The role of on-farm trees as an adaptation strategy to climate change effects around Mkingu Nature Forest Reserve in the Eastern Arc Mountains, Tanzania

Abstract

A study was conducted to investigate the

role of on-farm tree as a long-term and

sustainable adaptation strategy to climatic

stresses in eight villages around Mkingu

Nature Forest Reserve (MkNFR) in the

Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania.

Specifically, the effects of climate change

to peoples’ livelihoods and the role of onfarm

as an adaptation to the climate

change effects were assessed. The role of

existing on-farm trees as an adaptation to

climate change effects was also

investigated. Data was collected using

household questionnaire surveys,

Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), key

informant interviews, tree stocking

assessment on-farms and direct field

observations. Temperature and rainfall

data for the past 30 years were obtained

from Mtibwa Sugar Company Weather

Station. Results showed that the majority

(92%) of the respondents were mainly

engaged in farming and/or involved in

various other economic activities such as

livestock keeping, fishing, trading of forest

products and petty business. CRiSTAL

model results revealed that the main

effects of climate change on peoples’

livelihoods include decreased yield of

agricultural crops, availability of fuelwood

and increase in human diseases and natural

disasters. Seventy percent of the

respondents reported to rely on on-farm

trees as an adaptation to climate change

effects in the area. About 76% of the

respondents in the area planted trees in

their farms for this purpose. It was further

learnt that people living around the reserve

also used crop diversification, irrigation,

fishing and petty business were as

adaptation strategies to the. Results also

indicate that adaptation to climate change

is constrained by several factors such as

lack of information and funds and shortage

of water for irrigation in the study area.

Findings of the study suggest the need for

greater investment in local communities’

education and improved institutional set up

for climate change adaptation to improve

their livelihoods.