Ecosystems, development, and climate adaptation

Abstract

Tanzania hosts a variety of ecosystems, including mountain, dry lands, wetlands, coastal and marine ecosystems, many of which are trans-boundary (e.g. the Lake Tanganyika ecosystem, which is shared between four countries). These ecosystems directly support the livelihoods of many Tanzanians and much of the country’s economy as a whole, providing goods and services including food, water, medicine, building materials, fuel and numerous natural attractions that support tourism. The pressure placed on Tanzania’s ecosystems has been steadily growing as the human population increases, the economy expands, and more ecosystem goods and services are appropriated, traded and consumed. Ecosystem fragmentation resulting from land use changes, overgrazing, artisanal mining, the destruction of watersheds through deforestation, extensive pollution, wildfires, and the inadequate levels of management capacity, institutional coordination and participation of key stakeholders are all contributing to the degradation and destruction of numerous ecosystems across Tanzania (NEMC, 2006). The result is declining soil fertility, reduced water flow and loss of biological diversity. Global anthropogenic climate change is placing additional strain on already degraded ecosystems, which in turn has consequences for human communities using, in various ways, the goods and services that these ecosystems offer.