Bio-diversity

Zanzibar has some 19,748 ha. of mangrove forests of which 5,829 ha. grows in Unguja and 13,919 grow in Pemba. Nine species are known to grow in Zanzibar. Mangroves in Zanzibar as a whole face indiscriminate exploitation due to the fact that they constitute the lifeline for most local communities. They are cut down for fuel and building poles. At commercial scale, mangrove forests are clear-felled for hotel development, commercial wood cutting and salt making. All mangrove forests in Zanzibar are forest reserves. Therefore, they are protected by law. However, destruction has been going on despite the legal protection. The objective of this project is to complement the legal protection of mangrove forests by sensitizing local communities to value mangroves and refrain from unsustainable utilization of mangrove forest resources. The project s Main Objective is to sensitive coastal communities of Pemba island on conservation and sustainable management of mangrove resources while improving and sustaining their livelihoods.

Tanzania