National Parks
The archipelago boasts a wide variety of natural environments. Coral massifs, relics of ancient tropical forest and "sacred groves" (fragments of forest ecosystems on limestone soils) are home to an exceptional and fragile biodiversity. This has been undermined by deforestation, fishing and hunting. Climate change and oil and gas exploration also pose a threat to biodiversity. The archipelago has just one national park, located on the island of Unguja. Created in 2004, it aims to protect the old-growth tropical forest, of which only 5% remains. The Jozani Chwaka Bay National Park is home to an endemic species of primate, the Zanzibar red colobus. Threatened by human activity, including deforestation and hunting, the red colobus populations have been protected through partnerships with local communities. There is also a marine park on Mafia Island(Mafia Island Marine Park). Visitors are advised to avoid sunscreens with chemical filters, which have deleterious effects on marine environments, and to seek information on their alternatives.
Preserving fishery resources
Overexploitation of fishery resources, combined with poor fishing practices (such as dynamite fishing, which results in the destruction of corals, or the harvesting of young individuals), has contributed to the decline of certain species, endangering both biodiversity and local human populations. On the island of Misali, the Mwambao coastal community network has worked closely with an NGO to raise awareness among fishermen of the need for more sustainable fishing practices, in order to regenerate octopus populations. Climate change is causing an increase in ocean temperature, which is having a negative impact on seaweed. Seaweed farming provides a livelihood for many women and their families. Faced with this situation, the FAO and an NGO (Blue Ventures) have set up a technical training course in holothurian cultivation. These sea cucumbers, which have food and medicinal properties, are the subject of a lucrative trade. They are also more resilient to climate change. These marine animals are also said to have the capacity to regenerate aquatic environments. The NGO marinecultures.org, for its part, teaches the cultivation of natural sponges (which are also more resistant to rising ocean temperatures) and its prerequisite: knowing how to swim. These two alternatives to seaweed farming enable women to maintain their autonomy while adapting to climate change.
Fighting against waste and plastic pollution
In 2010, the dhow Flipflopi, made from 10 tonnes of recycled plastic, made a stopover in Zanzibar. The project was supported by the United Nations Environment Programme, under the name Clean Seas Initiative. The aim was to raise awareness among coastal communities in Tanzania and Kenya of the ecological scourge of plastic pollution. Since then, Tanzania has made giant strides: in 2019, plastics will be completely banned from Zanzibar and the mainland. Rwanda was the first country to legislate on the issue 15 years ago, followed gradually by its neighbors. The effects are already being felt in terms of beach litter. All plastic packaging is banned, so it's important not to pack a plastic bag in your luggage, or you could be fined (although this is only theoretical, as nobody checks your luggage on arrival).
