Zanzibar's forests are disappearing at an alarming rate, with human activities identified as the primary driver. A recent forest inventory reveals a significant decline in mangrove forest volume in Unguja and Pemba. According to the report, Zanzibar loses 1.2 percent of its forest cover annually, equivalent to 1,277 hectares. The Minister for Agriculture, Irrigation, Natural Resources and Livestock, Mr. Shamata Shaame Khamis, told the House of Representatives that logging for construction and cooking fuel, infrastructure development, and climate change are to blame. For example, the construction of a two-kilometer road between Unguja Ukuu and Uzi and Ng’ambwa resulted in the felling of over 2,000 mangrove trees.

In response, the government has pledged to replant all felled trees in collaboration with local communities across the island. Efforts to restore natural vegetation are underway, spearheaded by women involved in reforestation. Residents of Unguja Ukuu cite the lack of alternative energy sources as a key challenge, with over 90 percent of rural households relying on firewood for cooking, exacerbating forest degradation. Ms. Fatma Said Abdala, a local resident, noted that increased environmental education has raised awareness about forest protection, particularly the importance of mangrove planting in rehabilitating ecosystems.

Civil society organizations have also played a crucial role in climate adaptation, with their numbers increasing significantly between 2016 and 2021. These organizations have planted and maintained an average of 233.5 hectares of mangroves annually across Unguja and Pemba. The Zanzibar Women Leadership in Adaptation (ZanzAdapt) project is training 4,000 farmers, 80 percent of whom are women, in integrated farming and mangrove cultivation. Mr. Ali Hamadi Ali, the Sheha of Unguja Ukuu, appealed to relevant institutions to cooperate, provide tools, and safety training to curb mangrove logging, which he said undermines national and community interests.