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Zanzibar in danger of losing unique forests

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Published on Saturday, 29 January 2011 10:49

Zanzibar is losing its forests. Trees have been cut down in many parts of the twin Islands. The destruction is easily noticeable in the form of charcoal and the bundles of firewood the line village roads ready to be sold. The charcoal trade provides income opportunities for many people in urban areas, through small-scale retail businesses which are mostly run by women.

Charcoal and firewood are important commodities produced from natural forests by the rural poor and are largely used in urbanized areas to meet domestic energy needs.
While men are involved in charcoal production, women are traditionally known to gather firewood. Income from charcoal and firewood is always a guarantee because they command a huge demand in the market.

Charcoal and firewood suits the living conditions of the urban poor and provides a reliable, convenient and accessible source of energy for cooking at all times, and has a relatively a stable cost in any required proportions.
Firewood and charcoal lead to considerable deforestation, which is now one of the most pressing environmental problems faced by most African nations. It is the main cause of land degradation and reduced natural resources on which the poor depend, contributing to the downward spiral of poverty.
At least 80 per cent of the African population continues to depend on traditional biomass fuels (charcoal and firewood) for its energy needs.

Forests have diminished mostly through human interference both in areas and in species richness. Population growth that has led to a higher demand for settlements, agricultural land and infrastructure development have had an impact on the resource base, threatening the productivity and protective capacity of the resources.
Among causes of forest biodiversity destruction there is over-exploitation, shifting cultivation, slash and burn cultivation, wood cutting for firewood, charcoal production, boat building, as well as sand and rock mining.

In Zanzibar there are many patches of natural forests that have been conserved by local communities for worship and cultural beliefs. These sacred forests are known all over the islands of Unguja and Pemba. The sacred forests are called misitu ya jadi or misitu ya mizimu, in Swahili language, in Zanzibar. The areas covered by the sacred forests are not clearly defined in administrative documents; however, it is apparent that the sacred forests are seriously declining both in size and the quality of their related resources in Zanzibar, Tanzania, as in other part of the tropics.
For the people of Zanzibar, forests provide numerous essential benefits, many of which are vital. It has been estimated that over 90 per cent of the total population of Zanzibar is dependent on wood fuel as the main source of energy.

House construction relies largely on supply of building materials from mangroves and the coral rag forests. These forests harbour a great number of wildlife species, some of which are unique and endangered.