Green Legacy Initiative: What it means for Zanzibar’s current, future generation

ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR wants to have a sustainable green environment and minimise risks associated with climate change, such as water scarcity, rising sea levels, flooding and declining biodiversity. This can only be achieved by getting everyone involved in tree-planting.

Researchers and environmentalists also indicate that the social and economic benefits of planting trees are undeniable and that trees not only contribute to a healthier environment but also foster stronger communities and drive economic prosperity.

Zanzibar with its fast-growing population, approaching two million people (data from the Office of Chief Government Statistics-OCGS), considers itself as one of the islands in the Indian ocean with vulnerability to natural disasters such as wind, floods and erosion caused by sea rise.

It has been reporting disasters almost every year, with ongoing erosion at more than 148 coastal areas or beaches linked to rising seawater due to climate change, which also affects farms and ground water close to the sea because of soil salinity.

In efforts to keep the country green, the Zanzibar Revolutionary Government started the tree-planting and conservation programme since 1964, and continued with the strategy in 1978/1979, when the government established a special programme to plant rubber trees on 1,270 hectares (ha) land.

This was followed by a national campaign to plant coconut and clove tress in 1979/80 on 40,000ha in Unguja and Pemba followed by promoting the planting of different types of trees in 1980 to 1995, including spices in cities and rural areas and succeeded in planting trees on 1,480ha.

Later the Zanzibar government initiated and enacted various policies and laws, including Environmental Policy of 1992 reviewed in 2013 and the Environmental Law of 1996 which was repealed by the Zanzibar Environmental Management Law, no. 3/2015 to back the efforts.

In addition, the Forestry Policy of 1995 was followed by the Law on the Management of Forest Reserves No. 10/1996 and later the government established Forest Reserves areas including Government Farm Forests covering 8,552ha; Natural Forest Reserves on 37,107.38ha; Mangrove Reserve on 16,488ha and Community Forest of 119,389ha.

But despite all these efforts since after the revolution, vegetation and forests including fruit trees and spice tress in Zanzibar Islands has continued to decrease and disappear gradually, particularly from 2000.

The decline of trees in the country is due to the fact that many people living in the archipelago have abandoned the tradition and culture of planting and nursing trees, which our ancestors cherished, living behind a green Zanzibar.

In trying to revive and promote tree-planting culture, the government has decided to launch a nationwide campaign dubbed ‘Zanzibar Green Legacy’ (ZGL) program me rooted in a vision of building a green and climate-resilient Zanzibar.

Launching the programme by planting 150 coconut trees at Nyamanzi trade Fair grounds, Unguja West B district, Zanzibar’s First Vice President Othman Masoud Othman said that the Green Legacy Initiative is a demonstration of the spice Islands’ long-term commitment to keep Zanzibar green.

He explained that today’s generation directs their thoughts more in using and burning the existing trees and forests and not planting, developing and maintaining them, “That is why we have reached a bad situation of loss of natural vegetation and our forests.”

Othman said that the main objective of the campaign, supported by some development partners [United Nations Development Organisation (UNDP) and CUBE-Zanzibar], is to encourage and motivate members of the society to return to the natural heritage of our ancestors, of planting and nursing trees, including spice and fruit trees.

He observed that loss of forests is more visible in fertile areas with abundant water sources of Unguja West district and Pemba Islands, warning that cutting of trees and ruining of environment has contributed significantly to the increase of environmental impacts, climate change and the loss of bio-diversity.

The Minister of Trade and Industrial Development, Mr Omar Said Shaabani, said that increased public awareness program about tree planting is important because trees are part of our life, “We should work with the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training to promote and educate children in schools about tree-planting.”

According to the Minister of State, Office of the First Vice President (Environment, HIV and People with disabilities) Ms Harusi Said Suleiman, Zanzibar is committed to meeting its target of planting more trees in the next ten years.

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“We urge the media to encourage everyone’s involvement. If everyone commits to planting trees and protecting the environment, the ‘Green Legacy Initiative,’ will be achieved,” Ms Harusi asserted.

She highlighted the significance of the “Green legacy” for the country’s stability and as an additional economic opportunity for the people in Zanzibar and that by planting trees, Zanzibar will return to being a green country.

She said that Zanzibar is lucky to have been regarded as an attractive place environmentally and that every citizen here should adopt the culture of planting and maintaining trees, “Our ancestors had a culture of planting a tree whenever a newborn’s umbilical cord falls off. We should emulate this.”

The Zanzibar Environment Management Authority (ZEMA) Director General, Mr Sheha Mjaja Juma said that in achieving the green legacy objectives, the campaign includes the involvement and participation of all stakeholders at all levels; sustainable tree planting, nursing and management.

Mr Mjaja said that the target is to plant three million trees annually, including trees for spices and fruits and also emphasis on mangroves planting for strengthening the blue Economy, push for collaboration and resource mobilisation and to enhance access to alternative energy.

The first phase of the ten years’ programme is implemented between 2024/2025 to 2029/2030, which will be followed by a comprehensive assessment after five years before the implementation of the next five years.