By Dorothy Maseke
Tanzania’s growth ambitions depend heavily on the health of its natural systems. Agriculture, rural livelihoods, water security, tourism and export competitiveness all rely on functioning soil, water and ecosystems. Yet nature is still too often treated as separate from economic development, rather than the infrastructure that makes development possible.
The idea that Tanzania must choose between development and nature is false. Development-first is nature-first.
The country’s economy is deeply tied to natural capital. Agriculture alone employs roughly two-thirds of the workforce and contributes around a quarter of GDP. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, agricultural export earnings reached $3.54 billion in 2023/24. Behind those figures sits an enormous dependence on healthy land, reliable rainfall, water systems and productive ecosystems.
This is why nature should be understood as economic infrastructure, not simply an environmental concern. When soils degrade, productivity falls. When water systems come under stress, farming, processing and transport become more expensive and less reliable. The effects are felt across entire value chains, from smallholder farmers and rural communities to processors, exporters and buyers.
