Restoration of Mangroves in Coastal Tanzania: Factors Associated with the Success of Mangrove Conservation Efforts
L. Chivalavala
Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Ardhi University, P.O. Box 35176, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
YH. Senkondo *
Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Ardhi University, P.O. Box 35176, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Mangrove forests provide important ecological and livelihood services, including carbon sequestration, coastal protection, biodiversity conservation, and support for coastal communities. Despite restoration and conservation initiatives in Tanzania and elsewhere, mangrove degradation remains a concern, and further evidence is needed on factors associated with community participation in restoration activities.
Aim: This study examined factors associated with local community engagement in mangrove restoration along the Kilwa Masoko coast in Lindi Region, Tanzania.
Study Design: The study adopted a mixed-methods design involving household surveys, interviews, focus group discussions, official interviews, and geospatial analysis.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted along the Kilwa Masoko coast between June and September 2024.
Methodology: Data were collected from 75 respondents, comprising 34 males and 41 females who had lived in the area for an extended period. Interviews, focus group discussions, and official interviews were conducted with community members and relevant local institutions. Satellite images from 2003, 2013, and 2023 were analysed to assess trends in mangrove cover change and restoration. Quantitative data were analysed using multinomial logistic regression and binary logistic regression.
Results: The findings showed that participation in training, membership in a mangrove restoration group, and gender were significantly associated with respondents’ participation in mangrove restoration activities. Likelihood ratio tests indicated significant associations for gender (P = 0.001), participation in training (P = 0.007), and membership in a conservation group (P < 0.001), while remittance receipt was not significant. The decision to join conservation groups was also significantly associated with participation in conservation training. Geospatial analysis indicated that mangrove cover declined from 1,808 ha in 2003 to 1,328 ha in 2013, followed by a partial recovery to 1,417.6 ha in 2023. The mapped restoration sites accounted for 89.6 ha, suggesting that recent restoration has not fully offset earlier mangrove cover loss. Respondents and key informants identified awareness gaps, limited funding, institutional support challenges, and land use conversion pressures as perceived barriers to restoration.
Conclusion: The study suggests that community training and participation in restoration groups are important factors associated with engagement in mangrove restoration along the Kilwa Masoko coast. The findings also indicate that restoration gains remained insufficient to fully compensate for earlier mangrove cover decline. Strengthening community engagement, improving institutional coordination, and supporting livelihood-compatible conservation approaches may enhance the sustainability of mangrove restoration initiatives in the study area.
Keywords: Mangrove restoration, mangrove conservation, community engagement, coastal Tanzania, Kilwa Masoko, conservation training, restoration groups, mangrove cover change, geospatial analysis, livelihood-compatible conservation