Rashid Omari Ismail is a Lecturer and Researcher at the Institute of Marine Sciences of the University of Dar es Salaam, situated in Zanzibar. He is holding MSc. in Botany and PhD in Marine Plant Physiology. He has sixteen years of expertise in the field of marine sciences, majoring in Mangroves and seagrasses Physiology and Ecology, Blue carbon research, Sea-Landscape Ecology, Climate change, Ocean acidification, Interaction between marine plant processes and greenhouse gases, and Coastal Ecosystems connectivity. At present, Ismail is actively involved in conserving Coastal Blue Carbon Ecosystems while ensuring the sustainable livelihoods of coastal communities in the Western Indian Ocean region.