While Zanzibar is cashing in on tourism, it is also battling plastic menace in the form of litter consisting of discarded water bottles and toiletries
COME 2019 and the nine-metre Flipflopi dhow made of 10 tonnes of recycled plastic will sail to Zanzibar as part of the Clean Seas initiative—a UN Environment campaign—to spread awareness along a coastline swamped by plastics. For Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous archipelago off the coast of Tanzania in East Africa famous for its historic forts and pristine beaches, the timing of the ship’s arrival coincides with its efforts to tackle the ever-growing plastic menace.
Zanzibar had earned the sobriquet, “blue island”, due to the high visibility of blue polythene bags prior to 2009. This was also the time when tourism was emerging as an important revenue-earning sector. To cash in on the high tourist flow, the island became the first place in East Africa to ban blue plastic carry bags the same year.
However, it did not solve the problem as usage of white ones increased. So, the Department of Environment (doe), Zanzibar, announced a full ban in 2011, which was revised this year. The new ban imposes fines, ranging from US $21.84 to $437, and a minimum one-month imprisonment on defaulters. “The good thing is market inspections are happening frequently now and defaulters are being fined,” says Farhat Mbarouk, doe director.
Bu hikaye Down To Earth dergisinin November 01, 2018 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Down To Earth dergisinin November 01, 2018 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Trade On Emissions
EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, a tariff on imports, is designed to protect European industries in the guise of climate action.
'The project will facilitate physical and cultural decimation of indigenous people'
The Great Nicobar Project has all the hallmarks of a disaster-seismic, ecological, human. Why did it get the go-ahead?
TASTE IT RED
Popularity of Karnataka's red jackfruit shows how biodiversity can be conserved by ensuring that communities benefit from it
MANY MYTHS OF CHIPKO
Misconceptions about the Chipko movement have overshadowed its true objectives.
The politics and economics of mpox
Africa's mpox epidemic stems from delayed responses, neglect of its health risks and the stark vaccine apartheid
Emerging risks
Even as the world gets set to eliminate substances threatening the ozone layer, climate change and space advancement pose new challenges.
JOINING THE CARBON CLUB
India's carbon market will soon be a reality, but will it fulfil its aim of reducing emissions? A report by PARTH KUMAR and MANAS AGRAWAL
Turn a new leaf
Scientists join hands to predict climate future of India's tropical forests
Festering troubles
The Democratic Republic of Congo struggles to contain mpox amid vaccine delays, conflict and fragile healthcare.
India sees unusual monsoon patterns
THE 2024 southwest monsoon has, between June 1 and September 1, led to excess rainfall in western and southern states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, while others like Nagaland, Manipur and Punjab recorded a deficit.