What does being a Tanzanian Ocean Restoration Steward mean to me?

12 March 2026

When I became an Ocean Restoration Steward in 2025, everything I had been building with She Shapes Nature, an initiative that empowers young women in seaweed farming and ocean restoration, began to expand in ways I had only imagined. This was the moment when the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF) stepped in with support, giving strength, visibility and resources to the restoration work I had already started with coastal women.

The GLF’s support didn’t start the journey, but it transformed it. It allowed me to deepen the impact of She Shapes Nature and document the stories that had been unfolding long before the world was watching.

Learnings

Throughout my journey as an Ocean Restoration Steward, I discovered that restoration is shaped not only by ecosystems, but by the people, rhythms and relationships that sustain them. These are the lessons that guided me, transformed me and deepened my understanding of what true restoration means.

*She shapes nature beneficiaries plant seaweed in the ocean. Photo credit: BKMF /Chapanisha_images*

*Women holding ropes of seaweed. Photo credit: Paul Matonya*

1. Learning from the ocean’s wisdom

Being an Ocean Restoration Steward made me pay deeper attention to the ocean.
The tides, the currents and the seaweed lines all became lessons in resilience, patience and harmony.
With the GLF’s support, I could turn lessons into practical restoration actions and strengthen the connection between communities and the marine ecosystems they depend on.

2. Young women at the heart of restoration

She Shapes Nature has always centered young women, and becoming an Ocean Restoration Steward amplified this even more.
The GLF’s support enabled me to work closely with young women seaweed farmers showcasing their leadership, creativity and economic resilience.
Their stories became clearer, stronger and more visible to the world.

3. Restoration is built through community power

One of my biggest learnings during this journey was understanding that restoration is a collective process.
Young women shared tools, skills and experiences creating a community network that supported each other in deep waters and difficult seasons.

4. Storytelling as restoration

Through the GLF network, I learned how storytelling can shape a movement.
Documenting young women’s experiences and sharing their work became a form of advocating.
It gave the ocean a voice. It gave young women visibility. It gave the world a chance to learn from Tanzania’s coastline.

5. Growing into my leadership

Becoming an Ocean Restoration Steward taught me that leadership is service and facilitation.
It is showing up with consistency, compassion and courage. It is standing with communities, not above them.

Successes

The project achieved significant milestones that demonstrate meaningful progress toward sustainable seaweed farming and women’s economic empowerment. The following highlights reflect key accomplishments realized during the implementation period.

*She Shapes Nature beneficiaries learn about seaweed farming and its value chain. Photo: Paul Matonya*

*Beneficiaries are crafting cherezo for planting seaweed in deep water*. *Photo: Paul Matonya*

*Beneficiaries are in the ocean applying a rafting method to place them in deep water to support seaweed growth.* *Photo: Paul Matonya*

1. Capacity building for sustainable seaweed farming
Over 50 young women from coastal communities successfully completed hands-on training in sustainable seaweed farming. They gained deeper knowledge on both shallow-water and deep-water techniques, building skills that directly strengthen their livelihoods.

2. Introducing improved farming methods
The community was trained in rafting and cherezo methods, two climate-resilient techniques better suited for Bagamoyo’s changing marine conditions. The adoption of these approaches marks a major step toward long-term environmental and economic sustainability.

3. Practical installation of a deep-water rafting system
A major milestone was achieved when the young women, together with marine scientists, installed a fully functioning deep-water seaweed farm (5–7 meters deep). This demonstration site provides immediate practical learning and serves as a model that other villages can replicate.

4. Strengthened community–stakeholder collaboration
The initiative created strong cooperation between community members, fisheries authorities and the project team, laying a foundation for continued joint monitoring, shared learning and ongoing technical support.

5. Clear strategic guidance for sustainability
The project team presented a clear long-term plan, allowing the community to understand the vision for improving women’s economic empowerment and ensuring the sustainability of seaweed farming activities.

Difficulties

Despite the progress made, the project encountered several challenges that may affect the pace and sustainability of implementation. The following issues highlight areas that require continued attention and strategic support.

1. Environmental and climatic challenges
Extreme tides, strong currents and unpredictable seasonal changes continue to affect seaweed survival. Farmers expressed the need for more adaptive strategies to cope with these natural constraints.

2. Limited prior exposure to deep-water techniques
While shallow-water farming is familiar, young women had limited experience with rafting and cherezo. This created a need for more training sessions, practical guidance and repeated demonstrations.

3. Gaps in tools and resources
Young women identified the need for more equipment such as ropes, floats, protective boots and gloves to fully transition to improved farming methods at a larger scale.

4. Need for continuous monitoring and technical support
Deep-water farming requires consistent follow-up, which the community cannot manage alone. Without structured monitoring, the sustainability of the new methods may be at risk.

Mentorship

Mentorship played a critical role throughout the process. My GLF mentors Fatema Rajabali and Levis Sirikwa provided continuous guidance and support on smooth project implementation, which strengthened my ability to facilitate learning sessions, document community experiences and use data to design clear strategic pathways. This mentorship has deepened community confidence, increased women’s leadership in marine restoration and strengthened my own abilities in community facilitation and nature-based solutions.

Next steps

Building on the progress achieved and lessons learned, the project will now focus on strengthening sustainability and scaling impact. The following actions outline the strategic priorities for the upcoming phase of implementation.

1. Continued training on rafting and cherezo techniques: More practical sessions will be conducted to ensure all beneficiaries can confidently apply improved methods in both shallow and deep waters.

2. Strengthening monitoring and support systems: A community-led monitoring team will be formed, supported by fisheries officials and the project team, to track seaweed health, productivity and environmental changes.

3. Mobilizing resources and equipment: Plans are underway to secure additional farming tools, ropes, floats and protective gear to expand the deep-water farms and support women at scale.

4. Establishing more demonstration plots: The existing deep-water site will be expanded and replicated in nearby villages to create a learning hub for Bagamoyo and beyond.

5. Enhancing women’s economic empowerment: Value-addition training, market linkages and financial literacy support will help women increase income from seaweed farming products.

I believe this work is laying a strong foundation for long-term sustainable seaweed farming and ocean restoration. By equipping young women with climate-resilient farming techniques, strengthening monitoring systems and expanding demonstration sites, we are not only improving livelihoods but also promoting sustainable use of marine ecosystems. Healthy seaweed farms contribute to improved water quality, biodiversity protection and shoreline resilience.

My dream is to see Bagamoyo become a model for community-led ocean restoration, where women are recognized not just as farmers, but as ocean stewards and restoration leaders. I hope to see expanded deep-water farms across coastal villages, strong market systems that reward sustainable practices and a new generation of young women confidently leading marine conservation efforts.

Ultimately, I envision a future where economic empowerment and ocean restoration go hand in hand, creating thriving communities and resilient marine ecosystems for generations to come.