Tanzania has launched a 10-year national strategy aimed at protecting and restoring the country’s mangrove ecosystems, in what officials say is a critical step towards combating climate change and safeguarding coastal livelihoods.
The National Mangrove Management and Sustainability Strategy 2025–2035, unveiled in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, outlines a roadmap for conserving more than 158,000 hectares of mangroves along Tanzania’s coastline.
The government has allocated over TZS 54 billion for its implementation.
Speaking at the launch, Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Ambassador Dr Pindi Chana, called on public institutions, the private sector and development partners to collaborate fully to ensure effective and inclusive execution.
“Mangroves are the backbone of the Indian Ocean’s ecosystem. They filter waste, prevent coastal erosion, store carbon, and serve as fish breeding grounds. Failing to protect them means risking both human and marine life,” she said.
Tanzania’s mangrove forests are increasingly threatened by encroachment, unplanned construction, sand mining and pollution.
Under the new strategy, government agencies will be required to enforce protection measures, conduct targeted research, promote eco-tourism, and support communities in adopting alternative livelihoods.
The policy aims to restore at least 60 percent of degraded mangroves by 2035. It also encourages the direct involvement of local communities in sustainable management, according to remarks delivered by Abdallah Mvungi, the ministry’s Director of Policy and Development, on behalf of Deputy Permanent Secretary Benedict Wakulyamba.
Tanzania Forest Services Commissioner Professor Dos Santos Silayo said the strategy was developed in close consultation with domestic and international stakeholders and would serve as a practical tool for preserving coastal wetlands for future generations.
“We will work with communities, researchers and the private sector to ensure mangroves become a living heritage,” he said.
WWF Tanzania Country Director Dr Amani Ngusaru welcomed the initiative, describing it as science-led, inclusive and result-oriented.
He said the government had shown serious commitment to protecting wetlands as part of broader climate mitigation efforts.
The strategy has drawn support from organisations including WWF, IUCN, NEMC, the Marine Parks and Reserves Unit, Mwambao Coastal Community Network, EarthLungs, and Wetlands International.