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ATLAS REPORT

Country report: Tanzania

Generated 15 October 2026, 09:35 from live Atlas data

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Executive summary

Atlas holds 4,378,279 mapped features and 77,355 observations in 225 datasets. The mapped mangrove canopy covers 111,509 ha in 7,458 polygons across 1 formation classes; Mangrove dominates with 100.0% of the area. The median patch is only 0.178 ha, while patches of 10 ha or more hold 95.8% of the area. 0 ha (0.0%) lies within 10 km of the LAPSSET development footprint.

Single mapping epoch (2019). Areas are geodesic hectares recalculated from geometry.

Species & formations

FormationPolygonsArea (ha)ShareMean patch (ha)
Mangrove7,458111,509.4100.0%14.95
Shannon evenness by area: 0.00

Pressure: LAPSSET and villages

Mangrove ha by distance from LAPSSET

Mangrove ha by distance from villages

Data quality

DatasetFeaturesRepairedScore
Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2020, Tanzania7,8790100
Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 1996, Tanzania8,0460100
Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2007, Tanzania8,4190100
Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2010, Tanzania7,7500100
Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2015, Tanzania7,5880100
Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2025, Tanzania10,4550100
Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2020, Tanzania7,4580100
Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2015, Tanzania6,8950100
Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2010, Tanzania6,3770100
Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2005, Tanzania6,6020100
Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2000, Tanzania6,7840100
Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 1996, Tanzania6,5470100
Ruvuma Landscape1095
Tanzania +EEZ1095
Selous WHS1095
Wetlands (River)1095
Lindi-Mtwara-Ruvuma 1095
SAGCOT Region1095
Ruaha Sub-Basin1195
Mbarali Catchment1095
Ndembera Catchment1195
Ruvuma1095
African Rift Lakes1095
Ruvuma_Landscape1095
SOKNOT_Boundary1095
Boundary1095
URT (+EEZ)1095
Arusha Region1095
Longido District1095
Enduimet WMA1095
MaB_AoI1095
Mangrove_agb_dissolved1095
polygons1095
polygons1095
rufiji_delta_mangroves1095
RUMAKI BR (Proposed)1195
polygons1095
SOKNOT_Landscape1195
lulc_final_may13_mangroves1095
Umba Basin1095
National Park1095
National Park 21095
tza_eez1095
Tanzania (+EEZ)1095
Ruvuma Landscape1095
Tanzania +EEZ1095
Plateaus2195
cspii_umbrella_type2295
National_Parks3095
polygons3095
Buildings4095
cspii_umbrella4295
polygons4095
CSPIII - Priority Areas4095
wwf-tco_priority_areas_20204095
Mtwara Corridor5095
Umbrella Land/Seascape5095
Umbrella Land/Seascape5095
Circles5095
Corridors6095
SAGCOT Clusters6095
polygons6095
Districts6095
AfricaPriorityLandscapes7295
Wards7095
rufijidelta_mangrove_covarage7095
Mariculture_Cage_Capability7295
EAC_MZQ_ForestProgramme_Countries8095
Zones8195
polygons8195
Offices8095
Regions/Provinces9195
SOKNOT Sublandscapes9095
flr_99095
polygons10095
Umba Catchments10095
Umba Catchments 210095
polygons11095
Cities/Municipalities12095
Cities/Municipalities12095
WMAs13095
FLRi Countries13095
FLRi Countries13095
cspii_operational13295
polygons13095
Mara River13095
Eastern Arc Forest (Blocks)13095
Eastern Arc Forest (Blocks) 213095
polygons13295
Cities/Towns13095
CSPIII - Sub-land/seascape13095
Sub-land/seascape (Names)13095
CSPIII - Sub-land/seascape13095
Path/Tracks15095
polygons17095
Villages17095
Lion17195
Mangroves_ch_classes18095
Umba River18095
forest_projects19095
Target_PAs19095
landuse_mining_USGS_2009_SOKNOT_SOKNOT19095
Basin20195
Cheetah21195
SOKNOT_corridor_network124995
Regions30195
polygons322395
catchments_hydroshed_15s_b32295
Planned Major Roads and Rails33095
Development Corridors 33095
Giraffe33195
Wildlife_CorridorsStatus_DRSRS_KWS_CorridorReport2013_SOKNOT38095
Demography (FB AI- 2018)45095
Corridors-Lines46095
VLFRs47495
Mara River47095
Mara River47095
polygons52095
SADC_TFCAs56195
Protected_Areas56095
Basin (Hydroshed Level 6)59795
Districts/Counties61395
Group_Ranches64095
Elephant66195
TZ_GCA_Conservancy_Ranch67395
Wildlife_Corridors68095
Operational Land/Seascape701095
Operational Land/Seascape701095
Coral_reef74095
Operational Landscape791395
Zebra92295
Africa_WWF_Priority_202104_Operational_Landscapes_Seascape961695
cspii_districts100395
polygons109095
basins_names_hydroshed113795
Conservancies_SOKNOT114195
Conservancies_SOKNOT114195
Conservancy117195
Fibre Cable Landing Stations126095
Buffer Zone1321895
Wildebeest149195
Join_Features_to_Countries_RFP152095
Rivers166095
Community Protected Areas1681595
CBOs1681595
Forest Reserves170095
Forest Reserves170095
River / Stream171095
Mining concessions in Mozambique (2010)180095
polygons1811095
URT - LGAs194395
Gauging Stations206095
Eastern Arc Forest2092395
Major Rivers211095
Major Rivers211095
Rivers228095
LGAs264295
polygons292695
PAsinSOKNOT296295
ProtectedAreas_SOKNOT332195
ProtectedAreas_SOKNOT332195
Protected_Areas333195
geopoint409095
Main Roads413095
Wards416295
ProtectedAreas_AfricaPriorityLandscapes492495
Administration (Level 2)495195
Administration (Level 2)495195
Wards564595
utl-op-se-mrc-watersources-2024578095
Basin (Hydroshed Level 8)580795
Power Plants (Power output MW)642095
lines646095
Forest856395
Forest 2856395
AfricaPriority_River857095
Protected Areas928295
River1,084095
Watersources1,112095
PAs_0920201,159195
urt_catchments1,4841895
RUMAKI BR (Proposed) Coordinates1,570095
Main Roads1,598095
Small airport1,979095
NamedPermanentRiverSystem_Kenya2,338095
NamedPermanentRiverSystem_Kenya2,338095
Dams2,586095
Basin (Hydroshed Level 10)2,6961095
Ug_Roads3,281095
Railway3,840095
Roads4,946095
Districts6,0991395
World Database on Protected Areas7,438195
urt_basin7,740595
Rivers8,997095
Electricity Transmission Network9,759095
Wetlands/Swamps12,039095
Fire Incidences Grid (2000-2019)14,692095
MARXAN-CRUZ PU SF-Score14,692095
MARXAN-CRUZ PU Status14,692095
MARXAN-CRUZ PU SF-Score14,692095
MARXAN-CRUZ PU Status14,692095
LULC 2010 NAFORMA16,8711,25995
Divisions17,649995
Roads120,417095
Irrigated Areas23,095195
Agro-Ecological Zones25,7911795
Population Points (RS AI) 2018)26,336095
Zones26,98479795
Zones27,78180295
lulc_2015_naforma33,435095
Rivers148,033095
Carbon projects: Tanzania15090
Seagrass (UNEP-WCMC): Tanzania153090
Salt marsh (UNEP-WCMC): Tanzania1090
Community and nature projects (UNDP): Tanzania19090
Fences148,597095
LULC 2025 BAU Min. Scenario181,2383,34195
Elephant Track276,722095
LULC 2025 GE Scenario329,3688,51795
LULC 2025-GE Scenario336,99311,59495
LULC 2025-BAU Min. Scenario342,0443,67195
LULC 2025 BAU Max. Scenario525,7567,95995
LULC 2025-BAU Max. Scenario736,07612,33395
FB-AI-Population Distribution969,481095

Recommendations

High 4 of 9 themes have no data yet
Atlas holds no records for: Blue Carbon, Restoration Sites, Wildlife & Habitats, Farming & Livelihoods. Seagrass and salt marsh would come from UNEP-WCMC global datasets; carbon projects from the Verra and Gold Standard registries; community projects from partner programmes.
Action: Ingest the planned sources listed in the Source Catalogue, starting with Global Mangrove Watch, UNEP-WCMC seagrass and salt marsh, and the carbon registries.
High Licence terms to be confirmed for 209 datasets
Licence terms are being confirmed with the publisher. Atlas holds the data for scientific and internal use and shows the original attribution, but cannot grant bulk redistribution rights.
Action: Request written permission from WWF Kenya, KMFRI and KFS for redistribution and derivative products.
Medium Net loss of mangrove since 1996
Global Mangrove Watch maps 114,277 ha of mangrove in Tanzania in 1996 and 113,237 ha in 2025: a net loss of 1,040 ha (-0.9%), about 36 ha per year. This is the net balance of total mapped area; gains and losses inside the country can cancel out, so real loss may be larger.
Action: Overlay consecutive epochs to locate where the losses occurred and check them against pressures such as clearing, ports and aquaculture.
Medium Most polygons are very small, but most area sits in large stands
40.1% of the 7,458 mapped polygons are under 0.1 ha, yet patches of 10 ha or more hold 95.8% of all mangrove area. Management and monitoring effort should focus on the large stands, while the small-patch tail needs checking against satellite imagery.
Action: Prioritise field verification of large stands; review the sub-0.1 ha tail for mapping artefacts.

Datasets & sources

DatasetPublisherFeatures
Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2020, TanzaniaGlobal Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA)7,879
Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 1996, TanzaniaGlobal Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA)8,046
Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2007, TanzaniaGlobal Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA)8,419
Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2010, TanzaniaGlobal Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA)7,750
Global Mangrove Watch: mangrove extent 2015, TanzaniaGlobal Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA)7,588
Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2025, TanzaniaGlobal Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA)10,455
Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2020, TanzaniaGlobal Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA)7,458
Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2015, TanzaniaGlobal Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA)6,895
Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2010, TanzaniaGlobal Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA)6,377
Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2005, TanzaniaGlobal Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA)6,602
Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 2000, TanzaniaGlobal Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA)6,784
Global Mangrove Watch v4.1: mangrove extent 1996, TanzaniaGlobal Mangrove Watch (Aberystwyth University, soloEO, Wetlands International, UNEP-WCMC, JAXA)6,547
Ruvuma LandscapeWWF Kenya1
Tanzania +EEZWWF Kenya1
Selous WHSWWF Kenya1
Wetlands (River)WWF Kenya1
Lindi-Mtwara-Ruvuma WWF Kenya1
SAGCOT RegionWWF Kenya1
Ruaha Sub-BasinWWF Kenya1
Mbarali CatchmentWWF Kenya1
Ndembera CatchmentWWF Kenya1
RuvumaWWF Kenya1
African Rift LakesWWF Kenya1
Ruvuma_LandscapeWWF Kenya1
SOKNOT_BoundaryWWF Kenya1
BoundaryWWF Kenya1
URT (+EEZ)WWF Kenya1
Arusha RegionWWF Kenya1
Longido DistrictWWF Kenya1
Enduimet WMAWWF Kenya1
MaB_AoIWWF Kenya1
Mangrove_agb_dissolvedWWF Kenya1
polygonsWWF Kenya1
polygonsWWF Kenya1
rufiji_delta_mangrovesWWF Kenya1
RUMAKI BR (Proposed)WWF Kenya1
polygonsWWF Kenya1
SOKNOT_LandscapeWWF Kenya1
lulc_final_may13_mangrovesWWF Kenya1
Umba BasinWWF Kenya1
National ParkWWF Kenya1
National Park 2WWF Kenya1
tza_eezWWF Kenya1
Tanzania (+EEZ)WWF Kenya1
Ruvuma LandscapeWWF Kenya1
Tanzania +EEZWWF Kenya1
PlateausWWF Kenya2
cspii_umbrella_typeWWF Kenya2
National_ParksWWF Kenya3
polygonsWWF Kenya3
BuildingsWWF Kenya4
cspii_umbrellaWWF Kenya4
polygonsWWF Kenya4
CSPIII - Priority AreasWWF Kenya4
wwf-tco_priority_areas_2020WWF Kenya4
Mtwara CorridorWWF Kenya5
Umbrella Land/SeascapeWWF Kenya5
Umbrella Land/SeascapeWWF Kenya5
CirclesWWF Kenya5
CorridorsWWF Kenya6
SAGCOT ClustersWWF Kenya6
polygonsWWF Kenya6
DistrictsWWF Kenya6
AfricaPriorityLandscapesWWF Kenya7
WardsWWF Kenya7
rufijidelta_mangrove_covarageWWF Kenya7
Mariculture_Cage_CapabilityWWF Kenya7
EAC_MZQ_ForestProgramme_CountriesWWF Kenya8
ZonesWWF Kenya8
polygonsWWF Kenya8
OfficesWWF Kenya8
Regions/ProvincesWWF Kenya9
SOKNOT SublandscapesWWF Kenya9
flr_9WWF Kenya9
polygonsWWF Kenya10
Umba CatchmentsWWF Kenya10
Umba Catchments 2WWF Kenya10
polygonsWWF Kenya11
Cities/MunicipalitiesWWF Kenya12
Cities/MunicipalitiesWWF Kenya12
WMAsWWF Kenya13
FLRi CountriesWWF Kenya13
FLRi CountriesWWF Kenya13
cspii_operationalWWF Kenya13
polygonsWWF Kenya13
Mara RiverWWF Kenya13
Eastern Arc Forest (Blocks)WWF Kenya13
Eastern Arc Forest (Blocks) 2WWF Kenya13
polygonsWWF Kenya13
Cities/TownsWWF Kenya13
CSPIII - Sub-land/seascapeWWF Kenya13
Sub-land/seascape (Names)WWF Kenya13
CSPIII - Sub-land/seascapeWWF Kenya13
Path/TracksWWF Kenya15
polygonsWWF Kenya17
VillagesWWF Kenya17
LionWWF Kenya17
Mangroves_ch_classesWWF Kenya18
Umba RiverWWF Kenya18
forest_projectsWWF Kenya19
Target_PAsWWF Kenya19
landuse_mining_USGS_2009_SOKNOT_SOKNOTWWF Kenya19
BasinWWF Kenya20
CheetahWWF Kenya21
SOKNOT_corridor_network1WWF Kenya24
RegionsWWF Kenya30
polygonsWWF Kenya32
catchments_hydroshed_15s_bWWF Kenya32
Planned Major Roads and RailsWWF Kenya33
Development Corridors WWF Kenya33
GiraffeWWF Kenya33
Wildlife_CorridorsStatus_DRSRS_KWS_CorridorReport2013_SOKNOTWWF Kenya38
Demography (FB AI- 2018)WWF Kenya45
Corridors-LinesWWF Kenya46
VLFRsWWF Kenya47
Mara RiverWWF Kenya47
Mara RiverWWF Kenya47
polygonsWWF Kenya52
SADC_TFCAsWWF Kenya56
Protected_AreasWWF Kenya56
Basin (Hydroshed Level 6)WWF Kenya59
Districts/CountiesWWF Kenya61
Group_RanchesWWF Kenya64
ElephantWWF Kenya66
TZ_GCA_Conservancy_RanchWWF Kenya67
Wildlife_CorridorsWWF Kenya68
Operational Land/SeascapeWWF Kenya70
Operational Land/SeascapeWWF Kenya70
Coral_reefWWF Kenya74
Operational LandscapeWWF Kenya79
ZebraWWF Kenya92
Africa_WWF_Priority_202104_Operational_Landscapes_SeascapeWWF Kenya96
cspii_districtsWWF Kenya100
polygonsWWF Kenya109
basins_names_hydroshedWWF Kenya113
Conservancies_SOKNOTWWF Kenya114
Conservancies_SOKNOTWWF Kenya114
ConservancyWWF Kenya117
Fibre Cable Landing StationsWWF Kenya126
Buffer ZoneWWF Kenya132
WildebeestWWF Kenya149
Join_Features_to_Countries_RFPWWF Kenya152
RiversWWF Kenya166
Community Protected AreasWWF Kenya168
CBOsWWF Kenya168
Forest ReservesWWF Kenya170
Forest ReservesWWF Kenya170
River / StreamWWF Kenya171
Mining concessions in Mozambique (2010)WWF Kenya180
polygonsWWF Kenya181
URT - LGAsWWF Kenya194
Gauging StationsWWF Kenya206
Eastern Arc ForestWWF Kenya209
Major RiversWWF Kenya211
Major RiversWWF Kenya211
RiversWWF Kenya228
LGAsWWF Kenya264
polygonsWWF Kenya292
PAsinSOKNOTWWF Kenya296
ProtectedAreas_SOKNOTWWF Kenya332
ProtectedAreas_SOKNOTWWF Kenya332
Protected_AreasWWF Kenya333
geopointWWF Kenya409
Main RoadsWWF Kenya413
WardsWWF Kenya416
ProtectedAreas_AfricaPriorityLandscapesWWF Kenya492
Administration (Level 2)WWF Kenya495
Administration (Level 2)WWF Kenya495
WardsWWF Kenya564
utl-op-se-mrc-watersources-2024WWF Kenya578
Basin (Hydroshed Level 8)WWF Kenya580
Power Plants (Power output MW)WWF Kenya642
linesWWF Kenya646
ForestWWF Kenya856
Forest 2WWF Kenya856
AfricaPriority_RiverWWF Kenya857
Protected AreasWWF Kenya928
RiverWWF Kenya1,084
WatersourcesWWF Kenya1,112
PAs_092020WWF Kenya1,159
urt_catchmentsWWF Kenya1,484
RUMAKI BR (Proposed) CoordinatesWWF Kenya1,570
Main RoadsWWF Kenya1,598
Small airportWWF Kenya1,979
NamedPermanentRiverSystem_KenyaWWF Kenya2,338
NamedPermanentRiverSystem_KenyaWWF Kenya2,338
DamsWWF Kenya2,586
Basin (Hydroshed Level 10)WWF Kenya2,696
Ug_RoadsWWF Kenya3,281
RailwayWWF Kenya3,840
RoadsWWF Kenya4,946
DistrictsWWF Kenya6,099
World Database on Protected AreasWWF Kenya7,438
urt_basinWWF Kenya7,740
RiversWWF Kenya8,997
Electricity Transmission NetworkWWF Kenya9,759
Wetlands/SwampsWWF Kenya12,039
Fire Incidences Grid (2000-2019)WWF Kenya14,692
MARXAN-CRUZ PU SF-ScoreWWF Kenya14,692
MARXAN-CRUZ PU StatusWWF Kenya14,692
MARXAN-CRUZ PU SF-ScoreWWF Kenya14,692
MARXAN-CRUZ PU StatusWWF Kenya14,692
LULC 2010 NAFORMAWWF Kenya16,871
DivisionsWWF Kenya17,649
Roads1WWF Kenya20,417
Irrigated AreasWWF Kenya23,095
Agro-Ecological ZonesWWF Kenya25,791
Population Points (RS AI) 2018)WWF Kenya26,336
ZonesWWF Kenya26,984
ZonesWWF Kenya27,781
lulc_2015_naformaWWF Kenya33,435
Rivers1WWF Kenya48,033
Carbon projects: TanzaniaBerkeley Carbon Trading Project, University of California, Berkeley15
Seagrass (UNEP-WCMC): TanzaniaUN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and Short FT153
Salt marsh (UNEP-WCMC): TanzaniaUN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and Short FT1
Community and nature projects (UNDP): TanzaniaUnited Nations Development Programme (UNDP)19
FencesWWF Kenya148,597
LULC 2025 BAU Min. ScenarioWWF Kenya181,238
Elephant TrackWWF Kenya276,722
LULC 2025 GE ScenarioWWF Kenya329,368
LULC 2025-GE ScenarioWWF Kenya336,993
LULC 2025-BAU Min. ScenarioWWF Kenya342,044
LULC 2025 BAU Max. ScenarioWWF Kenya525,756
LULC 2025-BAU Max. ScenarioWWF Kenya736,076
FB-AI-Population DistributionWWF Kenya969,481

Methods & limits

Areas and lengths are recomputed on the WGS 84 ellipsoid; units are harmonised (ha, m, %, UTC). The mapping is a single 2019 epoch; the source publishes no licence; field plots are a sample; scenario figures are illustrative assumptions. Cite the original publishers listed above. Full methods: Methodologies page.
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