Chumbe Island receives prestigious international award for its eco architecture and low-carbon ecotourism and conservation management.

The Global Forum on Human Settlements, in consultation with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, has recognized Chumbe Island as globally significant under the category of “Tourism (Scenic Spot) & Ecological Restoration”

In a statement from the Global Forum, Chumbe was described as setting an “inspiring example” for the world, with “two and a half decades of contributing to nature and marine conservation”. According to this prestigious forum, Chumbe has “put conservation, education and sustainability at the core of its management and operations” and has achieved “remarkable progress by proactively scaling up a range of low-carbon and green initiatives, such as 100% solar energy, rain water reuse, waste composting, and community engagement”.

In a virtual award ceremony, which took place on Friday 16th December during the 17th Annual Session of Global Forum on Human Settlements, Chumbe team members proudly received the award. Chumbe Island’s Assistant Conservation and Education Manager addressed the international audience with a thank you speech on behalf of the team, in which he highlighted how significant the award is, not only to Chumbe and its team, but to Zanzibar as a destination, showcasing that a world class holistic, low-impact tourism example like Chumbe leads the way towards achieving a tourism model that does not only minimize its impact, but actively contributes to regenerating natural spaces, thereby exemplifying the core principles of the Blue Economy.

The Global Forum stated that the Chumbe Island Ecolodge has provided “a successful and effective model of integrating environment and biodiversity conservation with sustainable eco-tourism”, and noted that it was particularly “encouraging to see that Chumbe Island has been carrying out monitoring programs for the biodiversity on the island, which is essential in guiding responsible tourism practices and maintaining ecological integrity and diversity”.

Utambuzi wa Kimataifa kwa Uchumi wa Bluu wa Zanzibar, Kisiwa cha Chumbe kimepata tuzo ya Umoja wa Mataifa

Kisiwa cha Chumbe kimepokea tuzo ya kifahari ya kimataifa kwa usanifu wake wa mazingira na utalii wa mazingira wenye kaboni kidogo na usimamizi wa uhifadhi.

Jukwaa la Kimataifa la Makazi ya Binadamu, kwa kushauriana na Umoja wa Mataifa wa Kiuchumi na Kijamii Halmashauri, imekitambua Kisiwa cha Chumbe kuwa muhimu duniani chini ya kipengele cha “Utalii (Scenic spot) na Urejesho wa Kiikolojia”.

Katika taarifa kutoka jukwaa la kimataifa, Chumbe ilielezewa kuwa ni “mfano wa kuigwa” ulimwenguni, na “miongo miwili na nusu ya kuchangia katika uhifadhi wa asili na viumbe vya baharini”. Kulingana na Jukwaa hili adhimu, Chumbe “imeweka uhifadhi, elimu na uendelevu katika msingi wa usimamizi na uendeshaji” na imepata “maendeleo yasio na kifani kwa kuweka mlolongo wa kaboni ya chini na kijani anzilishi, kama vile nishati ya jua ya 100%, matumizi ya maji ya mvua, taka kutengeneza mboji, na ushirikishwaji wa jamii”.

Katika hafla ya tuzo ya mtandaoni, iliyofanyika Ijumaa tarehe 16 Disemba wakati wa Kikao cha 17 cha Mwaka wa Jukwaa la Kimataifa la Makazi ya binadamu, wanachama wa timu ya Chumbe walipokea tuzo hiyo kwa ufahari. Meneja Msaidizi wa Uhifadhi na Elimu wa Kisiwa cha Chumbe alihutubia hadhira ya kimataifa kwa hotuba ya asante kwa niaba ya timu, ambapo aliangazia jinsi tuzo hiyo ilivyo muhimu, sio tu kwa Chumbe na timu yake, lakini kwa Zanzibar kama kikomo cha safari, Imeonyesha kiwango cha kimataifa cha jumla mfano athari za chini za utalii kama Chumbe imeongoza njia katika kuelekea kufikia mfumo wa utalii ambao haupunguzi tu athari zake, bali inachangia kikamilifu katika kuunda upya nafasi za asili, na hivyo kutoa mfano kanuni za msingi za Uchumi wa Bluu.

Jukwaa la kimataifa lilisema kwamba ikoloji ya Kisiwa cha Chumbe imetoa “mafanikio madhubuti na muundo unganisha wa mazingira na uhifadhi wa bioanuwai na utalii endelevu wa kiikolojia”, na alibainisha kuwa “inatia moyo hasa kuona kwamba Kisiwa cha Chumbe kimekuwa kikifanya ufuatiliaji programu kwa ajili ya bioanuwai kisiwani”, ambayo ni muhimu katika kuongoza uwajibikaji wa shughuli za kitalii na kudumisha uadilifu na utofauti wa ikolojia”.