Marine and Coastal EbA for Enhanced Resilience in Southern Africa Country Review: Tanzania

The report assesses Tanzania's vulnerability to climate change, specifically sea-level rise and storm surges, and evaluates the role of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) in mitigating these risks. It finds that while Tanzania possesses critical ecosystems like mangroves and coral reefs, these are threatened by population growth and industrial development. The document highlights a gap in policy architecture, noting that EbA is not explicitly included in the current Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). It identifies institutional fragmentation and a lack of spatial data as key challenges, while suggesting opportunities in blue carbon, sustainable ecotourism, and community-led co-management models.

• Tanzania faces significant climate risks, with average annual temperatures increasing by 1°C between 1960 and 2006, and projections suggesting further increases of 1–3°C by the 2050s.
• Sea-level rise poses a severe economic threat to Tanzania, with estimated annual damages of $200 million in lost land and infrastructure, and public and private assets totaling approximately $5.3 billion at risk from flooding.
• Despite having various adaptation strategies, Tanzania has not explicitly integrated marine and coastal ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) into its current policy architecture or its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the UNFCCC.
• Coastal ecosystems, including mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrasses, are under pressure from population growth, illegal fishing (such as dynamite fishing), and industrial development, leading to biodiversity loss and habitat degradation.
• Institutional management of coastal resources is fragmented, with overlapping jurisdictions between the Tanzanian Forest Service Agency (TFS) and the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development, particularly regarding mangroves.
• The National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) has historically prioritised 'hard' engineering solutions, such as the construction of a 2,400m concrete seawall in Dar es Salaam, over nature-based solutions.
• There is a critical lack of accurate spatial data on the extent and health of marine ecosystems, though the use of GIS and smartphone apps for community-led data collection is expanding.
• Women in coastal communities are highly dependent on near-shore resources but face systemic barriers to leadership and decision-making due to socio-cultural and religious norms.
• The report identifies potential for innovative financing to support EbA, including blue carbon credits (citing Kenya's Mikoko Pamoja as a model), REDD+ for mangroves, and self-financing ecotourism models like the Chumbe Island Coral Park.

APA

CHEVALLIER, R. (2019). Marine and Coastal EbA for Enhanced Resilience in Southern Africa Country Review: Tanzania. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Special-Report-chevallier2-002.pdf

Chicago

CHEVALLIER, ROMY. Marine and Coastal EbA for Enhanced Resilience in Southern Africa Country Review: Tanzania. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2019. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Special-Report-chevallier2-002.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=CHEVALLIER |first1=ROMY |title=Marine and Coastal EbA for Enhanced Resilience in Southern Africa Country Review: Tanzania |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=December 2019 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Special-Report-chevallier2-002.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{chevallier2019marine, author = {CHEVALLIER, ROMY}, title = {{Marine and Coastal EbA for Enhanced Resilience in Southern Africa Country Review: Tanzania}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2019}, month = dec, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Special-Report-chevallier2-002.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }