This coastal ecosystem is not only essential for its dependent wildlife but also for the long-term sustainability of the livelihoods of people living in the area.

The Tanga Coastal Zone Conservation and Development Programme (TCZCDP), which was started in July 1994 and ran until June 2007, helped Tanga coastal regions, including Maziwe Island Marine Reserve, to understand and apply the fundamentals of ICAM.

[2] Historical records indicate that this island used to be significantly larger and was vegetated with palm trees and other shrubs.

The island serves as an important nesting ground for green turtles, which crawl up the sandy shore to lay their eggs.

However, changes to the island’s structure have led to the inundation of the turtle nests at high-tide which eggs are unable to survive.