Coastal indigenous and minority women driving Kenya’s blue forest conservation efforts

Published 2024년 2월 22일

Tridge summary

The Tsunza Fish Pond and Mangrove Restoration community project in Kenya, led by a group of 45 people, predominantly women, is working to conserve and restore the mangrove forest ecosystem of the Tsunza Peninsula. Mangroves, which are vital for biodiversity and carbon capture, have been significantly depleted in Kenya due to logging and degradation. In Vanga Bay, over-harvesting led to the loss of 1,114 acres of mangroves between 1991 and 2016. However, increased awareness of the role of mangroves in combating climate change has led to community-led conservation efforts, with over 300,000 seedlings planted and initiatives such as fish ponds and beekeeping. These efforts aim to restore Kenya’s 'blue forest' and protect coastal communities from climate change impacts.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

TSUNZA, Kenya, Feb 22 2024 (IPS) - Tsunza Peninsula is a natural wonder that sits just inside the many inlets of Mombasa Island on the border between Mombasa and Kwale Counties—a little-known spectacle of lagoons, islands, and thick mangroves in Kinango Sub-County, Kwale County, on Kenya’s coastal region. This natural paradise is a beehive of activities, with fishers meandering through the creeks and returning to the shores after a dawn harvest. Dhows and motorboats glide from shore to shore, with tourists and locals travelling between the two neighboring counties. What holds these activities together are the efforts of the 45 people, 35 of them women, of the Tsunza Fish Pond and Mangrove Restoration community project. They protect, preserve, conserve, and restore Tsunza’s mangrove forest and the entire ecosystem. Mangroves are not only a critical biodiversity hotspot; they are also coastal superheroes, a first line of defense against climate-induced coastal hazards. Mangroves ...

Source: Ipsnews