Zanzibar’s endemic red colobus monkeys are endangered and protected, yet they are sometimes killed by farmers who see them as a threat to their fruit crops.

To provide farmers with alternative income, a farmers’ cooperative of about 300 member families in the Jozani region established Zanzibar Turtles and Tortoise Land, a small reptile zoo. Designed with the help of a German reptile specialist, the enclosures are well-maintained, and farmers receive training in reptile care. The zoo generates income through tourism, which funds agricultural investments like greenhouses. By reducing reliance on crops susceptible to monkey damage, the project discourages farmers from harming the monkeys.

Local school groups visit the zoo for free to learn about wildlife conservation. In many villages, reptiles—including snakes, land tortoises, and lizards—are often killed due to superstition, fear, or for "fun," making awareness efforts essential.

The park is also home to Aldabra giant tortoises, which roam freely and regularly reproduce. The first four were brought from the Seychelles to Zanzibar in 1919, and today, all Aldabra tortoises in Zanzibar descend from these original four. Some still live in Zanzibar’s forests, where they are poached for their shells, which are used as home decorations. This species is endangered and listed on the IUCN Red List.

Volunteers contribute to the care and development of the Zanzibar Turtles and Tortoise Land. Working with the farmers’ cooperative also includes agricultural tasks and planting alternative food sources for the monkeys to keep them away from the farms. Other monkey species such as the blue Sykes monkey and bush babies (galagos) are also frequently encountered.

Despite legal protection, mangroves are often cut for firewood. We regularly plant mangroves in Zanzibar’s largest mangrove zone, located between Uzi Island and Muungoni/Kitogani. Mangrove forests play a vital role in preventing coastal erosion and serve as breeding grounds for marine life, including fish, crabs, mussels, and shrimp.

Additionally, we plant fast-growing Casuarina trees, which can sustainably meet local firewood demand.

Seaweed farming is one of Zanzibar’s most important economic activities, accounting for 90% of the island’s seafood exports. Dried seaweed is mainly used in medicinal and cosmetic products in Asia.

Women primarily manage seaweed farms, which provides them with independent income and greater economic freedom. Volunteers assist with various stages of the process, from planting to drying. However, due to rising ocean temperatures caused by climate change, seaweed must now be cultivated at greater depths, making it harder for women who cannot swim or dive.

Additionally, seaweed is a powerful carbon sink, capturing and storing large amounts of CO2, making its cultivation crucial for climate protection.

Birds are key indicators of ecosystem health. They help control pests, reducing the need for chemical pesticides, and play a vital role in pollination and seed dispersal across Zanzibar’s many islands.

Zanzibar is home to over 230 bird species, including four endemic ones, such as the Fischer’s turaco and bearded scrub robin.

In collaboration with a local bird conservation NGO, volunteers help identify and count birds in the Jozani area. This data supports conservation efforts by government agencies, scientists, and NGOs.

Elephant shrews (sengis) inhabit the forests of Zanzibar and Tanzania. Their name comes from their long noses, which resemble an elephant’s trunk, and their superficial resemblance to shrews. However, genetically, they are more closely related to elephants than to shrews.

Though they are not rodents and feed exclusively on insects, these agile, hard-to-catch mammals are often killed due to pest control efforts targeting rodents.

To aid in their conservation, we have launched a population study as part of the Mother Nature Program to gather key data on their habitat and numbers.

Medicinal plants have been essential to human culture and medicine, and even today, many modern drugs are derived from plant-based molecules. In Zanzibar, around 80% of the rural population still relies primarily on traditional herbal medicine.

However, this knowledge is disappearing, as younger generations show less interest in learning about it. With the help of elderly locals from surrounding villages, we are documenting medicinal plants and creating a herbarium to preserve this important knowledge.

Apart from fishermen, very few people in Zanzibar know how to swim. This leads to tragic and often preventable deaths each year. Our volunteers provide swimming lessons for local children. This activity was initiated after three children from the village, all siblings, tragically drowned when they were caught off guard by the incoming tide.

People are always part of ecosystems. To protect the environment, we must understand and integrate the needs of the local population. That’s why cultural immersion in village life—particularly in Kitogani and other surrounding villages—is always a part of our environmental programs. And, of course, it's exciting and educational!

People from Kitogani share their traditional skills and knowledge with us, such as making clay pots, weaving coconut leaves, and cooking local dishes.

Together with people from neighboring villages, we participate in various community service activities in the village. These include renovation and construction work at the community school, building wells and water supply systems, and organizing celebrations or special events for the village community.

Completed projects include the construction of a new school building in Muungoni, another new school building in the neighboring village of Charawe, and the renovation of Charawe’s medical dispensary.

We regularly conduct cleanups of littered areas, often involving local children to teach them about environmental protection.

Usually once a week, we travel to Zanzibar Town to visit one of two upcycling projects. One project creates glass objects such as lampshades and containers from wine bottles from the hotel industry. Another project melts HDPE plastic into a variety of new products.

Saturdays and Sundays are generally free of program activities. You can either relax at the Forest Camp or take public transportation (about 30 minutes) to the beach town of Paje, which offers stunning sandy beaches, water sports, and tourist restaurants. Other villages such as Jambiani, Michamvi, and Kizimkazi, as well as Zanzibar Town, are also easily accessible from the camp by public transport.