Enhancing adaptation and mitigation measures to impacts of climate change on natural resources in Pwaga village, Mwapwa district, Dodoma region, Tanzania

Alex Mbilinyi, Nicholaus Mwageni, Leopord Sibomana Leonard

Abstract


Climate change poses significant threats to human livelihoods, with rural farming communities being among the most vulnerable due to their reliance on agriculture and natural resources. The severity of these impacts largely depends on farmers’ awareness and their capacity to adopt appropriate adaptation strategies. Notably, extreme temperatures and rainfall brought on by climate change have disproportionately affected Tanzania's rural areas, posing hazards to their ability to live, work, and feed their populations. Although Tanzanian rural populations rely heavily on natural resources, the effects of climate change on these resources are not well documented in these locations. The objective of this study was to assess the impacts of climate change on natural resources and developing the enhancement measures for better adaptation and mitigation at Pwaga village in Mpwapwa District, Dodoma Region, Tanzania. Data were collected through document review, physical observations, interviews and focus group discussion. The study revealed that, there is a significant climatic shift and their consequential impacts on natural resources over the past years. Climate change has increased natural resources competition due to limited access, availability and affordability. Hence the study recommends the increasing use of renewable energy sources, intensification of awareness programs, afforestation, agroforestry, installation of rainwater harvesting system and proper waste management.

 

Received: 03 February 2026

Accepted: 04 April 2026

Published: 14 May 2026


Full Text:

PDF

References


Abbass, K., Qasim, M. Z., Song, H., Murshed, M., Mahmood, H., & Younis, I. (2022). A review of the global climate change impacts, adaptation, and sustainable mitigation measures. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29(1), 42539–42559. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-19718-6

Adaptation Without Borders. (2021). Transboundary climate risks: An overview. Adaptation without Borders. https://adaptationwithoutborders.org/

B. Yeh, K., M. Fair, J., Smith, W., Martinez Torres, T., Lucas, J., Monagin, C., Winegar, R., & Fletcher, J. (2020). Assessing Climate Change Impact on Ecosystems and Infectious Disease: Important Roles for Genomic Sequencing and a One Health Perspective. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease, 5(2), 90. https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed5020090

Bedeke, S. B. (2022). Climate change vulnerability and adaptation of crop producers in sub-Saharan Africa: a review on concepts, approaches and methods. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 25(2), 1017–1051. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-022-02118-8

Charrua, A. B., Padmanaban, R., Cabral, P., Bandeira, S., & Romeiras, M. M. (2021). Impacts of the Tropical Cyclone Idai in Mozambique: A Multi-Temporal Landsat Satellite Imagery Analysis. Remote Sensing, 13(2), 201. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13020201

Dodoma Agricultural Office. (2023). Dodoma region agricultural report 2023. https://www.nbs.go.tz/nbs/takwimu/Agriculture/DODOMA%20REGION%20REPORT.pdf

Gillo, I. O., Mkomage, J., & Mayaya, H. (2017). Farmers’ Awareness on Climate Change and Adaptation Practices in Mpwapwa District, Dodoma-Tanzania. International Journal of Humanities & Social Studies, 5(7). https://internationaljournalcorner.com/index.php/theijhss/article/view/125727

Hussein, J., Bilotto, F., Mbui, D., Omondi, P., Harrison, M. T., Crane, T. A., & Sircely, J. (2024). Exploring smallholder farm resilience to climate change: intended and actual adaptation. Deleted Journal, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/past.2024.13424

International Monetary Fund. (2023). Climate Challenges in Fragile and Conflict-Affected States. IMF. https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/staff-climate-notes/Issues/2023/08/24/Climate-Challenges-in-Fragile-and-Conflict-Affected-States-537797

International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). (2021). WORLD ENERGY TRANSITIONS OUTLOOK 1.5°C PATHWAY. https://www.connaissancedesenergies.org/sites/connaissancedesenergies.org/files/pdf-pt-vue/IRENA_World_Energy_Transitions_Outlook_2021_1.pdf

Li, Y., Zhang, S., & Liu, C. (2022). Research on Greenhouse Gas Emission Characteristics and Emission Mitigation Potential of Municipal Solid Waste Treatment in Beijing. Sustainability, 14(14), 8398. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14148398

Mirzabaev, A., Bezner Kerr, R., Hasegawa, T., Pradhan, P., Wreford, A., Cristina Tirado von der Pahlen, M., & Gurney-Smith, H. (2023). Severe climate change risks to food security and nutrition. Climate Risk Management, 39(100473), 100473. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2022.100473

Mwea, C., & Henry, L. (2019). Gender dynamics and water conflicts in community boreholes in Turkana County (Working paper, Pathways to Resilience in the Karamoja Cluster: A regional conference on recent research and policy options. https://karamojaresilience.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/14ec3c_ccb9c0a1f46145669a89eb775f91b663.pdf

Myeya, H. E. (2021, May). Recent Temperature and Rainfall Characteristics in Dodoma Region, Central Tanzania (1961 – 2013). Udsm.ac.tz; University of Ghana. https://repository.udsm.ac.tz/items/60837be2-3cc0-4d87-af0b-82ad06405a58

O’Neill, B. C., Aalst, M. van , Ibrahim, Z., Berrang-Ford, L., Bhadwal, S., Buhaug, H., Diaz, D., Frieler, K., Garschagen, M., Magnan, A.-S., Midgley, G., Mirzabaev, A., Thomas, A., & Warren, R. (2022). Key Risks across Sectors and Regions. In H.-O. Pörtner, D. C. Roberts, M. Tignor, M. Tignor, K. Mintenbeck, A. Alegría, M. Craig, S. Langsdorf, S. Löschke, V. Möller, A. Okem, & B. Rama (Eds.), Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability (IPCC AR6 Working Group II). IPCC Cambridge University Pres. https://www.ipcc.ch/report/sixth-assessment-report-working-group-ii/

Opere, A., Omwoyo, A., Purity Mueni, & Arango, M. (2019). Impact of Climate Change on Water Resources in Eastern Africa. In C. Ondieki & J. Kitheka (Eds.), Hydrology and Water Resources Management in Arid, Semi-Arid, and Tropical Regions (pp. 199–227). IGI Global Scientific Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-0163-4.ch010

Palmer, P. I., Wainwright, C. M., Dong, B., Maidment, R. I., Wheeler, K. G., Gedney, N., Hickman, J. E., Madani, N., Folwell, S. S., Abdo, G., Allan, R. P., Black, E. C. L., Feng, L., Gudoshava, M., Haines, K., Huntingford, C., Kilavi, M., Lunt, M. F., Shaaban, A., & Turner, A. G. (2023). Drivers and impacts of Eastern African rainfall variability. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, 4(4), 254–270. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-023-00397-x

Ritchie, H., Rosado, P., & Roser, M. (2023). CO2 and Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Our World in Data. Our World in Data. https://ourworldindata.org/co2-and-greenhouse-gas-emissions

United Nations Development Programme. (2016). Human development report 2016: Human development for everyone. Hdr.undp.org. https://hdr.undp.org/en/2016-report

United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. (2017). UNESCO Moving Forward the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. In Unesco.org. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000247785

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (2013). Climate change, water shortages, biodiversity loss, will have growing impacts on global business: UN report. GEO-5 for Business: Impacts of a Changing Environment on the Corporate Sector. https://smartnordicexchange.com/images/GEO5_for_Business.pdf

United Nations Forum on Forests. (2019). Background analytical study: Forests and climate change (UNFF14-BkgdStudy-SDG13). United Nations. https://www.un.org/esa/forests/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/UNFF14-BkgdStudy-SDG13-March2019.pdf

World Health Organization. (2023, October 12). Climate Change. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-and-health

Yeboah, A. (2024). Assessing Climate Change Impacts on Food Security in Africa: Regional Variations and Socio-Economic Perspectives. Sunyani Technical University. https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/120918/1/MPRA_paper_120918.pdf




DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21622/MACI.2026.03.1.1939

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2026 Alex Mbilinyi, Nicholaus Mwageni, Leopord Sibomana Leonard


Multidisciplinary Adaptive Climate Insights

E-ISSN: 3009-6332

P-ISSN: 3009-7924

 

Published by:

Academy Publishing Center (APC)

Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT)

Alexandria, Egypt

maci@aast.edu