Zanzibar Ecomachine Initiative

1
Zanzibar Eco-machine Initiative

• Interim Report
• 11-3-06
• Nat Koloc

2
Project Background

• The spice islands of Zanzibar lie 27 km off the
  coast of Tanzania.
• The archipelagos capitol, Stonetown, is located
  on the eastern side of the main island, Unguja.
• Stonetown is home to 250,000 people and has no
  wastewater treatment facility.

3
Point Source Pollution

• Stonetowns septic systems and sewage lines empty
  directly into the Indian Ocean. The pollution
  poses severe human health hazards and damages
  local marine ecosystems.
• Effects are felt from mangroves to reef systems
  and ocean fisheries.

4
Eco-machines

• Principles
• Design follows Life
• Photosynthetically driven
• Linked Ecosystems
• Steep Gradients
• Phylogenetic Diversity
• Clean. Safe. Reliable. Resilient. Cost-effective.

5
Objectives Deliverables

• To install a natural wastewater purification
  system in Stonetown.
• To educate the local community about the
  eco-machine and the broader issues (health and
  ecosystem damage).
• To measure biodiversity and toxicity levels of
  project site and compare with a control site.

• An eco-machine system, made of local materials
  and biota.
• A summary and evaluation of the education
  program, including pre- and post-program surveys.
• A research report including findings,
  recommendations, and context of biodiversity
  figures and contaminant levels.

6
Project Arrangement

• The eco-machine design and installation.
• The community outreach education program.
• The environmental research.
• Phase One Preliminary Assessment Visit (January
  2007)
• Phase Two Implementation (Summer 2007)
• Components will lead to a sustainable system that
  will last into the future, with measurable
  effectiveness. Emphasis on flexibility,
  particularly in design process.
• Team is arranged into corresponding groups (five
  students total).

7
Stakeholders

• Donors
• University of Dar es Salaam (project partner)
• Both professors and students.
• Institute for Marine Studies (project partner)
• Researchers and community leaders.
• Government of Zanzibar
• Mayors office.
• Community of Zanzibar
• Heavily Islamic. Agriculture-based economy. Low
  education levels. Poor sanitation and healthcare
  infrastructure.

8
Accomplishments

• Sponsors
• Dan Baker, John Todd, Ian Worley
• IMS support
• Equipment, consultation, transportation.
• Government support
• Symbolic support, permission.
• UDSM agreement
• Students, research permits, engineers, other
  support.

9
To Do List

• Funding ? 53,000
• Locate suitable donors. Letter of Inquiry. Grant
  proposals.
• Fundraising.
• Logistics
• Permits, arrangements, details, paperwork.
• Negotiations with UDSM, planning, visas.
• Swahili practice/instruction.
• Preliminary Visit
• Site selection.
• Meet with partners.
• Eco-machine design.

10
Implications

• Waste products become inputs for production of
  economic resources and ecological services.
• Zanzibar becomes an example of sustainability
  through integration of living technology systems
• Cost-effective living machines benefit the
  ecosystems that surround them and human
  populations who are maintaining them.
• By adding economic value, they represent a
  synthesis of productivity and environmental
  stewardship.