Fumba Town

Project Type

Project Summary

Fumba Town is a urban development by CPS -live on the island of Zanzibar. The aim is to build 3000 homes and to create a resilient community. CPS live hired our Permaculture Design Company to design the public spaces and the waste management system for the town.

Project Description

Working Areas of the Permaculture Design Company People care - nature care - fair share Creating a town we want to live in - passion is the fuel of our creativity The Permaculture Design Company (PDC) create recreational areas for residents and visitors, offer landscaping for the town, implement a closed water cycle, take care of all trash collection and processing, run an organic farm and improve the environment by up scaling biodiversity and implementing a mangrove protection zone. All the ethics and principles found in our designs are rooted in Permaculture. Permaculture is a holistic design science to create sustainable human settlements that function in harmony with nature. Through Permaculture we strive to meet human needs by not only imitating, but regenerating nature. The Permaculture concept of the PDC and FTD is developed in collaboration with Zanzibar historians, soil scientists, local landscapers, spice farmers, natural healers, EM (Effective Micro-organism) technology experts, the newest studies of town development worldwide, Permaculture designer Franko Göhse, his team and the local environment - as an inspiration to create a harmony of human interaction with nature. It is our aim to set standards in how we can live on this planet without being destructive to it. At Fumba, the PDC aims for the following: Connecting people, buildings and the environment to benefit all Planting a green oasis that will be naturally cooled - even in the hot summer months - by its green areas and multi-beneficial tree species Improving the existing biodiversity to attract beneficial and endangered species The problem: Some of today's most pressing issues on the planet are the loss of valuable topsoil and the constant pollution of accessible drinking water. With only 2% of all the world’s water sources being fresh and drinkable, the preservation and cleaning of water is a topic of big importance. Besides water and soil, all other natural resources need to be valued and sustained to guarantee a continuing supply of those for the coming generations. At the same time all items being brought into Fumba or processed there, need to be taken care of in order to avoid the pollution of the environment. The PDC takes care of all natural and non-natural resources of Fumba Town by working in the following areas: WATER Fumba Town will implement a closed water cycle – that means no water will leave the property, clean or dirty. All used water will be treated in water treatment systems to produce clean water and at the same time biogas for the town. Water wise gardens and green drains are part of the town design to permanently recharge groundwater levels. A clever rainwater harvesting system on roads and walkways adds to ensure these goals. WASTE All waste from Fumba Town’s residential and commercial areas will be collected and processed. Organic waste will feed into our composting system, that in turn guarantees a permanent production of nutrient rich soil. All non-organic waste will be separated and processed according to its contents. BIODIVERSITY - Diversity gives stability At Fumba Town we design the environment to become a stable ecosystem. Within the town, a vast variety of endemic and indigenous plants will be incorporated to secure a drought resistant system that flourishes on coral ground. This will help to ensure that native bird and beneficial insect species will find a home in Fumba. Added to this will be productive plant species that – in combination with endemic and indigenous species – will offer many sources of building material, medicine, beauty and recreational areas for the town. All plants for the town will be grown in our own nursery. Also, Fumba will have its own beekeeping project, as many species of plants within the development will be beneficial for bees and therefore their growth supported and their products used. A medicinal plant park will offer natural healing plants to the citizens. Majestic coconut palms will decorate the water edge bordering the Indian Ocean and serve as a natural windbreak for the town. FOOD FOREST and ORGANIC FARM A traditional food forest will be planted next to the town and function as a buffer zone that produces multiple fruits and perennial vegetables all year round. Additionally, an organic farm will provide the town with fresh plant and animal produce. The use of chemical fertilizer or pesticides is a problematic issue for human health and our environment and will therefore be strictly prohibited within the town and its adjacent areas. We work naturally to ensure a clean environment (e.g. drinking water supply from our wells) for the long-term. OUTREACH: EDUCATION and TRAINING Education and empowerment of local farmers is part of FTSC’s concept. A team of permaculture trained gardeners will maintain the system for years to come. Because in our work, we try to include people and not machines – that is our “hands-on approach”. Additionally, Fumba town will hold seminars and lectures on sustainable development to equip others to follow our example. The PDC will collaborate with universities and other research institutions that are focused on sustainable city development and sustainable technologies to foster our engagement and expand our abilities. Furthermore, one of PDC's aims is to get involved with researching and innovating new sustainable technologies. Our staff will be trained in how to set-up and maintain technologies in the fields of renewable energy production, composting systems, agriculture, and other areas. Above this, the PDC will design and develop its own machineries where feasible and become one of the suppliers of sustainable technologies in East Africa.

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