Institute of Resource Assessment

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Climate change risk on agriculture and response strategies by small holder farmers in Lake Victoria Basin, Tanzania
(2015) Majule, Amos
Lake Victoria Basin (LVB) forms an important ecosystem which to a large extent maintains the flow of the River Nile waters, and supports agricultural activities in the region. Climate change is among major challenging factors to communities that depend on agriculture for their livelihood in the basin including Tanzania. This study investigated the current status of climate change in particular temperature and rainfall and their implication on people’s lives and potential adaptations required. A combination of methods was used including trend analysis of both temperature and rainfall data and risk assessment. Social economic data and communities perceptions on climate issues were obtained through literature review, discussion with key respondents, and household (HH) survey to 10% of total number of HH in selected case study village followed with Focus Group Discussion (FDG) and a stakeholder’s discussion meeting. Results showed that out of 21 and 30 years, from 1979 to 2008 and from 1985 to 2011 for Mwanza and Magu stations, only 11 and 10 years respectively had chances of receiving rainfall less than 400 mm during rainfall season. The risk of having seasonal rainfall less than 400 mm in 30 and 21 years time was found to be 40% for Mwanza and 47% for Magu. In both cases much observed were increased rainfalls showing climate change. In this case the risk was categorized as moderate. Although climate change risk in the basin is characterized to be moderate, communities are now experiencing negative impacts on agricultural and water sectors such as increased crop pests and diseases, change in rainfall seasonality and drying of water sources of which all affects both crops and livestock production. Although there are adaptations in place these need to be strengthened through capacity building of the local existing innovation systems
Community Vulnerability and Adaptation to the Impacts of Climate Variability and Extremes on Simiyu Wetlands: The Case of Simiyu Wetlands, Lake Victoria Basin
(2015) Tumbo, Madaka
This study aimed at assessing community vulnerability and adaptation to the impact of climate variability and extremes on wetlands and its implication for livelihoods in Simiyu catchment, Southwest of Lake Victoria, Tanzania. The results of this study provide baseline information on vulnerability assessments and development of adaptation strategies in the country. Moreover this study will likely contribute significantly to similar future studies on other wetlands within Tanzania. Rainfall anomalies were used to characterise wet and dry seasons. Questionnaire surveys and focus group discussions were used to establish the impacts and coping strategies used during extreme events of floods and droughts. The results showed high rainfall fluctuations between seasons and from one year to the other. They further indicated that normally the October –November –December (OND) and March-April-May (MAM ) seasons do not have the same strength and sign of anomalies, that is there are seasonal variation within the same year. Communities living around the Simiyu wetlands are vulnerable to seasonal fluctuations as their socio-economic activities are highly dependent on rainfall since 87% of respondents practice rainfed agriculture. It is concluded that incidences of climate variations are increasing and have implications for livelihoods that depend on wetlands resources. The implication of these seasonal variations is the reduction in agricultural and livestock production. This has recently led to mixed croping along the wetlands and lake shores as a coping strategy. The responses of livestock keepers to seasonal variations in rainfall include holding vast and varied grazing grounds (transhumance) in order to ensure ownership of abundant grazing land.
Exploring opportunities for climate change adaptation in semi arid areas of Tanzania: A case of Nzega District in Tabora region
(2013) Majule, Amos; Kauzeni, A. S; Mujwahuzi, M.
Climate change and associated impacts are now widely acknowledged by most communities, institutions and organizations in the World to be affecting people’s livelihoods. The University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania through the Institute of Resource Assessment (IRA) implemented a three years research program to study the implications of climate change on natural and social systems in three agro ecolocilal zones in Tanzania. The present paper presents finding obtained from one of the zones studied namely semi arid central and western part. The study was conducted in two villages namely Upungwe and Mbogwe located in Nzega District, Tabora region. A sample size of 99 people; that is, 10% of the total number of households was used for household interviews. A total of 40 people strategically selected were involved in focus group discussion, 20 from each village. Findings show that different ethnic groups have moved into villages in response to climate changeimpacts in their areas of origin. Climate change impacts in particular increased pests associated with temper rise and resulted in loss on various crop yields ranging from 46 to 80%. Most crops affected are in the order cotton, rice, cassava, sweet potatoes, groundnuts and maize, respectively. Different adaptation options were also reported but the most important was found to be different forms of linkages such as ruralurban reported to be more viable by 39 to 68% of respondents while 48 to 62% reported such linkages to be viable on adaptation. To strengthen adaptation rural-urban, urban-rural and rural-rural linkages needs to be facilitated so that products and information can flow from all ends.
Impact of Climate Change on Groundwater Dynamics in Nzega District, Tanzania: Triangulation of Indigenous Knowledge and Empirical Methods Scenarial Analytical Approach
(2011) Kaijage, Heribert Robert; Mujwahuzi, Mark; Majule, Amos
Groundwater is the major source for drinking water in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is lack of reliable and timely information on the status of groundwater supplies fundamental to groundwater drought planning and adaptation. Moreover, the methodological approach used for determining climate-groundwater relationship needs advanced technology which can be highly costly for poor resource settings. This study determined long term climate change trends and its impacts on groundwater dynamics (recharge) by using simpler and quicker approach to easy early detection of impacts. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Nzega District Tanzania from March to June 2010. Both quantitative (borehole and household surveys) and qualitative community survey (participatory village meetings and key-informants interview) methods were employed. Detailed analyses of climate data from 1925 to 2008 were done using spreadsheet. Recharge rates were estimated by empirical methods, surveys by SPSS program and qualitative data through structural and content analysis. Two scenarios were used to compare change in temperature i.e. past (1960-1989) and current (1990-2008) while rainfall-recharge were compared in three scenarios, .i.e., past (1925-1955), middle (1956-1985) and current (1986-2008). Climate has changed by both increased temperature (79%, N=100, increased monthly average minimum and maximum temperatures, and annual average maximum & minimum temperature also increased by 1.3 and 1.2oC respectively from past to present. Per decadal rise by 0.3oC were computed); and decreased rainfall (61%, N=100). These contributed to increased depth of groundwater excavation and increased frequency and duration of shallow wells drying. Rainfall used to cease from mid-April, but currently starts to cease in early March. Moreover, in the past, district experienced two peaks of maximum rainfall (December and Mid-April), currently only one maximum peak is observed in December. Total annual rainfall decreased by 11.8 mm (1.5%) from past to present resulting into decreased annual groundwater recharge rate by 2.3%. It can be concluded that climate has changed from past to present and impacting groundwater recharge negatively; therefore, there is the need to continuously monitor groundwater system and recharge in an integrated manner.
Institutional Frameworks and Climate Change Adaptation
(LAP Lambert Academic Publishing, 2013-08-08) Chikova, Happison; Kangalawe, Richard Y. M.
This book contributes to gaps that exist on institutions that are involved on the governance and management of land in response to climate change for success adaptation to climate change by the communities. This book can be used in higher institution of learning, communities, practitioners in the governmental sectors, civil society and the private sector. The book assesses institutional frameworks on sustainable land management and climate change adaptation in Chivi district in Zimbabwe. The institutions that are involved in the governance of land in Chivi district include the state and traditional land management agencies. These institutions lack capacity to effectively manage the land as a means to climate change adaptation. The land has been left exposed to land degradation due to poor farming methods, poor coordination of land management activities, non-use of soil and water conservation techniques, deforestation and gold panning among others. There are no clear defined duties within traditional institutions. There is also conflict on land management between traditional institutions and local government structures that include councillors.
Natural Capital Endowment and Dynamics of the Changing Climate in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs): Experience from Africa and Asia
(Pathways to Resilience in Semi-Arid Economies (PRISE) Project, 2015-12-21) Mabhuye, Edmund; Yanda, Pius Z.; Maganga, Faustin P.; Liwenga, Emma; Kateka, Adolphine; Henku, Abdallah; Malik, Nico; Bavo, Cynthia
This natural capital thematic review seeks to generate new information and highlight essential issues for the implementation of the Pathways to Resilience in Semi-arid Economies (PRISE) project. The review analyses the endowment framework underlying natural resource management and drivers of natural resource degradation, including natural processes and calamities induced by climate change. Additionally, it assesses policy frameworks that embed human action in the degradation and management of natural resources in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs). The review further attempts to unlock natural capital endowments at the global level and zooms in on East Africa, West Africa and Central Asia as case studies. The reviewed literature includes academic and official reports and online databases (research papers, journal articles and donor reports). The review generates knowledge on key drivers underlying natural resource degradation, livelihood systems and climate change impacts. The review also provides explanations on the synergistic relationship between natural resource endowment and development patterns in semiarid areas. It presents the patterns of development and the constraints underlying the attainment of sustainable natural resource management. Finally, it poses key questions that should be considered for further research in the PRISE project. The following points are emphasised: • It is necessary to have an understanding of patterns found in ecosystem services, distribution, tenure rights and gender-biased access to ecosystem services and natural resources. This also entails a better understanding of the relationship between equity and access to and utilisation of ecosystem services, and how the two can contribute to the alleviation of poverty. The following points are further emphasised: o Analysis of the importance of ecosystems in the diversification of livelihoods, associated dynamics and the nature of responses; o Generation of knowledge on how issues of tenure, especially as an incentive for natural resource management, and Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) in order to inform policy for local-level adaptation projects. • There is a need to analyse how existing policies can strike a balance between attaining sustainable natural resource management and supporting community livelihoods, including nomadic pastoralism. Another important issue to address here could relate to how government can integrate traditional knowledge systems and institutions as viable and sustainable alternative approaches in sustainable natural resource management and in the improvement of livelihood systems in semi-arid ecosystems. • It is important to analyse the effectiveness of pastoralism in managing resources in harsh and unpredictable environments (Nori et al., 2008). It is also vital to analyse how pastoralism can contribute to debates on climate change adaptation; Tanzanian government policies do not currently address this.

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