Zanzibar Green Horizon: Empowering Islands for a Sustainable Future

Project Goals:

• Strengthen environmental awareness and education across all levels of society.
• Promote climate-resilient practices in agriculture, fishing, and urban development.
• Restore degraded ecosystems including mangroves, coral reefs, and forests.
• Reduce plastic pollution and improve waste management systems.
• Enhance community preparedness for climate-related risks such as sea-level rise and extreme weather.

Why Zanzibar?

Zanzibar, a beautiful archipelago off the coast of Tanzania, is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change:

• Rising sea levels threaten coastal settlements and tourism infrastructure.
• Coral reef bleaching disrupts marine biodiversity and fisheries.
• Deforestation and unsustainable farming practices reduce carbon sinks and increase land degradation.
• Poor waste disposal and plastic pollution damage natural habitats and marine life.

Key Project Components:

1. Eco-Education & Youth Empowerment

• School-based environmental clubs
• Community eco-literacy workshops
• Climate action leadership training for youth and women
• Development of Swahili-language educational materials

2. Ecosystem Restoration

• Mangrove reforestation (target: 100,000 seedlings in 3 years)
• Coral reef rehabilitation using artificial reefs and coral nurseries
• Native tree planting in inland forests and degraded areas

3. Green Economy Promotion

• Support for eco-tourism enterprises and sustainable handicrafts.
• Introduction of climate-smart agriculture (CSA) practices.
• Training on organic farming, composting, and water harvesting.

4. Waste Management & Circular Economy

• Installation of community-based waste collection and recycling centers
• Coastal cleanup campaigns (monthly) and marine debris monitoring
• Promotion of biodegradable alternatives to single-use plastics

5. Climate Resilience & Advocacy

• Local climate risk assessments and mapping.
• Creation of climate-resilient infrastructure in flood-prone areas.
• Policy dialogues and partnerships with government and NGOs.

Timeline:

3-year phased implementation (2025–2028):

• Year 1: Capacity building, pilot projects, stakeholder engagement
• Year 2: Full implementation of restoration, waste management, and education
• Year 3: Impact evaluation, expansion, and institutionalization

Partners & Stakeholders:

• Local NGOs and community-based organizations.
• Zanzibar’s Ministry of Blue Economy and Fisheries.
• International environmental NGOs (e.g., WWF, UNEP)
• Schools, youth groups, and local religious leaders.
• Coastal communities, especially women and fishers.