This volume synthesizes research from a five year program supported by the Norwegian Agency for Development to assess how coastal communities in Tanzania can adapt to climate change impacts such as sea level rise, and better assert their rights to implement decisions regarding coastal resource management in the context of global climate change. Throughout ten chapters, the book deploys a holistic approach to adopt a conceptual model of socio-ecological systems, and characterize human-nature interactions in an integrative way to understand anthropogenic pressures on ecosystems to guide conservation and management. The book will be of interest to researchers, students studying environmental management and climate change, planners, and policy makers. The book begins by describing the biophysical and socio-economic characteristics of the Tanzanian coastal environment, then discusses the impacts of climate change on coastal resource governance, community vulnerability, and livelihood security. Then, intervention strategies are offered as a means for local communities to not only adapt to climate change impacts, but also to engage in decision-making processes to assess vulnerabilities and address challenges and limitations through educated measures. The final chapters discuss the vulnerability and adaptation of coastal communities to climate change impacts to assess how livelihoods are constructed in response to impacts, and summarize the key findings to determine the best adaptation strategies to improve adaptive capacity and reduce socio-economic vulnerability.

Protection and sound management of coastal and marine areas are acknowledged as important mechanisms for alleviating poverty in the developing tropics. Tanzania has had considerable practical experience with a diversity of models that rely on private sector partnerships, community co-management regimes, and government-led initiatives for marine protection. 'Blueprint 2050' outlines a vision of what a protected area system could look like in 50 years. It draws on state-of-the-art ecosystem, socioeconomic, financial, and institutional background studies to paint a picture that emphasizes community-based adaptive co-management within a flexible system of eight protected area networks, one of which is the Exclusive Economic Zone. 'Blueprint 2050 is an impressive piece of professional work which addresses the plight of the many communities whose livelihoods depend on Tanzania's marine resources. Environmental conservation, sustainability, efficiency, good governance, and a pro-poor policy stance come out as key issues in pursuit of Tanzania's millennium development goals by these communities.' -- Hon Raphael OS Mollel, Senior Permanent Secretary Vice President's Office, United Republic of Tanzania 'It is my sincere hope that Blueprint 2050 will serve the intended purpose of promoting the devlopment of marine protected areas based on our current policies and legislation.' -- Hon Madam Rahma M Mshangama, Principal Secretary Ministry of Agriculture Natural Resources, Environment and Co-operatives (MANREC), Zanzibar

This book provides a detailed analysis of the economic and environmental impacts of climate change on the tropical ecosystems in Tanzania. Topics covered include agriculture, marine resources, wildlife, and weather forecasting. The analyses concentrate on real and potential impacts of climate change, focusing on changes in temperature and precipitation. Adaptive capacity and strategies for enhancing resilience (such as changing crop types and crop patterns in farming) are described.

Tourism industry in Tanzania is facing a number of challenges including impacts from climate change. This situation is affecting tourism activities along the coast as well. Results observed from Tanzania Meteorological Agency showed that, there is decreasing of rainfall trend over the years along the coast. Temperature increased by approximately 0.50C and 20C for mean maximum and minimum temperature, whereas the average annual temperature increases of 10C for over 30 years since 1978 was noted, among others this situation was noted to be a setback to tourism activities in the areas. Findings from the study showed that, coastal natural resources are vulnerable to the increased temperature, sea level rise and drought. Threats from sea level rise and coastal erosion is of significant which increases vulnerabilities to tourism activities in the areas. Further, the study revealed that existing policies do not explicitly address the mitigation and adaptation strategies to tourism activities. Adaptation strategies such as construction of sea walls, re-planting of mangroves trees and piling up of sand bag were noted to be applied by Antiquity Department and hotels as coping strategies.

This report explains the ecology and social profile of coastal systems in Kenya, Mozambique and Tanzania in order to contribute to the development of effective strategies to enhance the resilience of marine and coastal systems in the Western Indian Ocean. Special consideration is given to the effects and consequences of climate change and economic development.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the leading international body for assessing the science related to climate change. It provides policymakers with regular assessments of the scientific basis of human-induced climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation. This IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate is the most comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the observed and projected changes to the ocean and cryosphere and their associated impacts and risks, with a focus on resilience, risk management response options, and adaptation measures, considering both their potential and limitations. It brings together knowledge on physical and biogeochemical changes, the interplay with ecosystem changes, and the implications for human communities. It serves policymakers, decision makers, stakeholders, and all interested parties with unbiased, up-to-date, policy-relevant information. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

The Catchment to Coast Conundrum in Tanzania – The Past, the Present, and the Future of Water Resources and Anthropogenic Activities is a much-needed book covering interactions between river basins and the coastal and marine environments as these remain an important issue of concern in the West Indian Ocean region (WIO). The issues include a) water and sediment quality degeneration due to pollution b) physical alteration and destruction of habitats and c) alteration in freshwater flows and sediment loads from river basins. The WIO region is facing an unparalleled population growth propelling land-based activities that exert pressure on marine environment, degrading critical coastal habitats and changes in the freshwater flow and sediment loads into the WIO. Increased human population pressure and inappropriate land uses and practices in the upper catchments are the major causes of environmental degradation. It is critical that science-based ecosystem centered management of the river basins is implemented for the survival and sustainability of the ecosystems in the WIO region. This comprehensive guide will offer students and researchers the necessary knowledge about the area and will raise awareness on the importance of river restoration and conservation in river basin management including the coastal areas.• Offers a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach around river basin, and coastal zone management in Tanzania and East Africa.• Provides thorough assessment of environmental flows and source-to-sea adaptive planning and management by experts in the field.• Includes real case studies focusing on rivers, estuaries and coastal waters at the basin scale and covers climate change impacts.