatives and multi-stakeholder participation. These adaptive measures collectively illustrate the dynamic, multifaceted, and community-oriented aspects of climate change adaptation in Zanzibar’s coastal areas, providing useful insights for larger climate resilience planning in comparable vulnerable contexts.