Climate change adaptation in the coastal region of Tanzania

The NDF Board has approved a EUR 0.8 million grant to support a study on the impacts of climate change on the coasts of mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar. The NDF grant will together with support from the World Bank allow a team of international and local experts to undertake an in-depth study of the coastal region.

Development in Tanzania is closely linked with natural resources and ecosystem services. Agriculture, mining, fisheries and are the country’s key economic drivers. Tanzania’s coastal ecosystems are highly productive and play an ever-increasing role in the country’s economic development. Coastal populations depend on fisheries, agriculture and tourism for their livelihood; and fuelwood, largely derived from mangroves, is the primary source of energy for most of the population.

The coasts of Tanzania and Zanzibar are highly vulnerable to climate change and sea-level rise. It is estimated that in 2030 the coastal zones of the country could experience a cumulative land loss of almost 8000 km2 to erosion and submergence, while approximately 1.6 million people per year will be impacted by flooding, and a significant number of people forced to migrate. This could lead to direct climate change costs as high as US$55 million per year. These impacts rapidly increase with time.

The proposed study will document the existing impacts of climate change in the coastal region and identify priority adaptation investments to enhance resilience of local communities and ecosystems.