East Africa’s natural heritage is a highly prized asset for local people and guests alike. So it is encouraging that an initiative to protect Tanzania’s delicate coastal environment has been so successful that it has received a prestigious award.
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The bizarre dugong, for which Tanzania's
coasts are a vital habitat |
The project, led by top conservation organisation WWF, aimed to safeguard the ecological well-being of marine life around the districts of Rufiji Delta, Mafia Island and Kilwa. Practices such as dynamite fishing had damaged the area’s fragile ecosystem, threatening the health of coral reefs, mangrove forest and important species such as the dugong. They also jeopardised the long-term security of fisheries on which communities in these areas depend heavily for livelihoods and as an important source of dietary protein.
WWF has collaborated with the local fishing communities to promote a more sustainable approach to fishing and to stimulate economic alternatives to fishing. This partnership has resulted in a rise in fish stocks and a drop in damaging practices, helping to secure the coastal environment and the future of fishing in the region.
The project was named ‘International Relief and Development Project of the Year’ by The Association for Project Management, a UK-based charity set up to recognise excellence in projects organised for the public benefit.
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