A Robust Project, “Mikoko Hai”, Introduced In Zanzibar For The Restoration Of Mangrove Ecosystems

The Community Resilience and Livelihoods through Mangrove Restoration and Agroforestry Project has been initiated in Zanzibar, with an aim of promoting the restoration and production of mangrove trees and shrubs that grow in tropical and subtropical coastal intertidal zones where other plants cannot survive.

Launched collaboratively by STAWI Africa Foundation and Graine de Vie Luxembourg (GdVL), the three-year initiative, “Mikoko Hai”, has been tailored to restore mangrove ecosystems in Chwaka Bay and Menai Bay, while helping coastal communities build more resilient and sustainable livelihoods.

The South Unguja Regional Commissioner, Hamida Mussa Khamis, graced the official launch of the robust project, which is set to operate in at least 15 Shehias within the nature-given archipelago.

Briefing about the initiative, STAWI Africa Foundation Chairperson, Ms Eva Wasonga, said the project is about bringing degraded ecosystems back to health, while also strengthening the people who depend on those ecosystems.

“This is a key community project. Our mangroves have always sustained the people who live alongside them, and today we begin the work of giving that relationship a future,” she expressed.

Moreover, Ms Wasonga noted that STAWI Africa is working in sync with Graine de Vie Luxembourg, the Department of Forestry and community partners, adding that the organisation is confident the initiative will help restore the coastline while strengthening both people and the environment for generations to come.

Mangrove restoration is at the heart of the project, but the programme goes beyond planting trees.

The significance of Mikoko Hai lies in its decision to approach conservation and livelihoods as interconnected challenges rather than separate priorities.

At the centre of implementation will be Eco Credit Groups, which will serve as direct beneficiaries and key community actors across the 15 Shehias.

As part of the project’s implementation, through these groups, communities will be supported to engage directly in mangrove restoration, protection and sustainable management, while developing the knowledge and skills needed to pursue alternative sources of income.

Communities will also be supported through agroforestry and eco-agriculture demonstration farms, fruit and indigenous tree nurseries, a community fruit-drying plant and energy-efficient cookstoves.

During the launch, Regional Commissioner Hamida Mussa Khamis described mangroves as one of Zanzibar’s major natural assets, highlighting their role in protecting the coastline, supporting fish and other marine organisms, helping address the effects of climate change and creating economic opportunities.

According to Tanzania Forest Services Agency (TFS) documentation, mangrove reserves serve as vital natural bio-shields against ocean waves and land degradation across Tanzania’s coastal lines and deltas.

Research shows that a 100-metre belt of mature mangroves can reduce incoming wave energy by up to 66 per cent, protecting shorelines from severe erosion.

TFS notes that coastal mangrove zones support critical lifecycle stages for marine wildlife, acting as essential feeding, breeding, and nursery habitats.

Ecological research in the Western Indian Ocean demonstrates that up to 75 per cent to 80 per cent of commercially harvested fish, crabs, prawns, and molluscs depend directly on mangrove ecosystems for shelter during juvenile stages.