Using indigenous knowledge (IK), communities in most parts of Tanzania have been able to conserve the environment and cope with the challenges of climate variability. Local environmental and astronomical indicators have been used to predict rainfall, and various local coping measures have been used to lessen the impacts of droughts and floods. Unfortunately, no systematic and comprehensive documentation of IK and existing coping strategies has been done. The lack of systematic and comprehensive documentation of IK complicates the possibility of integrating it into conventional forecasting system s. IK itself is at risk of completely disappearing as the custodians of the knowledge (mostly elders) pass away. Identification and documentation of existing drought and flood coping strategies will provide valuable inputs for the development of long-term effective adaptation strategies.
The main objective of the project is to mainstream IK in the development of climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies in Tanzania. Four of the specific objectives addressed are:
i) documenting IK of forest, soil and water conservation
ii) documenting IK of weather and climate prediction
iii) investigating IK in relation to drought and flood coping strategies
iv) monitoring changes and movement of flora and fauna in response to climatic parameters

- Output from the Norwegian funded Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Mitigation (CCIAM) Programme in Tanzania.