The unsustainable use of coastal marine resources in Tanzania is a direct threat to the international development agenda. Poverty, hunger, and the steady decline of environmental stability in the region have peaked interest from key stakeholders in East Africa’s marine resources.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is working in Tanzania through one of its University Twinning Networks (UNITWIN) to enhance socio-economic development in the field of marine resources.
The UNITWIN program is designed to cultivate scientific inquiry and advance knowledge in academic disciplines. In 2009, the UNITWIN Cooperation Program in Marine Biology and Sustainable Development for East Africa was established at the University of Dar Es-Salaam in the Republic of Tanzania, in collaboration with the Bangor University of Wales, United Kingdom.
Dr. Ntahondi Nyandui, Associate Director of IMS told WaterWideWeb, “Tanzania needs to promote the sustainable use of these resources.” Over the past two years, the IMS has worked in Tanzania to promote a sustainable agenda for marine resources. Please read the complete interview with Nyandui below.
EAB: What are some of the most immediate threats to marine biology and sustainable development in East Africa?
NN: Marine and coastal ecosystems are degrading due to unsustainable use, pollution, and effects of global climate change. Degradation of these marine and coastal ecosystems risks loss in livelihoods and a rise in poverty. Unsustainable exploitation of marine and coastal resources is threatening biodiversity. Poverty in the region hinders sustainable use of marine and coastal resources.
EAB: How does UNESCO and most specifically the UNITWIN Cooperation Program in Marine Biology and Sustainable Development aim to mitigate adverse effects from those threats?
NN: We’re focusing on capacity building for Tanzanians. Obtaining quality scientific information and developing skills would contribute to better management of coastal resources and the marine environment.
EAB: Please detail the capacity building practices that you hope to implement in Tanzania.
NN: Training marine scientists at the postgraduate level with required skills. IMS will be assisted in improving the delivery of existing MSc courses, the development of a new MSc in marine environmental science and climate change, the development of decision support tools for management of marine and coastal resources and environment, and the development of products and outreach services for public use.
EAB: Can you describe how the program will achieve its objective specifically in reference to cultural and societal development of communities sharing the coast?
NN: We already have other programs and projects that deal with outreach and community services. For the current project, research for some of the post-graduate students will touch on issues of societal development.
EAB: What marine resources are unique to this area and why is preserving them a top agenda item for UNESCO?
NN: Coral reefs, sea grass beds, and mangroves are high in biodiversity and productivity in this area. These resources attract fisheries which is vitally important to coastal livelihood in Tanzania. Generating revenue for the coastal communities of Tanzania is largely contingent upon the condition of marine coastal resources.
EAB: Have you established the “Regional Pole of Excellence in Marine Sciences and Technology” yet? If so, please describe it here.
NN: The goal is to build the IMS into a center of excellence in marine sciences in East Africa. The IMS is expected to become unique in the region. Already, its capacity to provide postgraduate training in marine sciences and to undertake quality research has established the IMS as a viable center of study.
EAB: What Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is this project helping to achieve?
NN: The project works on several MDGs including environmental sustainability, alleviating poverty and hunger, promoting gender equality in higher education, and global partnerships in information sharing, training for development.
EAB: Thank you for your time interviewing with WaterWideWeb.org.
NN: You’re welcome.
Advancing the academic study of marine coastal environments in Tanzania will supports members of the local community to effectively engage policy makers in decisions about marine conservation. The erosion of marine environments has immediate ramifications for residents of the area. Lobbying for national policy on marine conservation is possible if policy makers are presented with timely and quantifiable data about marine coastal environments.
Establishing a center of information that can assess marine sustainability in Tanzania is the first step to restoring compromised marine environments along the coast of East Africa. Statistics and analytic data will provide the information necessary for implementing effective conservation strategies in the region.
The photo above is a UN Photo taken by Milton Grant.
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