Tanzania’s Rufiji Delta hosts East Africa’s largest mangrove forest, spanning over 53,000 hectares. These mangroves are crucial for biodiversity, coastal protection, and climate resilience. Yet, they face increasing threats from human activities such as rice farming, which have led to significant loss and degradation.
To combat these challenges, the introduction of Global Mangrove Watch (GMW) alerts has transformed conservation efforts in the region. This online platform provides near real-time, high-accuracy data on mangrove changes, enabling forest rangers and local communities to verify alerts before taking action. By using this technology, monitoring teams now save time and resources, focusing efforts where they are needed most.
In the Rufiji Delta, GMW alerts have helped identify degradation hotspots, inform restoration strategies, and support alternative livelihood initiatives such as sustainable farming and beekeeping. This innovation is making a tangible difference in protecting one of East Africa’s most valuable ecosystems.
VNRC members navigating to points generated from alerts in GMW