ABSTRACT
The Zanzibar (Unguja) character mapping was initiated in 2012 to describe the current landscape of the island systematically as a synthesis of land cover and physical landforms combined with land use and forest management practices, socio-economic conditions and historical and anticipated future land changes. The character map is a digital database with 18 generic landscape types and 45 unique landscape areas with quantitative and qualitative descriptions and photographs. The process consisted of an interactive dialogue between landscape experts from the University of Turku and Zanzibar government experts who use the character map as a policy-supporting instrument for land and forest planning and management.
