"All the sandy beaches of Tanzania show a rate of retreat of 3-5 metres per year. Settlements which are located in these areas are threatened with erosion or flooding. The expected rise in sea level might result in the loss of a strip of several hundred metres of coastal land." - Mario Fay University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and plans for new schemes may need to be re-evaluated. Where rainfall increases, floods could damage scheme infrastructure or endanger nearby human settlements. Crops which are currently major exports, like tea and coffee, or important staples may experience major drops in yield as agro-climatic zones shift. Changes in rainfall and temperature distribution will change the patterns of wildlife habitat and migrations. This could have a severe impact on national parks, the surrounding agricultural land, wildlife conservation and tourism. In 1988 UNEP sponsored a meeting of experts which noted the already existing seasonal and annual climatic variations in the semi-arid tropics. Also noted is the decline in rainfall resulting in drought and desertification. It is predicted that future climatic change will deepen the crisis in food, water and energy. Because of shifts in natural ecological zones (crop and forest belts moving to higher latitudes), pressure will increase on the use of marginal and virgin ecosystems. The experts also predicted that due to enhanced evapotranspiration, the humid tropics will become drier. Sea-level. As a result of climate change, it is expected that the sea-level will rise (about 25-140 cm) which will increase flooding and salinization. In addition, port facilities and airport runways will have to be adjusted to higher ground. A recent study by Deift Hydraulics (1989) on behalf of UNEP on vulnerability to sea-level rise, indicated that of the 27 vulnerable countries globally, five African countries (Egypt, Kenya, Mozambique, Senegal and the Gambia) will be affected by the sealevel rise. When more refined criteria of vulnerability were used, the resulting ten most vulnerable countries to the impact of sea-level rise included Egypt, Mozambique, Senegal and the Gambia. It has been predicted that the sea-level rise will affect about 20% of Egypt's 35,000 sq. km . of amble land. Another area which is likely to be affected by the sea-level rise is the Limpopo River basin in Mozambique. The population of the river basin has doubled within the past few years, with approximately 25,000 ha of land under irrigation in the valley. When the freshwater-level in the Limpopo River drops due to dry conditions in the catchment area, the sea water flows inland. The farmers use this salt containing water for irrigation resulting in salinization. The expected sea-level rise will markedly disrupt the social and economic structures of this and other productive river basins. Undoubtedly, the sea-level rise will disrupt settlements, agriculture, industry, forests, fisheries and wildlife habitats as well as increasing salinity of groundwater and drinking water supplies, rivers and bays in the humid tropics. Storm damage. A major impact of global warming is expected to be an increasing severity of storms due to changing ocean temperatures and the resulting shifts in ocean and air currents. Extensive damage is anticipated along coastlines, accelerating the already problematic rates of coastal erosion along the West and Eastern Africa shorelines, among other areas. Storm damage to structures and agriculture and loss of life must be considered in development plans for coastal areas and those bordering large inland waters.