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Yale University, Oberlin College

Publication Date

Spring 2009

Program Name

Tanzania-Zanzibar: Coastal Ecology and Natural Resource Management

Abstract

Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and related legislation in Zanzibar were examined, and their implementation by hotels in the coastal villages of Nungwi, Kiwengwa and Uroa were studied. Interviews were conducted with relevant government agencies and legal documents were examined in order to understand the current framework within which hotels operate. Hotels in the study area both with and without EIAs were questioned about their environmental and social impacts. The environmental management plans of those hotels with EIAs were considered in light of their current practices in order to gage the effectiveness of the EIA process in regulating the environmental impacts of hotels. NGOs, villagers and Shehas were interviewed to understand local perspectives on environmental and social issues related to hotels and tourism. Analysis showed that there were no significant differences in environmental impacts of those hotels with EIAs and those without. The EIA process was thus found to be largely ineffective at maintaining environmental standards for developments in Zanzibar, and several possible reasons for this shortfall were considered through comparing Zanzibar’s EIA procedure with that of mainland Tanzania. Recommendations on improving the EIA process in Zanzibar were made based on the study’s findings.

Disciplines

Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Tourism

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