Maziwi Island
Encyclopedia
Maziwi island is a very small unvegetated island surrounded by coral reef
s located about 8 kilometres (5 mi) southeast of the Pangani River
outlet off the northern coast of Tanzania
. Historical records indicate that this island used to be significantly larger and was vegetated with palm trees and other shrubs. Due to local fishermen cutting trees on the island possibly in combination with sea level rise, changing current or weather patterns, and tourist use of the island to snorkel or dive from the island has experienced significant erosion.
The island was a nesting site for endangered green sea turtles. While sea turtles are still commonly sighted in the surrounding reef, their eggs must be deposited above the high tide water line to survive. Because of the severe erosion the entire island is covered with water at certain points, so this island can not be nesting habitat.
Maziwi reef was set aside as a 'no use' conservation zone under the Pangani/Ushongo Community Conservation Program in 1994.
Despite this little had changed with the actual management and use of the reef until recent effort from partners of the Dorobo Fund and community partners, notably local fishermen and tourist resorts known as Warafiki wa Maziwi (Friends of Maziwi). Under this program tourists are charged a small fee which goes to reimburse local fisherman for patrolling the reef and not fishing there. While monitoring programs are underway, the effects of this protection are currently unknown.
Coral reef
Coral reefs are underwater structures made from calcium carbonate secreted by corals. Coral reefs are colonies of tiny living animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps...
s located about 8 kilometres (5 mi) southeast of the Pangani River
Pangani River
The Pangani River is a major river of northeastern Tanzania, which rises in Kilimanjaro, passes through Lake Jipe, and empties into the Indian Ocean at the town of Pangani...
outlet off the northern coast of Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
. Historical records indicate that this island used to be significantly larger and was vegetated with palm trees and other shrubs. Due to local fishermen cutting trees on the island possibly in combination with sea level rise, changing current or weather patterns, and tourist use of the island to snorkel or dive from the island has experienced significant erosion.
The island was a nesting site for endangered green sea turtles. While sea turtles are still commonly sighted in the surrounding reef, their eggs must be deposited above the high tide water line to survive. Because of the severe erosion the entire island is covered with water at certain points, so this island can not be nesting habitat.
Maziwi reef was set aside as a 'no use' conservation zone under the Pangani/Ushongo Community Conservation Program in 1994.
Despite this little had changed with the actual management and use of the reef until recent effort from partners of the Dorobo Fund and community partners, notably local fishermen and tourist resorts known as Warafiki wa Maziwi (Friends of Maziwi). Under this program tourists are charged a small fee which goes to reimburse local fisherman for patrolling the reef and not fishing there. While monitoring programs are underway, the effects of this protection are currently unknown.