By Mohamed Said Chande, Tanzania
My story is about the non-governmental organisation Mwambao, which is facilitating decision making on coastal resources at the local level of Tanzanian Coastal areas. Specifically, their work to restore the health of our Coral Reefs by constructing artificial reefs, maintaining healthy marine ecosystems through mangrove restoration planting and practising diversified livelihoods.
Firstly, mangrove restoration planting is much more complicated than most people realise. Mwambao has produced some community guidelines for mangrove restoration. If replanting is advised, care has to be taken in harvesting and planting of seeds taking due account of species zoning and spacing
Mwambao is also active in the promotion of natural (passive) reef restoration through the establishment of no-take zones (areas of no fishing). They also supplement and add value to these recovering areas by constructing and deploying artificial reef structures built from cement known as reef balls. These immediately proved 3-D structures providing shelter and egg-laying surfaces for fish and invertebrates but also provide a suitable substrate for coral settlement. The neighbouring communities are trained and construct the reef balls and also deploy them in the chosen area.
Mwambao drives social change, provides humanitarian aid, developing communities and advocating for the rights and welfare of populations worldwide. It helps to fill the gap in government services, providing essential assistance to poor and marginalised groups. Mangrove conservation helps to protect both saltwater and the freshwater ecosystems they straddle. The mangroves complex root systems filter nitrates and phosphates that rivers and streams carry to the sea. They also keep seawater from encroaching on inland waterways.
Mwambao has already constructed many artificial reefs along the coastal area relatively close to shorelines. These reefs can serve multiple purposes, such as enhancing local fish populations, providing recreational opportunities for divers and fishers, and protecting coastlines from erosion.
Mwambao prioritises monitoring and evaluating of impact to ensure that the communities are achieving the goals and making positive changes where needed. The Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Team works closely with our coastal partners to assess the impact.
“Journeys to the Sea” is a new series of inspiring stories that highlight the personal connections of marine professionals with the ocean. As a follow up to World Oceans Day on June 8th, WIOMSA is excited to launch a three-month-long celebration dedicated to the ocean. The series will feature 34 unique stories from across the Western Indian Ocean region. These stories will share firsthand accounts of ocean-related experiences, reflections, and narratives from participants who have been part of the Sida-funded International Training Programme on marine spatial planning, “Planning for a Sustainable Blue Future in the Western Indian Ocean”. The stories have been part of the Ocean Storytelling component of the workshop, led by Dr Mia Strand, Nelson Mandela University. Read the collection of stories here.
Feature photo: Artificial reef balls, Pemba, Tanzania. © Christian Vaterlaus
