Chumbe Island
Mjini | |
| Ward | Malindi |
|---|---|
| Demographics | |
| Languages | Swahili |
| Ethnic groups | Hadimu |
Chumbe Island (Kisiwa cha Chumbe, in
Overview
The island has two historic buildings, a small Swahili mosque and the lighthouse, both built around the beginning of the 20th century.[2] In 1992 the fringing reef west of Chumbe Island was officially closed to fishing, boating, and diving. In 1994, the island and its surrounding waters were declared the Chumbe Island Coral Park, which contains the Chumbe Reef Sanctuary and the Closed Forest Reserve.[3] The park is run by the nonprofit private organization Chumbe Island Coral Park, Ltd. (CHICOP), which conducts marine research and small amounts of eco-tourism on the island.[4]
After the government of
Private Marine Park
Chumbe Island Coral Park Ltd (CHICOP) is a private nature reserve that was developed from 1991 for the conservation and sustainable management of uninhabited Chumbe Island off Zanzibar, one of the last pristine coral islands in the region.
The park includes a fully protected coral reef sanctuary and forest reserve that harbour extremely rare and endangered animals, a Visitor and Education centre, a small eco-lodge, nature trails and historical ruins. All buildings and operations are based on state-of-the-art eco-technology aiming at zero impact on the environment (rainwater catchment, photovoltaic energy and solar water heating, composting toilets, vegetative greywater filtration etc.).
The company objectives are non-commercial, while operations follow commercial principles. The overall aim of CHICOP is to create a model of financially and ecologically sustainable Park management, where ecotourism supports conservation, research and comprehensive Environmental Education programs for local schools and other benefits for local people.
CHICOP has won several awards[7] relating to its environmental and sustainable development work, most notably the UN 500 Roll of Honour:
One of the main settings in Giles Foden's 2002 novel Zanzibar, the island of Lyly, appears to be based on Chumbe Island. As depicted by the author, Lyly Island has a lighthouse and a mosque.
Biodiversity
Chumbe Island and the surrounding area display an exceptional amount of biodiversity in both plant and animal life. For example, at least 90% of all hard coral species that have been recorded in Eastern African reefs have been found near Chumbe Island.
Seabirds such as roseate terns have successfully bred on Chumbe Island, as well and coconut crabs are frequently seen.[9] The creation of this protected area has allowed for the free breeding of fish, coral and other marine species that have begun to repopulate the over-exploited nearby areas such as those directly off the coast of Zanzibar.
Important Bird Area
A 4,000 ha site encompassing adjacent Kombeni and Kiwani bays on the south-western side of Unguja as well as Chumbe Island, has been designated an
References
- ^ Olearnik, Janusz, and Katarzyna Barwicka. "Chumbe Island Coral Park (Tanzania) as a model of an exemplary ecotourism enterprise." Journal of Ecotourism 19.4 (2020): 373-387.
- ^ Historic buildings Archived 2008-05-09 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Chumbe Island conservation status Archived 2008-05-09 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Chumbe Island Management Archived 2008-01-01 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ United Nations, General Assembly, Protection of coral reefs for sustainable livelihoods and development: report of the Secretary General, (12 August 2011), available from http://www.un.org/esa/dsd/resources/res_pdfs/ga-66/SG%20report_Coral%20Reefs.pdf
- ^ name, Mein. "Research, Surveys and Monitoring". www.chumbeisland.com. Archived from the original on 2016-02-06. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
- ^ "Awards_links". Archived from the original on 2006-08-26. Retrieved 2006-08-30.
- ^ name, Mein. "Research, Surveys and Monitoring". www.chumbeisland.com. Archived from the original on 2016-02-06. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
- ^ name, Mein. "Research, Surveys and Monitoring". www.chumbeisland.com. Archived from the original on 2016-02-06. Retrieved 2016-02-03.
- ^ "Zanzibar Island - South Coast". BirdLife Data Zone. BirdLife International. 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
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External links
- Chumbe Island website
- Description of park management "Private sector management of marine protected areas - The Chumbe Island Coral Park Project in Zanzibar, Tanzania." Proceedings of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) Regional Workshop for the Indian Ocean, Maputo, Mozambique. 26–28 November 2001.