ONGOING
RESEARCH
A Co-designed, Integrated Framework for Adaptive Management of Freshwater in Coastal Areas Under the Threat of Climate Change: A Case Study of Lamu, Kenya.
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Demand for freshwater is rising because of factors such as population growth, water pollution, land-use change, climate variations and economic as well as technological progress. If coastal aquifers are to be used as operational reservoirs of water resources, the development of tools that facilitate the prediction of the behaviour of coastal aquifers under different stressors and assessment of their vulnerability are required. This project brings together all stakeholders to co-design a framework that holistically tackles issues affecting water resources in Lamu such as proliferation of inappropriate and destructive water exploitation practices, low levels of human capital and organization, low levels of education, low investments of time and money in proper management practices, inadequate integration of science and management coupled with inadequate environmental management planning, low uptake of scientific information, low involvement of communities in planning, as well as distrust of the local community that stem from feelings of alienation from authorities.
Funded by ARUA/The Carnegie Foundation and National Geographic Society (2022)
RESEARCH
‘Neti ni pesa’ project: A community initiative to recover, upcycle, recycle, and prevent the generation of ghost gears from artisanal fisheries in selected sites along the Kenyan coast.
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Ghost nets are a threat to marine wildlife as well as socio-economic activities. They form a major part of marine litter that accumulates in Kenya's beaches especially in further inaccessible islands in Lamu and the South Coast of Kenya. This project is work with local youths, fishermen and women to collect the ghost and used nets from the coastal and marine environment and utilize them for making valuable artefacts as well as sell the excess to other recyclers. The goals of the project are: to establish and map major sources and hot spots for ghost gear losses, accumulation and possible impacts; to prevent and mitigate (search and remove) ghost gears and large marine debris in hot spots; empower local coastal communities and increase household income, especially for vulnerable women and youths; and promote behavioural change by creating an ocean literate society, informed of the sources and dangers of ghost gear on wildlife and human livelihoods
RESEARCH
Environmental Conservation of Akara Hills, Kenya through Agroforestry and Alternative livelihoods
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This project aims to rehabilitate the hills through community empowerment and agroforestry while increasing forest cover and fight poverty and hunger. The project started with bringing the community of Akara Hills together to discuss the issues facing this area to improve their livelihoods sustainably. We began based on the theory of change and the principle of “cut one tree plant two” slogan in 2009. So far, a total of 60 schools and 30 community groups have been educated on the benefits of environment conservation, nursery establishment and tree planting. We have not yet managed to restore the hills due to land ownership arrangements (different members of the community owning parcels of land on the hills). However, in 2017, we agreed with the communities on a formula to reforest the hills that integrates agroforestry, reforestation and establishment of alternative livelihoods, which form the basis for this proposed project. See more about our initial efforts in our short documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52cJM5ZwOc4 which features interviews with Dr. Margaret Owuor, the manager/proponent of this project. The project entered its second phase in March 2021
Funded by Global Wildlife Conservation
RESEARCH
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Community-based Marine Litter Management for Restoration of Endangered turtle habitats along the Kenyan Coast
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Despite their legal protection, sea turtles and their habitats are being lost and degraded through poaching and uncontrolled coastal development due to ignorance, poverty and weak management policies in Kenya. This project will employ the power of education, mentorship, possession and a healthy dosage of entrepreneurial skills to enhance turtle conservation activities and support sustainable coastal development along Kenya’s South Coast. A participatory approach involving local communities, policymakers and managers will be adopted to establish and map decadal land-use changes; monitor nesting activities to support the development of conservation plans and implementation of beach management strategies.
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Funded by The Rufford Foundation
RESEARCH
The impacts of coastal development on beach geomorphology and its influence on sea turtle nesting
and reproduction success in Lamu, Kenya
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This project is being conducted in Lamu Seascape, a critical nesting habitat for the green, Chelonia mydas, hawksbill, Eretmochelys imbricata, and olive ridley turtle, Lepidochelys olivacea, to establish how the ongoing land-use changes (tourism and coastal infrastructural development projects like the Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport (LAPSSET) Corridor projects) affect coastal geomorphology and the resulting effect on sea turtle nesting and reproduction
success. It involves partnerships with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), WWF-Lamu, Kenya and Lamu Marine Conservation Trust (LaMCoT) to identify and map the occurrence and trends of nesting activities; establish land-use changes that have taken place in the area in the past decade; determine how the land use and climate changes are impacting on potential nest environment and beach profile; assess how the changes above influence nest establishment and hatching success of the nesting turtle species; and enhance public awareness and advocacy for turtle conservation around Lamu island.
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Funded by British Ecological Society
COMPLETED
TRAINING
Building Capacities of Local Practitioners for the Assessment of the Dynamics of Ecosystems in the Emerging Coastal Towns in the WIO Region
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This training workshop aims to advocate for the use of site-based approaches in ES assessment, thus enhance environmental ethics, address conflicting interests, and build the capacity of various relevant practitioners to appreciate the ocean as an economy and possess moral responsibility towards it. This is crucial even as we focus on adopting the Blue Economy concept and United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. The workshop will offer a platform to disentangle the means of ensuring safe interaction between devolution operations/impacts and guard ecosystem services. Further, it is aligned with the global development framework, specifically the SDG No.: 1(poverty), 11 (sustainable cities and communities), 14 (life below water), and 17 (partnerships for sustainable development placing planet and people at the centre).
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Funded by Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (2021)
RESEARCH
Adaptive Management to Coral Reef Systems in Kenya: Addressing Pollution Problems
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This study investigated water quality in terms of nutrients quality and quantity and examined the coral reefs health along Mtwapa Creek, Mombasa Marine Park and Mombasa Marine Reserve, exposed to different nutrient sources in the Kenyan Coast. Furthermore, the research proposed management intervention to save coral reefs in the region; how to involve local communities through education and awareness creation on the need for waste management, and the impact of urban waste on reef systems and champion management practice change in priority areas​
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Funded by National Geographic Society (2017) and done in collaboration with Kenya Wildlife Services
CONSULTANCY
Study on
Livelihood Restoration of Fisher-folks affected by development of the Mombasa Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway
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The overall objective of the consultancy was to establish an overall individual economic loss and the sustainable and cost-effective strategies to be adopted in order to cushion the affected fisherfolk in the affected Beach Management Units (BMUs) against the negative impact of SGR Construction on their livelihoods. The strategies identified comprised initiatives that will immediately cushion the affected fisherfolk and also ensure continuation of their living standards in an improved manner. The consultancy was undertaken in conjunction with Geoinformatiks Ltd
TRAINING
Quantification and Valuation of Coastal Ecosystem Services Workshop
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The workshop aimed to build the capacity among coastal and marine resource managers, technical officers, and practitioners in the WIO region to understand concepts of quantifying and valuing ecosystem services (ES), especially in their study area. Teaching was interactive and employed a practical approach using a combination of classroom practical exercises and discussions, case studies from the facilitators and participants, and a field trip. The attracted participants from Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Comoros, Mauritius, South Africa, Seychelles, Madagascar, and Ethiopia participated.
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Click here for details on training (page 24 & 25)
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Funded by Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (2019)
TRAINING
Quantification and Valuation of Coastal Ecosystem Services Workshop
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The workshop aimed to build the capacity among coastal and marine resource managers, technical officers, and practitioners in the WIO region to understand concepts of quantifying and valuing ecosystem services (ES), especially in their study area. Teaching was interactive and employed a practical approach using a combination of classroom practical exercises and discussions, case studies from the facilitators and participants, and a field trip. The attracted participants from Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Comoros, Mauritius, South Africa, Seychelles, Madagascar, and Ethiopia participated.
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Click here for details on training (page 24 & 25)
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Funded by Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association (2019)