TMA calls for application of traditional experience to address climate change

TANZANIA Meteorological Agency (TMA) has urged environmental experts to employ both traditional and scientific experience and knowledge in preparing and implementing strategies to mitigate effects of climate change.

TMA Director General, Dr Agnes Kijazi was speaking in Dar es Salaam yesterday at a stakeholders’ workshop to discuss the role of traditional knowledge on environmental conservation and climate change adaptation and mitigation in Tanzania.

According to Kijazi, some people especially in rural areas hold different views about climate change which if combined with scientific knowledge can bring about better results in addressing effects of climate change.

She said a research which is still in progress in some regions has established that people have different concepts as why rains delay in some areas but such knowledge when combined with science it can help mitigate effects of climate change.

“Preparations of strategies to combat climate change consequences such as floods and drought should reflect on tradition knowledge. We (TMA) in collaboration with Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA) are conducting a research about the contribution of Indigenous education on environmental conservation in combating climate change in Tanzania,” she said.

TMA has introduced a Climate Change Impact Adaptation and Mitigation (CCIAM) programme which involves five institutions (four from Tanzania and one from Norway).
CCIAM programme Coordinator, Prof Salim Maliondo said it is estimated that about 3-15 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been lost due to the increment of natural disasters.

“If we really want to have economic and social development, it is better to think about prioritising climate and environmental change. Without keeping this into account and take immediate strong actions, the effects of climate change will increase,” he said.

By DEVOTA MWACHANG'A.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN