The study assessed social-economic and ecological implications of
climate change and variability on tourism in Kilimanjaro National Park and
adjacent communities. Specifically the study analyzed ecological and socioeconomic
implications of climate change and variability in Kilimanjaro
National Park. Further, the study identified climate change and variability
adaptation strategies in the area. Also the study examines policy implication
of climate change and variability on tourism. Both purposeful and random
sampling was used for villages and households selection in the area. Primary
and secondary data both qualitative and quantitative were used in this study.
Primary data were mainly collected using structured household
questionnaire. PRA methods such as questionnaire, Focus Group
Discussions (FGD), key informant, time line, drivers of change and direct
field observation were used to obtain data for CC&V implication on social
economic and ecological in the area. Findings revealed that climate change
and variability affects socio-economic and ecological resources in diverse
ways. In terms of economic implications responses to Yes were significance
X2 0.05=7.81, Df = 3. The presented calculated chi-square X2 = 9.214 was
larger than tabulated; therefore there was a significant statistical difference in
socio-economic implications. Education, capacity building, soft loans, grants
were adaptation strategies adopted. It is anticipated that the information
obtained from this study will be beneficial to researchers, policy makers and
conservation officers in National Parks in Tanzania to mainstream effective
mitigation, coping and adaptation strategies for sustainable tourism and
ecosystem management