DAR ES SALAAM, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania has restored 90.4 hectares of mangroves in the Tanga Region and Zanzibar's Pemba Island over the past three years, aiming to protect biodiversity and promote a resilient blue economy, an official announced Thursday.

Joseph Olila, manager of the Coastal and Marine Resilience Program at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), said the initiative is part of the Bahari Mali project, which translates to "the sea is wealth," being implemented in the coastal communities of Tanga and Pemba.

Speaking to journalists in Tanga, Olila explained that restoration efforts are led by local communities in collaboration with government forestry officers, with IUCN providing financial and technical support during the first year.

"Afterwards, communities are empowered to manage the restoration activities independently," he said.

Olila described mangroves as vital natural filters that prevent polluted water from reaching the ocean, protect shorelines from erosion, and serve as critical habitats for marine biodiversity. ■