HIMA (Hifadhi ya Misitu ya Asili ya jamii) JREDD+ Program

The Program activities are women-centric and have been designed to reduce deforestation and degradation and to transform vulnerable communities that rely on the forest to meet their daily subsistence needs to thriving communities that derive economic benefits from alternative activities.

The Program is working with 56 marginalized rural communities located in seven districts of Unguja and Pemba. CoFMAs are engaged throughout the program design and implementation process in a participatory manner. CoFMA leaders are also engaged in several capacity building trainings to enhance participation in technical aspects of the program. Terra Global, through its local partners, works closely with communities and specifically women to ensure that their needs and wants are met through Program implementation.

The HIMA JREDD+ Program aids in developing sustainable community forest management practices in Zanzibar, including the exploration of alternative livelihoods and income sources. Finances are directed toward improving the livelihoods and employment opportunities for local communities, which provides an economic alternative to practices that contribute to deforestation. The program’s recent expansion, to include another 11 CoFMAs, demonstrates the opportunity to expand the program to cover most of the forested areas on both Unguja and Pemba islands of Zanzibar and make critical enhancements to livelihoods through innovative design and implementation practices.

Target community beneficiaries in the Program include:

• 20,000 rural households (estimated 100,000 women, children, and men) living in and adjacent to Program Areas in seven districts of Unguja and Pemba Islands, Zanzibar
• 56 Shehia Conservation Committees (SCCs) and their members; and
• 30 Village Savings and Loan groups and their members

Zanzibar’s forests form part of the East Africa Coastal Forests Eco-region, one of the world’s 200 biodiversity hotspots. Once heavily forested, the islands of Pemba and Unguja have faced extensive deforestation, with remaining forests disappearing at over 1 percent per year due to population growth and reliance on charcoal and firewood. The HIMA JREDD+ Program, implemented by Terra Global in partnership with the Department of Forestry Development (DFD) and JUMIJAZA, aims to conserve these ecosystems through community-based forest management and restoration.

Mangrove forests are among Zanzibar’s most important ecosystems, providing critical breeding grounds for fish and marine species, stabilizing coastlines, and buffering communities against storms and rising tides. Ten mangrove species found in Zanzibar support both terrestrial and marine biodiversity while sequestering significant “blue carbon,” improving climate resilience and ecosystem health.

Zanzibar’s forests are also home to rare and endemic wildlife, including the Zanzibar red colobus (Procolobus kirkii), Ader’s duiker (Cephalophus adersi), the Pemba flying fox (Pteropus voeltzkowi), and several endemic bird species such as Fischer’s turaco, the brown-headed parrot, and the Pemba owl (Otus pembaensis). At least 35 species are listed on the IUCN Red List and in the CITES Appendices, underscoring the global importance of their conservation.

Through forest protection, regeneration, and mangrove restoration, the HIMA JREDD+ Program safeguards critical habitats, enhances ecological connectivity, and conserves biodiversity essential to both terrestrial and marine ecosystems.

As Zanzibar’s population grows and deforestation accelerates, the HIMA JREDD+ Program delivers climate benefits through two key pathways: mitigating carbon emissions and supporting community adaptation to climate change.

By conserving forests and mangroves, the Program reduces greenhouse gas emissions from land-use change while restoring critical carbon sinks. Establishing community-managed woodlots for charcoal and fuelwood, along with sustainable agricultural intensification, reduces pressure on natural forests. Mangrove restoration further enhances climate mitigation through “blue carbon” sequestration—one of the most efficient forms of carbon storage in coastal ecosystems. Protecting these habitats prevents the release of stored carbon and strengthens the islands’ resilience to storms and sea level rise.

The Program also helps communities adapt to a changing climate through improved land management and strengthened governance. With Terra Global’s support, local communities have established forest management institutions, demarcated Community Forest Management Areas (COFMAs), and initiated community patrolling, providing the foundation for long-term, sustainable forest stewardship.

Together, these actions reduce emissions, enhance ecosystem resilience, and build community capacity to adapt to climate impacts.

The HIMA JREDD+ Program is implemented by the Department of Forestry Development (DFD) and the community association JUMIJAZA, in partnership with Terra Global Capital. Together, they combine government leadership, community stewardship, and international technical expertise to restore and protect Zanzibar’s forests while delivering lasting climate and livelihood benefits.

• Department of Forestry Development (DFD): Provides institutional oversight and policy alignment, ensuring that the program integrates with national forest management strategies and contributes to Tanzania’s REDD+ objectives

• JUMIJAZA (Jumuiya ya Misitu ya Jamii Zanzibar): Represents local communities and leads implementation of community-based forest management through 45 Community Forest Management Areas (COFMAs), with 11 more in development. Responsible for coordinating forest protection, governance, and equitable distribution of climate finance benefits

• Terra Global: Provides technical expertise in greenhouse gas quantification, monitoring, reporting, and verification for carbon asset development under market standards. Terra structures and provides climate finance, supports ongoing program management, and commercializes verified emission reductions/removals