Tanzania's Maritime Heritage: A Climate Adaptation Priority: Summary for Policymakers

Tanzania’s wonderful marine cultural heritage (MCH) is at risk from the negative effects of climate change, not only threatening its preservation, but also its loss as a key climate action asset in mitigation and adaptation efforts.

This report advocates for the inclusion of Tanzania’s MCH as a specific adaptation priority in the country’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) document. Such an inclusion would not only serve to preserve this important heritage, but could offer additional economic and cultural benefits for Tanzania by creating the potential to attract further support from international funds.

Greater funding can improve local capacity to record and preserve MCH at risk of climate change and identify infrastructural and developmental priorities to safeguard against climate-related loss and damage. It also facilitates the development of MCH as an area of green economic growth for coastal communities through sustainable tourism and other initiatives. This can bolster the resilience of such communities to the negative effects of climate change.

Several recommendations are made in the report, including:
• The inclusion of a cultural heritage expert on the NAP drafting team
• The inclusion of marine cultural heritage as a specific priority in the NAP document
• Consultation and engagement with communities in drafting the NAP document
• The identification of opportunities from MCH assets for green growth for sustainable
development