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Climate change threatens Zanzibar’s marine resources

3 mins read

Climate change threatens Zanzibar’s marine resources

Habari za Dharura

October 30, 2026 Admin0

Unguja. Climate change and environmental degradation are threatening Zanzibar’s rich marine resources, with coastal erosion in some areas ranking among the most severe globally, a senior government official has warned.

Permanent Secretary in the Vice-President’s Office responsible for Union Affairs and Environment, Dr Richard Muyungi, said the effects were particularly pronounced in Nungwi and other parts of the islands, threatening marine ecosystems that support livelihoods and economic activities.

He was speaking in Unguja on the night of October 26 during an awards ceremony recognising environmental champions organised by the Zanzibar Climate Change Alliance (ZACCA). A total of 20 winners were recognised in different categories.

“In areas such as Nungwi and many other parts of Zanzibar, the effects of climate change have been greater than in many other parts of the world,” Dr Muyungi said.

He said Zanzibar was home to about 30 percent of the country’s marine species and 60 percent of its coral reefs, making the threat to its coastal ecosystems a national concern.

Zanzibar also has 45 hectares of coral reefs and is a leading seaweed producer in Africa, he said.

Despite government interventions to address the challenges, Dr Muyungi said more efforts were needed to match the scale of the problem.

Measures underway include the construction of protective walls to curb coastal erosion on Panza Island in Pemba, as well as in Sikweze and Uusha, alongside the installation of breakwaters in affected areas.

He said the government allocated an estimated five to 10 percent of its budget across various sectors to environmental and climate change interventions, although he did not specify the exact amount.

The government was also seeking funding from international sources, including through the ninth replenishment cycle of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), under which several projects from Zanzibar had been submitted for consideration.

Dr Muyungi acknowledged that existing interventions had yet to match the growing scale of the challenge. However, he said they were intended to demonstrate progress and encourage financial institutions and development partners to strengthen cooperation with the government.

Youth participation and economic opportunities

Dr Muyungi said the government was prioritising the involvement of young people and innovators in environmental management.

Through the Union, young people had been given opportunities to participate in international climate change meetings to improve their knowledge and representation, he said.

He also highlighted opportunities in carbon trading and the development of alternative projects, saying these could generate economic benefits while supporting environmental conservation.

“One hectare of mangroves has the capacity to store approximately 123 tonnes of carbon. Given that the country has thousands of hectares of mangroves, this presents a significant economic and environmental opportunity for young people,” he said.

Meanwhile, Zanzibar Registrar of Non-Governmental Organisations Dr Ahmed Khalid Abdullah called on the Union government to link civil society organisations in Zanzibar with international organisations that could provide them with equipment and other resources to address environmental challenges.

ZACCA executive director Dr Mahfoud Haji said the awards aimed to recognise individuals, institutions and companies contributing to environmental conservation and encourage greater participation in protecting the environment.

He said the accompanying conference also brought together environmental stakeholders to raise awareness and develop strategies for environmental conservation.

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