Tanzania Readies to Host COP12 for Protecting Marine and Coastal Ecosystems

DAR ES SALAAM — Tanzania has secured the prestigious role of hosting the 12th Conference of the Parties to the Nairobi Convention (COP12), positioning the East African nation at the forefront of regional marine conservation. Scheduled to take place in Dar es Salaam from October 6 to 9, 2026, the high-level environmental summit is expected to attract more than 500 international delegates, including heads of state, policymakers, leading scientists, civil society actors, and development partners.

The biennial conference brings together member states to review progress, address emerging challenges, and formulate joint strategies for the sustainable management of the Western Indian Ocean’s marine and coastal environments. Tanzania was selected to chair and host the upcoming session during the 11th COP meeting held in Antananarivo, Madagascar, in August 2024.

National Preparations Underway

The government has officially launched its logistics and strategy planning. Speaking in Dodoma during the inaugural meeting of the national preparatory committee, Ambassador Baraka Luvanda, the Deputy Permanent Secretary (Environment) in the Vice President’s Office, announced that a multi-sectoral national committee has been established to ensure the conference is executed at the highest international standard.

“Tanzania, as a signatory to the Nairobi Convention, is fully committed to advancing regional cooperation,” stated Ambassador Luvanda. He emphasized that the multi-sectoral team—comprising various ministries, departments, and public institutions—is tasked with ensuring the country fully capitalizes on the diplomatic, environmental, and economic benefits of hosting the summit.

Safeguarding Ecosystems and Livelihoods

With a coastline stretching over 1,400 kilometers along the Indian Ocean, Tanzania’s coastal communities are fundamentally tied to the marine environment. Critical ecosystems such as coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds are currently facing mounting threats from warming sea temperatures, coral bleaching, pollution, and destructive fishing practices.

According to Magdalena Ngotolainyo, the Director of Blue Economy Development and Coordination in the Vice President’s Office, the Dar es Salaam summit will serve as a vital platform for unlocking economic opportunities, attracting blue economy investments, and strengthening key domestic sectors like sustainable fisheries and coastal tourism.

Local experts emphasize that the dialogue will bridge local community needs with international policies. Engineer Gregory Mella, a lecturer at the Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute, noted that the conference will place a strong focus on balancing resource protection with community survival, ensuring that local populations can continue to rely safely on activities like seaweed farming and artisanal fishing.

A Critical Year for Ocean Governance

The timing of COP12 aligns with a broader surge in regional momentum for ocean governance. Ahead of the October summit, Tanzania has also been invited to participate in the 11th Our Ocean Conference, scheduled for June 16–18, 2026, in Mombasa, Kenya—marking the very first time the global forum will be hosted on the African continent under the theme

“Our Ocean, Our Heritage, Our Future.”

Together, these high-level forums are set to provide Tanzania and its regional neighbors with unprecedented access to new conservation technologies, knowledge exchange, and increased climate financing, reinforcing the Western Indian Ocean’s resilience against global environmental shifts.