Mangrove Conservationists Acquire Climate Seascapes Nature Based Solution Techniques
Shella Pwani Women Group Chairperson and Champion Groots Kenya Latifa Abdallah address the media in Watamu. Photo by Ronald Ngoba.
By Robby Ngomba
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
Mangroves conservationist in Watamu of Kilifi County have undergone training from the Regenerative Seascapes for People, Climate and Nature (ReSea) project that aims to increase their capabilities in Seascapes and structuring sustainable gender-response nature-based solutions (NbS) for adaptation.
Addressing journalists during a field study at prawns lake in Watamu, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Resources (ICUN) Kenya’s Coastal and Ocean Resilience programme manager Francis Okalo said the ReSea project focuses on capacity building and practical aspects related to implementing nature-based solutions on how to design businesses for income generating.
The training brought together stakeholders drawn from over 50 groups, officials from the County government of Kilifi, Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS), Kenya Forest Research Institute (KFRI), Community Conservation groups including Beach Management Units (BMU’s) and Community Forests Associations (CFA’s).
According to Okalo there is need for concerted efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change and cited its impact on marine and coastal ecosystems not only in Kenya, but also in the Western Indian Ocean region.
“We have witnessed rise in sea level, increased temperatures and extreme unpredictable weather changes, all these have resulted in biodiversity loss which have affected lives and livelihoods of coastal communities.”
He stated that the project sought to become a driving force for development and in implementing gender-response nature-based solutions within the coast region.
“This project seeks to enhance effective management and sustainable use of coastal and marine resources by adhering to the IUCN global standards which includes protection of Mangroves, seagrass and coral reefs for coastal communities from storms and tidal surges to offer economic opportunities.”
The programme manager adds that the project also tends to equip conservation players with methodologies of effective NbS implementation and transformation by emphasising on scaling up of the NbS into national levels.
The ReSea project is implemented by International Union for Conservation of Nature and Resources, Eastern and Southern Regional Offices (IUCN-ESARO), Mission Inclusion and Groots Kenya with support from Global Affairs Canada (GAC), it seek to benefit at leat 85,000 direct beneficiaries by 2026.
The project also covers five countries in the western Indian Ocean region, Kenya, Comoros islands, Madagascar, Tanzanian and Mozambique aiming to enhance socio-economic resilience of communities particularly women and children.
Latifa Abdallah, Shella Pwani Women group chairperson, said the project was long waited and she expressed confidence of unlocking opportunities among the women.
“For many years, illiterate was a blow to many women because it forced us to remain as housewives has men became the sole breadwinners but through the mentorship programmes we have been receiving, the story is now changing to a successful journey,” she said.
Ngomeni BMU chairman Said Mote Athman on his part said since the project started operation in the coast region hope for fish-dependant has positively improve.
He also challenged other fish-dependent community along the coastline to embrace mangrove restoration so as to bring the environment to its mother nature.
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