Habitat conservation mangroves and coral reefs

 

Due to the special current systems along the East African coast, the coral reefs surrounding the islands and islets belonging to the Zanzibar archipelago are particularly rich in life forms. Recent biological investigation has shown that the condition of the reefs has alarmingly deteriorated in comparison to how the reefs were before. The eco- systems have suffered from the impact of man. Particularly damaging are the use of destructive fishing methods such as dynamite fishing, using nets which are dragged over the corals ripping them off, fine-meshed nets, and over-fishing. Further damage is caused by the exploitation of living corals for their use as a substitute for cement and for being sold as tourist souvenirs, as well as by the uncontrolled discharge of sewage and waste into the sea resulting from the rising number of people living at the coasts. The extraordinarily strong El Niño from 1998, a result from climate change, caused an increase of the water temperature in the seas around Zanzibar to up to 32 degrees Celsius. These high water temperatures resulted in a mass damage of corals (the so-called “Coral Bleaching”). Still today the corals have hardly recovered from this damage caused by man.

 

The existence of 16% of all coast dwellers is at risk if the condition of the corals should further deteriorate. For this reason a research project is investigating the implementation of coral reef regenerations. In experiments the large-scale resettlement of corals on artificial substrates is explored. Simultaneously there is research conducted about the reforestation of destroyed mangrove forests whose existence also is at risk. Reasons given are the deforestation of mangroves for their use as firewood, to make charcoal and as construction material. Further mangrove forests are changed to fishing ponds, salt mines, as agricultural space or ports. Other areas of study of this project are the constant investigation of fish populations to generate data which is necessary to determine fishing quotas and to  study the socio-economical aspects of fishing. There is also research taking place about specific marine species such as dolphins, molluscs and sea cucumbers.

 

This placement is targeted towards students of adequate areas of study such as biology, ecology, environmental engineering etc. There is also the possibility to conduct research for BA, MA and PhD dissertations/thesis papers.