A Pemba-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) known as SONARECORD has said that over 2,000 hectares of mangrove forests in Zanzibar have been destroyed by various human activities.

A senior officer with SONARECORD, Mr Said Mohammed Juma, said today that such activities were posing serious environmental disasters. He made the comments shortly after holding talks with different groups in Pemba that are engaged in mangroves conservation and other marine environment conservation.

"Mangrove forests in Zanzibar have been severely destroyed", said Mr Juma, adding that vast hectares of mangrove forests have been poorly exploited and there is no sustainable balance between harvesting and replanting of the plants.

Mangrove forests located on various areas along Zanzibar's coastline provide a means for livelihood for a large number of people. Direct harvesting for building materials and collection of firewood from the adjacent coastal thickets are common but not according to forest protection laws in Zanzibar.

In some areas of Pemba island, building materials are obtained from mangroves and clove trees, both protected by law. Mr Juma, however, said they were not in position to stop people from using their natural resources. "What we stress is that they must observe the law and regulation governing the use of mangroves forests", said Juma.

He added that population explosion, coupled with increased pressure and demand of mangrove forests were a reason behind the destruction of mangroves in Zanzibar. Mr Juma suggested that awareness of the ecological links between mangrove ecosystems and resources such as fish was a key to winning management support. The mangrove vegetation occupies a key position in the livelihood of the people of Zanzibar.

About 45 per cent of the total population live along the coast and the majority are involved in the extraction of mangrove wood products and fishing. Between 80 per cent and 90 per cent of the local fishing is concentrated in waters close to mangrove-vegetated areas, creeks and bays. The area under mangrove vegetation, approximately 20,000 ha, is nevertheless only 6 per cent of the total land area and necessarily needs to be used in a sustainable way.