Pastoralism and Climate Change in Tanzania: Trends, Patterns, Challenges and Opportunities

BC3 Webinar
“Pastoralism and Climate Change in Tanzania: Trends, Patterns, Challenges and Opportunities.“

Dr. Edmund B. Mabhuye

Lecturer & Coordinator of the Centre for Climate Change Studies
University of Dar es Salaam, Centre for Climate Change Studies

Abstract:

Pastoralism is one of the historical and naturally adapting livelihoods systems in drylands systems. Overtime, pastoralism adaptations to environmental and climatic dynamics are strategically embedded in the indigenous social structures and resource management value systems. However, increasing climate variability and change impacts are marginalizing inherent capacity of the livelihoods systems to cope and/or adapt to the changes and impacts. Pastoralism has become increasingly vulnerable to climate change impacts because of prolonged marginalization from critical climatic change and additional stresses from non-climatic stresses and pressures. Climatic stresses such as increased temperature and shifts in patterns of precipitation, is a new challenge to pastoralism systems. Major non-climatic stresses to the pastoral livelihood system include population growth, poor governance and shrinking rangeland areas lost to competing activities and conservation process. Potentials for enhancing resilience include promotion of communal ranches and investments in conservation of ecosystem based adaptation and restoration of water supply systems and pasture systems. Community collaboration, effective engagement of policy and decision makers in understanding the value of pastoralism and integration of indigenous knowledge and cultural systems in planning process for resource management are expected to complement scientific planning process and enhance resilience as well as sustainable development.

About the Lecturer

Dr. Edmund B. Mabhuye holds a Ph.D. in Climate Change and Sustainable Development in the field of Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Options and has background in Natural Resource Assessment and Management. He works as a Lecturer with the Dar es Salaam University – Institute of Resource Assessment and Coordinating the Centre for Climate Change Studies. His research interest include climate change science, vulnerability and impacts, adaptation and mitigation options. He has been doing researches linking climate change with natural resources management, livelihoods analysis and addressing sustainability issues. Pastoralism and climate in east Africa is also one of the major area of research for Dr. Edmund Mabhuye.