∆Rufiji: Climate change, rural livelihoods, and nature protection in the Rufiji Delta

The ∆Rufiji project examines how socially just, climate-resilient local livelihoods and nature conservation can be achieved in the Rufiji Delta, Tanzania.

To this end, the project focuses on three main aspects:

1. Changes in biophysical conditions, including climate, deforestation and forest degradation, and their impact on growth and regeneration capacity of mangrove forest.
2. Changes in biophysical and socio-political conditions and their impact on local livelihoods and on socio-economic risk and resilience.
3. Changes in socio-political conditions and their perceived impact on communities, including socio-ecological responses, and development of institutional arrangements.

The project is implemented in collaboration between the University of Dar es Salaam, Sokoine University of Agriculture and University of Copenhagen and involves the training of three PhD students and two postdocs.

You can find the full ∆Rufiji project description here (pdf).

Work package 1

In work package 1, we examine the growth and regeneration capacity of mangrove forest in the Rufiji Delta. Furthermore, we aim to understand the rate and causes of deforestation and forest degradation in the area.

Work package 2

In work package 2, we examine how changes in climate and biophysical and socio-political conditions affect local livelihoods in the Rufiji Delta, and what the implications are in relation to agency, risk and resilience.

Work package 3

In work package 3, we examine the perceived impacts of management and conservation initiatives, what the socio-ecological responses are, and what institutional arrangements might promote socially just, climate resilient livelihoods and nature conservation.