Zanzibar — Zanzibar department of environment with support from Norway has organized a workshop to raise awareness on the impact of climate change on the islands and forests.

The climate change and Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) project workshop for Zanzibar legislators, also appraised the strategic responses and mitigate strategies to climate change impacts.

In his opening remarks, the Second Vice President (2VP), Ambassador Seif Ali Iddi, said Zanzibar is vulnerable to climate change impacts, asking all people to implement mitigation strategies. The speech was read on his behalf by the Speaker of Zanzibar House of Representatives, Mr Pandu Ameir Kificho, saying that all people, including law makers, have a great role in adaptation and mitigation strategies including protecting forests.

Prior to the workshop, the legislators planted trees outside the House of Representatives, as they promised to motivate their electorate to conserve trees.

Several papers were presented at the workshop being held at the Zanzibar beach resort, including a paper by Prof Pius Yanda from the Institute of Evaluation of Natural Resources, saying that some small Islands such as Kisiwa-panza in Pemba are being threatened by erosions and sea rise due to climate change and environmental degradation.