The revolutionary government of zanzibar
Impact Screening under World Bank and RGZ Procedures
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- 4.5 Comparison of World Bank and RGZ Policies on Environment and Social Impact Assessment
- 4.6 Disclosure
- CHAPTER FIVE: THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROCESS
4.4 Impact Screening under World Bank and RGZ ProceduresCriteria for Impact Screening under World Bank Policies: The screening process used by the World Bank classifies proposed projects into one of four categories, depending on the type, location, sensitivity, and scale of the project and the nature and magnitude of its potential environmental impacts. Going by World Bank categories, environmental and social impact assessment for projects is required as follows:- Category A: A proposed project is classified as Category A if it is likely to have significant adverse environmental impacts that are sensitive, diverse, or unprecedented. These impacts may affect an area broader than the sites or facilities subject to physical works. Category B: A proposed project is classified as Category B if it’s potential adverse environmental impacts on human populations or environmentally important areas—including wetlands, forests, grasslands, and other natural habitats—are less adverse than those of Category A projects. These impacts are site-specific; few if any of them are irreversible; and in most cases mitigation measures can be designed more readily than for Category A projects. Category C: A proposed project is classified as Category C if it is likely to have minimal or no adverse environmental impacts. Beyond screening, no further EA action is required for a Category C project. Category FI: A proposed project is classified as Category FI if it involves investment of Bank funds through a financial intermediary, in subprojects that may result in adverse environmental impacts. This ZSEP has been classified as environmental category B under these World Bank Guidelines, in which case, an Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and a Resettlement Policy Framework (RPF) have been prepared in accordance with Bank conditions. Impact screening under Act No. 3 of 1996: The First and Second schedules of Act No. 2 of 1996 specify categories of project which do and do not require to be subjected to EIA studies respectively. According to the DOE, projects in between require environmental screening through development of Project Reports. Thus, given this delineation of minimum size threshold under the First Schedule of Act No. 2 of 1996, it is considered that most sub-projects proposed under ZSEP may not require an EIA process. However subprojects such as the proposed Benjamin Mkapa Teachers Training College and the proposed 10 model secondary schools, though not explicitly falling under Second Schedule do however have aspects toughing on this schedule; a feature that makes them attract some form of environmental screening. The procedure for such screening will be outlined elsewhere below. 4.5 Comparison of World Bank and RGZ Policies on Environment and Social Impact AssessmentZanzibar through the Environmental Management for Sustainable Development Act No. 2 of 1996 makes it mandatory for all major development projects to be preceded by an EIA study leading to development of an EIS. Part IV of Act No. 2 of 1996 provides a comprehensive framework for environmental assessment of projects, and this requirement is recognized in other legislation such as the Forest Resources Management and Conservation Act No 10 of 1996. Thus, under RGZ laws, environmental assessment is fully mainstreamed in all development process consistent with World Bank policies. Indeed, under Act No.2 of 1996, even RGZ projects are under obligation to undertake EIA studies before implementation. This ESMF therefore is consistent then, with both RGZ and World Bank Policies. Where there is a conflict between the Laws of RGZ and the Bank, World Bank safeguard Policies will prevail. 4.6 DisclosureOP 4.01 further requires that this ESMF report must be disclosed as a separate and stand alone report by the Executing Agencies and the World Bank, as a condition for World Bank Appraisal of the projects. In keeping with this requirement, and the further detail set out in, the draft report will firstly be made publicly available to project-affected groups in Zanzibar by placing a public notice in a national newspaper and making the report available at the MoEVT and posting on the net. This measure will also satisfy the Act No. 3 of 1996 requirement that EIA reports are disclosed and be subjected to review by the public. Following revisions, the ESMF will be officially submitted to the World Bank, and made publicly available on the Infoshop at least 30 days prior to the Board date. CHAPTER FIVE: THE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROCESS5.1 Generic Environmental ConcernsFrom diverse sources (National Environment Policy, DOE-Pers. Comm., dccff.com, etc) the following have been identified as the critical environmental problems facing Zanzibar today:
Brief commentaries and summaries for specific impacts are provided in tables and sections below with a view to setting the background against which potential adverse impacts (on the social and physical environment) from the activities of the ZSEP can be assessed. 5.1.1 Degradation of marine environments The entire coastline of Unguja and Pemba islands is threatened by degradation associated with non-sustainable human activity such as such as coastal construction, dumping of solid and liquid effluent including untreated sewage, non-sustainable fishing through use of nets, poison and blasts, dynamite fishing in coral reefs, anchor damage, collection of life coral, over-exploitation of Turtles through slaughter and collection of eggs. The problem is partly driven by an economy that is largely dependent on exploitation of primary resources and also compounded by inadequacy of policy guidelines on exploitation of marine resources. If left unchecked, this is a scenario that had potential to undermine the strategic economic interest of Zanzibar through erosion of biodiversity and undermining other sectors of the economy such as fisheries and tourism. In appreciation of the need to conserve biodiversity, the RGZ formulated a National Conservation Strategy in 1996 which addressed the cause of biodiversity decline and the factors underlying such trends. The overall objective of the Strategy is to reduce the negative impacts on biodiversity in Zanzibar, and develop sustainable economic and social use of indigenous ecosystems and species. Components of the strategy include;-
5.1.2 Land degradation The national Environmental Policy identifies land degradation to be one of the main ecological concerns in Zanzibar today. The isles command unique ecosystems world renown as reservoirs of biodiversity. In Unguja Island, the most famous biosphere is the Jozani-Chwaka Bay Conservation Area estimated to cover 5,000ha that consists of the Jozani Forest Reserve, mangroves and the coral rag forest and thus comprises the largest terrestrial natural forest in Unguja Island, representing the remnants of biological resources that were once spread throughout Unguja. The Mangrove formation of Chwaka Bay is the largest stand of mangrove forest in Zanzibar Island with estimated area of about 2,800ha equivalent to 15% of the forest cover of Zanzibar (Leskinen and Ali, 1997). The Josani-Chwaka Bay complex is home to many rare and endemic species, and is thus and important reservoir for biodiversity. At global level, the area forms part of the Eastern African Arc Mountains, ranked one among the 25 biodiversity ‘hot spots’ and a centre for endemism world-wide (see Masoud, 2001). It is commonly acknowledged (Review Mission, 1991) that deforestation in Zanzibar first set in the 1830s at the onset of the clove-planting programme. Currently, deforestation rate in Zanzibar is estimated at 400,000 hectares annually (Persson, 1994) and is associated overexploitation mainly harvesting of coral rag and mangrove forests to provides poles and to supply wood for use by households, institutions and small scale industries while other cover is lost through the traditional shifting cultivation.
According to available information (DCCFF, 2002) annual firewood consumption in Zanzibar is estimated at 3,068,977m3, of which, households in Pemba accounts to 77%, while those in Unguja Island account for only 23%. The coral rag forests accounts for 93.62% in Unguja Island while in Pemba clove tree is the most preferable source of firewood at the household level. This demand is not met locally and substantial wood has to be shipped into Zanzibar from mainland Tanzania. Other forms of land degradation are associated with nom-rehabilitation of quarries which leaves gaping craters posing hazards to people and their livestock while providing breeding grounds for water borne disease vectors. As well, shifting cultivation through which land is cleared of vegetation, cultivated for several seasons and then abandoned is a major contributor to deforestation and degradation of soil quality. Zanzibar is also the home of the endemic Zanzibar Red Colobus and the elusive Zanzibar Leopard. The Zanzibar leopard (Panthera pardus adersi) is an elusive and possibly extinct subspecies of leopard endemic to Unguja Island in the Zanzibar archipelago. Increasing conflict between people and leopards in the 20th century led to their demonization and determined attempts to exterminate them. Efforts to develop a leopard conservation programme in the mid-1990s were shelved when wildlife researchers concluded that there was little prospect for the animal's long-term survival.   
Plate 5.1: Images of land degradation in Zanzibar; - mangrove fuel wood ready for the market and an abandoned quarry currently used as a grazing field.
5.1.3: Occupation of old, dilapidated buildings in Stone Town Four of the schools targeted for rehabilitation under ZSEP are situated in The Stone Town3- the ancient city constructed by Portuguese colonizers in mid 1800s. The design and construction of Stone Town borrows heavily form the 19th Century civilization of Eastern Europe which has however phased out in favor of modern planning methods. In spite of this, the congested settlement of stone town characterized by congested storied structures devoid of reinforcement, narrow alleyways that serve as streets and which is now recognized and preserved as a World Heritage site is also under residential and commercial use.
  
Plate 5.2: Images of the Stone Town; - World Heritage Site, a collapsed building and, the Hamamni Secondary School targeted for rehabilitation
Risks associated with human habitation of Stone Town buildings include permanent exposure of people to hazards associated with collapsing of buildings, inadequate delivery of services due to lack of room to pass plant and equipment, inability to install infrastructure that would interfere with the structural stability of old buildings and inadequacy of space to expand public facilities including recreational facilities. The problem of stone town is compounded by lack of facilities outside Zanzibar town which causes many people especially students to commute to Stone Town to attend school. Further, the Stone Town houses a number of government departments and since government is the single most important employer in Zanzibar, it is understandable that stone town remains congested. As part of this ESMF study, the structural soundness of the Stone Town Schools targeted for rehabilitation was assessed through visual observations and it emerged that most of the buildings are either dilapidated or are failing. This observation is in agreement with finding of a survey undertaken in 2002 and which observed that, some 85 percent of the structures - is either in deteriorating or poor condition. More particularly, 62.5 percent are deteriorating and 22 percent are already in poor condition. In addition, eighty-five buildings collapsed between 1982 and 1992, while a further fifteen structures are today partially in ruins. Only 226, or 13.2 percent of the 1,709 buildings in the Stone Town, are considered in good condition. It is thus not clear to this ESMF that continued human habitation of buildings approaching the end of economic life is justified. 5.1.4 Water contamination from pollution All water in Zanzibar is under threat. Shallow groundwater is under threat of contamination from sewers, leaking sewage and percolation of contaminated runoff water. Blackish and sea waters are also under threat from direct discharge of untreated sewage and runoff water and through location of municipal dump yards along creeks and estuaries. Indeed, the latter practice was observed to pose major challenge to mangrove ecosystems at Unguja. Being a coastal ecosystem, Unguja Island is faced with the problem of perpetual intrusion of saline water into the groundwater. The hazard is always triggered by overexploitation of groundwater which releases the saline water table to flow freely in boreholes. Already, many boreholes in Unguja yield saline water and this is a trend that should be checked through control on groundwater development.
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