CHANGING LIVELIHOODS AND THE ENVIRONMENT ALONG LAKE NYASA, TANZANIA

Abstract

People living along the Lake Nyasa shore, Tanzania relies largely on fishing and cultivation of cassava and rice. The fishing industry has shaped the sociopolitical organisation of local people. The Matengo Highlands and Livingstone Mountains act as catchments of Lake Nyasa. The relationship between the land use in the catchments, Nyasa people's livelihood and the lake fishing environment is intriguing, because of the belief that catchment forests and streams help make the lake basin a rich habitat. However, recent microeconomic changes in the Matengo Highlands have subjected the catchment areas to undue deforestation from uncoordinated farming activities. The unprecedented degradation of the catchments has disrupted the fish ecology, hence dwindling livelihood opportunities. The local population has had to diversify livelihood strategies. This study examined the changing livelihoods and the environment along Lake Nyasa and mitigation that people have made in response to the changing fishing environment. Extensive surveys and farmer exchange visits were employed to collect diachronic information on livelihood and environmental dynamics along Lake Nyasa and in the Matengo Highlands. Farmers' exchange visits between the Nyasa and the Matengo allowed villagers to share insights and experiences in an attempt to establish mutual strategies for sustainable local resource management.