Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation (CCIAM) Programme in Tanzania FACT SHEET

Transcription

1 Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation (CCIAM) Programme in Tanzania FACT SHEET Project: Development of Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for Sustainable Water Resources Management in Great Ruaha River Catchment of Tanzania Team members: Prof. Shadrack Mwakalila (Principle Investigator), University of Dar es Salaam Prof. Boniface Mbilinyi (Project Member), Sokoine University of Agriculture Dr. Godius Kahyarara (Project Member, University of Dar es Salaam Dr. Synne Movik (Project Member), Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB) Mr. Petro Masolwa (Project Member), University of Dar es Salaam Project description Climate change leads to changes in precipitation patterns and affects water availability; water management is therefore a key component to adaptation. Water resources adaptation options need to be able to function under uncertain future climate change, but many adaptation measures do not sufficiently account for this. The main objective of this project is to develop a climate change adaptation strategy that: controls soil erosion; sustains biological diversity; sustains stream flow; promotes community livelihoods at a micro-catchment level in the Great Ruaha catchment of Tanzania. The waters of the Great Ruaha form a crucial input into the livelihoods of communities in the upper catchment as well as the lower catchment. The Great Ruaha covers an area of about 83,980 km 2 which is 47% of the entire Rufiji Basin (Figure 1). The waters support rice and 1

2 vegetable production, and livestock keeping. The wildlife habitats of Ruaha National Park and surrounding game reserves are dependent on the Ruaha River for their survival. Furthermore, the waters of Ruaha flow into Mtera and Kidatu Dams, which produce a large proportion of electricity to the national grid. This research project is envisaged to contribute knowledge on development of appropriate climate change adaptation strategies in water, land, ecosystems and biodiversity management under the REDD+ initiatives in Tanzania. Figure 1. Great Ruaha Catchment - A sub-basin of Rufiji basin Description of the research The Integrated Ecosystem Assessment Approach is used to collect and analyse data from both primary and secondary sources. The justification of using this approach is based on the fact that the Great Ruaha Catchment conveys the connectivity of "ecosystems" in the larger landscape. Here land, water and other resources are the continuous variables that are linked through this landscape. Whatever happens to any one of these elements, in whatever part of the landscape, will affect other variables. The project is still in its first year of implementation. A baseline study has been conducted in six villages of Makete and Mbeya districts. Analysis of the following baseline data is in progress: existing land use practices; water resources use and availability; impact of climate change; adaptation strategies of water resources. 2

3 During field data collection selected individuals from adjacent villages participate in the entire process ensuring a participatory inventory approach. Ecosystem assessment capacity is thus built among local communities. The project has engaged two Phd students who are carrying out research on: assessment of the sustainability of the development of natural resources; assessment of land use practices that affect environmental resources conservation. Preliminary results Environmental changes observed in the study villages are the following: Changes in pattern and amount of rainfall; Emergence of waterborne diseases such as diarrhea; Hunger and famine in 1998 and 2008 were the highest; Emergence of strong winds demolishing >20 households in 1998; The start and the end of the rainy season is currently unpredictable; The length of growing seasons has shortened; There is spatial variability of rainfall within the same village compared to past years. Temperature is changing over time: it is generally becoming warmer and the cold period is becoming shorter. Climate change/variability add to the existing water stresses and scarcity. Changes in the quantity, timing, intensity and duration of rainfall contribute to water stress in many areas, making people more vulnerable. As a local adaptation strategy, farmers are engaged in smallholder irrigation to sustain crop production (Figure 2). Figure 2. Traditional irrigation farming at Idunda village during the dry season 3

4 Under the traditional smallholder irrigation system usually locally available materials such as stones, grass, wooden poles and earth are used to build intake structures and canals (Figure 3(a)). The amount of water diverted is not known or controlled much because of the absence of the gates. The traditional intake is subject to frequent damage, often washed away by floods during rainy periods leading to uncontrolled water supplies and repeated construction of new intake every year. Water is conveyed to the field through traditionally hand-dug canals. These are not properly designed and have no definite shape for good conveyance efficiency, wasting. a substantial amount of water through seepage and evaporation (Figure 3(b)). Figure 3(a). Traditional water intake for irrigation and domestic use in Idunda village Figure 3(b). Hand dug canal for irrigation and domestic use The major land use activities are based on agriculture. The cultivation is practised across the slopes in water catchment areas making the cultivated land susceptible to soil erosion and unsustainable water resources availability during the dry season (see Figure 4). 4

5 Figure 4. Cultivation on water catchment areas (in Tembela village) of Mlowo river Preliminary recommendations Improvement of the water supply system for domestic and agriculture use. Provision of education on alternative income sources. Improvement of irrigation canals to enhance water conveyance efficiency. Promotion of environmentally friendly land use practices. Land use planning and enforcement (so that people do not cultivate or settle on e.g. hilly areas or a water catchment area) Rehabilitation or afforestation (with local plant or tree species) of the degraded water catchment area Cultivation of alternative non-thirsty food crops such as cassava, millet, sorghum, sweet potatoes, cajan cajan (Mbaazi) Destocking of livestock to an area with carrying capacity Enforcement of existing laws and by-laws related to natural resources and the environment. For further information about this project please contact: Prof. Shadrack Mwakalila, Principle Investigator Department of Geography, University of Dar es Salaam P.O.Box Dar es Salaam Tel or smwakalila@yahoo.com 5