Conservation Education
Through the Conservation Education component,
numerous projects have been undertaken by the EAWLS.
These include:
Conservation Education and
Community participation for a well-managed environment
Supported by GTZ-Kenya, this project was completed at
the end of 2006, but initiated a follow-up project -
Lake Jipe Conservation Initiative. The initial project
focussed on three key areas: Lake Jipe, Shimba Hills
and Kipini. In each, participatory rural appraisals
were conducted, and from these education modules developed
focusing on marine awareness, forest conservation, wildlife
and land degradation and organizational development
for CBO initiatives. Community outreach programmes were
conducted with women’s groups, youth associations
and Community Based Organisations, and school programmes
focusing on the primary and secondary schools.
Achievements
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In Shimba Hills farm forestry
was introduced to create a ‘buffer zone’
on farms to reduce the human-wildlife conflicts
in the area.
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In Kipini the Fisheries Corporation
was revived, which now regulates fishing in the
area. Due to mangrove logging, soil erosion was
another major problem in Kipini. To curb this, 41,293
trees and 159,288 tree seedlings were planted. The
EAWLS office established at Kipini, functions as
the centre for conservation within the community.
The local women’s group will however gradually
take over the management of the community’s
conservation activities.
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In Jipe, tree nurseries were
introduced, the River Lumi poor estuary distilled,
Njoro Springs protected, dams constructed, community
water pans built and the Typha weed from the tributaries
removed.
Lake Jipe Conservation Initiative
When EAWLS arrived at Lake Jipe in May 2003, the lake
had almost dried up and was less than 1 metre deep from
an area of 100km2 and a depth of 10m. There was barely
a trickle of water flowing into the lake and the fish
were too small for consumption. Poor farming methods,
encroachment on wetlands and weeds blocking the estuary
were causing severe environmental destruction.
After the participatory appraisal and
feasibility study, measures were undertaken in partnership
with the local community. Lake Jipe is a transboundary
lake serving two communities - one in Kenya and the
other in Tanzania. Through de-siltation, canal building
and riverbank stabilisation the water level has risen,
and has almost reached its original water level. Biodiversity
has increased and fish growth has improved. Additionally,
alternative livelihoods were developed including honey
harvesting with local women’s group. 10 community
groups were also trained in proposal writing and their
proposals have been submitted to the UNDP/GEF/SGP for
funding. An intial kshs.23 million was raised with a
further Kshs.25 million designated for a project that
ran from July 2004 upto 2006. Funding was provided by
UNDP. EAWLS was to oversee the disbursement
of funds to the Community Based Organisations for their
activities, and follow up on the programmes implementation.
EAWLS is also responsible for reporting to UNDP.
Integrated Natural Resources Conservation
and Management in Nyando Watershed and Tinderet Forest
Land degradation and encroachment has been a major problem
in this area for many years. The soil was being deposited
into Lake Victoria and incidences of flooding were on
the rise. Since 2003 the EAWLS has worked on various
themes in this programme: Soil and water conservation
techniques; Farm forestry to improve vegetation cover
in the region; Farm terracing techniques to reduce soil
erosion; Training and education.
Through tree planting, the community
has also benefited from building materials, and fuel
as an alternative livelihood source. The EAWLS has a
station based in the area and three semi-resident experts
overseeing the programme. Funded by SIDA
this programme’s funding is renewable yearly.
Alternative Livelihood and
Technologies for East African Cross Border Conservation
– Taita Hills component
This project was the Kenyan component of a
regional initiative called the ‘East Africa Cross-Border
Biodiversity Project’, with the overarching goal
to reduce the rate of loss of forest biodiversity at
cross-border sites of national and global significance.
The EAWLS took on the Kenyan component of the project
at Taita Hills, Mbololo and Kasigau forests, from 2001-2004.
Village-based field demonstration activities on alternative
livelihood strategies and technologies were hosted in
order to share and spread practical information.
For example:
- Community fuel plots, low-cost biogas plants,
energy saving ‘maendeleo-liners’ stoves
and fireless cookers were developed to reduce fuel
consumption. Reports show that firewood consumption
has reduced by 50% and even by as much as 70% in
some areas.
- Homestay Ecotourism was another idea embraced
by the community. Better crop yields from the use
of sludge from the bio-digester supported the development
of an eco-tourism enterprise. Rather than build
lodges, the community now hosts visitors who stay
in local homes. This has helped generate alternative
sources of income and exposed visitors to an authentic
experience.
Between January 2003 and December 2004
farmers were trained in using appropriate farming techniques
and systems e.g. organic farming, integrated pest management,
water harvesting, etc. Farm forestry was also introduced
to help soil and water conservation. The project was
funded by UNDP and the Ministry of Environment and Natural
Resources.
Working in collaboration with the department
of Forestry, participatory forest management plans were
prepared for Mbololo, Mwambirwa and Kasigau forests.
The local institutions reponsible for implementing these
plans have formally appield for registration as a Forest
Association, NGACOFA. Ngangao the parent company was
gazetted through a gazette notice in 2002.
Following the success of this initiative, EAWLS has
since secured CEPF grant to continue its work with the
local communities in the area.
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