TUI Forest Zanzibar involves planting over 63,000 native trees covering an area of 72338m2. This includes building and maintaining a tree nursery and training two nursery technicians on different aspects of nursery management. In addition, the local community and the Forest Protection Unit, a group of 26 young people, will help patrol the forest boundaries, build a fence, support with tree nursery activities, plant and monitor the trees.

As part of the project, a Forest Awareness Programme for 400 school children will be introduced, which is a 10-day programme at various secondary schools teaching students about Zanzibar’s flora and fauna, its Red Colobus monkeys, the importance of trees and the dangers of deforestation. The programme includes a visit to the Masingini Forest National Park and the tree nursery and tree planting activities.

TUI Forest Zanzibar also develops several nature-based activities including ten walking trails and ten cycling routes of different distances and levels of difficulty in the forest and surrounding area. A newly built bike station stores the bikes which tourists can rent and use for a tour.

Overall, TUI Forest Zanzibar creates 43 jobs and actively involves 520 people in restoration and conservation activities, including the set-up of the tree nursery, seed and cutting, collection, plant propagation, reforestation campaigns, maintenance and construction of ecotourism facilities, boosting local livelihoods.

Zanzibar has so much to offer, and new nature-based experiences and cultural tours help to protect its natural heritage, encouraging tourists to stay longer. They also generate more income for the island and more work opportunities for Zanzibaris which relieves the pressure on the forest and creates a community ready to protect it.