An Overview Of Our Solution
PARTICIPATORY VIDEO FOR SHARING COMMUNITY SUCCESSES IN TANZANIAN MARINE COASTAL FISHERIES.
Who is this solution impacting?
Ecosystem
Océanos/Costas
Community Type
Rural
Additional Information
- Population Impacted:
- Continent: África
Problem
Describe the problem
We believe that many solutions to the problems facing coastal ecosystems and the people that are dependant on the resources that they provide, are already there in the community. We find community champions, identify their successes and share their solutions more widely with fellow communities using their own voice. Participatory video is an exciting and fitting way for coastal people to tell stories of their positive fisheries management experiences capitalising on strong oral tradition and utilising the visual medium of film. Our solution is to use video to provide a vehicle for carrying local success stories more widely using people's own voice and culturally appropriate storytelling. Local leaders and innovators are the best source of peer to peer learning for capacity development.
Biodiversity Impact
Our solution documents many of the successful practices as experienced by Tanzanian coastal peoples when dealing with the resource issues that are presented. Some of these practices been brought by NGO projects and others have evolved as a result of sound leadership or entrepreneurial individuals. Not all are directly related to the coastal ecosystem but some are solutions that promote alternative livelihood opportunities that take pressure of the marine resource. The issues are often interelated. Tanzanian coastal communities have made their own films about creating artificial lobster reefs, mangrove reestablishment, control of illegal practices (including dynamite fishing, incorrect mesh size, illegal mangrove cutting), beach management units, village bylaws, control of beach erosion, improving alternative employment opportunities (such as planting of woodlots, handicraft groups, ecotourism) and creating an improved learning environment for their children. Through showing these films to other communities and also to other stakeholders such as NGOs and government decisionmakers, successes can be shared and lessons learned. The network aims to keep villagers in touch with each other and to gradually widen and strengthen its reach, giving support and making knowledge links wherever possible and keeping current. Films have been disseminated on national TV channels and links are being created with local radio networks.
Solution
Pressure on the coastal environment has increased markedly over the last 50 years, fisheries are in decline, people struggle to provide an adequate living and climate change poses additional threats to livelihood. This puts even greater pressure on the coastal resource which is seen as a 'safety net' in times of hardship. In addition tourism, oil and gas exploration and coastal infrastructure development continues apace and creates additional pressures. There is not one 'fix it' solution, but the resilience of the ecosystem and the people that depend on its biodiverse resources depends on building knowledge and adaptive capacity not least through others experiences. Participatory video presents the opportunity to document both practical solutions (community based management systems, beach management units, resource management plans, closed fishing areas etc)and through building a network provides links to resources and experience. Participatory video can also be used as an advocacy tool. The network has already been documenting community challenges and successes with regard to the destructive practice of 'dynamite fishing' and this has led to beach management unit capacity building to assist in effective control. The resulting film will also be used in magistrate training.// Our coastal community network utilising participatory video covers more than 800km of the Tanzanian coast and islands. The coastal regions cover over 128,000 sq km. Major offshore islands include Pemba and Unguja (Zanzibar) and Mafia. The region is characterised by a diverse network of coral reefs, seagrass beds, river estuaries and mangroves. Mwambao Coastal Community Network has been active in 4 different geographical areas to date, both to the north and immediate south of Dar es Salaam and in the island of Pemba. The Network base in on the island of Zanzibar.
Replicability
How many years has your solution been applied? 1 year // Have others reproduced your solution elsewhere? No // We have a small trained team with basic equipment who can facilitate participatory video training in the village. Each training involves 8-12 villagers and they learn a series of skills over a 12 day period including interviewing skills and editing, that culminate with the production of 1 or 2 videos focusing on an agreed sustainable management issue. Communities are left with basic 'flip' video cameras to continue to keep track of community developments and a network member provides support. Community representatives come together annually to share films and progress and the network gives small amounts of back up support where possible. Films are disseminated on national TV and made available to the wider community by the internet. DVDs are left with the community at the end of the training , and also distributed to others, including NGOs.
Human Well Being and Livelihood Impact
The current population of the coastal zone is estimated to be more than 8 million and is expected to double by 2030. The livelihood of many coastal people depends on the ecosystem services provided by the coral reefs, seagrass beds, estuaries and mangroves. 75% of household income is derived from trade in marine and coastal products. Informed and motivated coastal communities operating in a supportive government environment will be better able to adapt and cope with these pressures. Government is implementing a policy of collaborative management giving more authority and responsibility to the villages but management capacity of village organisations must be developed for effective response to policy. Mwambao Coastal Community Network members have already made films about improving livelihood opportunities as mentioned above. Each community showcases different innovations that have relevance further afield and can be shared through film. The network also brings community representatives together to share their films and discuss how best to support each other. In this way the network will help build community capacity to recognise and adapt to the many changes that they are subject to, this includes making links to others in similar situations and also to those who make decisions and have access to resources. // Ownership of all films produced by the communities remains with community members and Mwambao network requests permission to use and disseminate the films as needed. Through maintaining a link with the communities and meeting on an annual basis the Mwambao team aims to support members in using their films to their best advantage and to benefit from the experiences of others. The films remain the property of the communities and cannot be changed in any way without their permission. Mwambao aims to expand the network by working with eight more villages over the next two years, documenting issues and innovations, enabling villagers to share their knowledge and disseminating information to supporting development agencies. Villagers are selected on the basis of demonstrated capacity to innovate and adapt to difficult situations. Participatory video is a simple, cost effective and empowering method for building leadership capacity and networks for sharing knowledge among villages. It is the people's voice!