Questions/Answers

Coast Development Authority (CDA) is a State Corporation established by an Act of Parliament Cap 449 of the Laws of Kenya to plan and co-ordinate the implementation of development projects in whole of Coast region. CDA is implementing Kenya Climate Change Adaptation Programme (KCCAP) a National program funded by the Adaptation Fund (AF) under the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change (UNFCCC). KCCAP is an integrated program aimed at building resilience and adaptive capacity to climate change to vulnerable communities in Kenya. One of the objectives of the program in Coast Region is to increase Climate Change resilience to the effects of sea level rise and shoreline changes through Integrated Shoreline and Mangrove Ecosystem Management (ISMEM) in Vanga and Gazi. This involves rehabilitation of mangrove forest ecosystem through nursery establishment and mangrove planting in the identified sites. CDA in Collaboration with local Community Forest Associations (CFAs) has been planting mangroves in Vanga and Gazi ecosystems. The identified sites include degraded areas due to human activity and existing tidal deserts. Tidal deserts have been perceived as areas not conducive for survival of mangroves. CDA therefore, adopted the Hydrological Modification Technology to rehabilitate the tidal deserts. The technology involves creation of water channels in planting beds and scooping the top soil to access the fertile muddy soil where mangrove seedlings can grow. Through this technology, out of the 6,000 thousands seedlings planted in Baraka Conservation Group in Gazi, Jimbo Environmental Group and Mwagugu Mari-Culture Group in Vanga 80% of them survived to date. The innovation has high potential for replication in similar areas which are tidal deserts.

Overall objective is to increase resilience to the effects of rise in sea level and shoreline changes through Integrated Shoreline and Mangrove Ecosystem Management at Vanga and Gazi in the Coastal region of Kenya. This will be achieved through Rehabilitation of Vanga and Gazi Mangrove Ecosystems, Rehabilitation and protection of Coral Reef and Sea Grass Ecosystems, Shoreline Stabilization, Erosion and accretion control and Setting up of an Inventory and GIS Database for the shoreline and mangrove ecosystems. Rehabilitation of mangrove ecosystem entails three major activities which include: 1. Sites identification and Mapping - identified sites included the existing five forest groups in Gazi and Vanga ecosystem which are (Baraka Conservation Women, Mwagugu Mariculture, Mwambiweje Women, Vumilia Nguvu Kazi and Jimbo Environmental Groups) 2. Mangrove Nursery Establishment - meant to provide planting materials and ensure only healthiest seedlings are planted for best results and communities learn how to establish mangrove nurseries for sustainability. 3. Mangrove planting – this involves transplanting the mangrove seedlings to the identified sites and it is dependent on rains and tides as the sites are mostly onshore. The planting exercise was done through the assistance of the technical team and community group members.

The initiative involves planting of mangroves in Vanga and Gazi ecosystems which are degraded. The identified sites are near human settlements which are prone to rise of sea level. The community’s mostly depend on fishing as a source of livelihood. Lack of proper management of mangrove resources has led to reduced fish catch since mangrove act as fish breeding ground and protecting. Mangroves are also a source of livelihood, fuel energy and are medicinal. Mangroves planting in these ecosystems therefore, aims to promote/support community livelihoods and also provide protection against sea level rise. The initiative reaches out to the poorest and most vulnerable (including Women, Youths and the Aged). Also the project implementation also utilises inputs of the local community’s e.g through skills, indigenous knowledge, and community groups to establish nurseries and plant the mangroves. It therefore, enhances community and stakeholder participation and partnership.

Planting the mangroves in degraded areas using the technology will enable the Authority achieve its functions through supporting livelihood, protecting the community against sea level rise, promoting stakeholder collaboration and empowering the community economically and through knowledge transfer.

CDA was established to provide integrated development planning, coordination and implementation of projects within its area s of jurisdiction which includes the whole of Coast region and Exclusive Economic Zone. One of the core functions is to initiate and implement conservation programs in the region. In implementing its mandate the Authority employees a participatory, multi-sectoral and integrated approach considers all related factors in sustainable utilization and management of the natural resources. Therefore the initiative enables the authority to tackle pertinent issues of environmental concern like climate change.

Mangrove rehabilitation in the project area has significantly impacted on the population through built resilience of the communities to effects of rising sea levels and shoreline changes. Mangrove planting has increased forest cover within the ecosystems which has resulted to protected communities against sea level rise, increased fish catch through increased breeding grounds and livelihood access.

Tidal deserts are areas where mangrove growth and survival is constrained. Nevertheless, most mangrove forests along the Kenyan Coast have degraded areas consisting of tidal deserts that have posed a challenge to rehabilitation. Prior to the initiative efforts to rehabilitate the tidal deserts in Vanga and Gazi achieved little success. This was a problem CDA had to address. Through adoption of the Hydrological Modification Technology rehabilitation of tidal deserts in mangrove ecosystem has been successful in the identified sites within the project area.

Before the adoption of the technology the known existing tidal deserts in the project area was not successfully rehabilitated. It is also not in record that the Hydro-logical Modification Technology has been used elsewhere hence the originality.

The initiative was funded by the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change through the Adaptation Fund. Its implementation involved human labour, tools and equipment. The human labour include community members, CDA officers and other stakeholders.

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The initiative can be replicated in similar areas to carry out mangrove rehabilitation both locally and international

The initiative is sustainable since it’s not labor intensive and can easily be implemented at the local level by the community members. The community has been empowered with skills to implement the technology in the absence of the technical assistance. Economically – implementation of the initiative requires cheap labor which can be obtained locally from the community. Survival rates of mangroves will be higher increasing the mangrove forest cover which can act as a source of livelihood for the community among other benefits Socially – The implementation approach is all inclusive since it involves Youths, Women and Persons Living With Disability. Environmental – the technology is environmentally friendly since it does not involve use of any machinery.

The initiative involves creation of water channels which are usually filled up by silt during the high tides. However, the idea behind the technology is that, the seedling takes approximately six months to fully establish before it is affected by siltation. The filling of the water channels by silt takes approximately six months depending on the strength of tides. To sustain the imitative the community members have to maintain the water channels by scooping silt.

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It has been internally evaluated through periodic monitoring and evaluation. The National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) in Kenya evaluated also evaluated it.

It has been ascertained that, the innovation is the key to tidal deserts rehabilitation within the project implementation area.

• The number of mangrove seedlings planted compared to survival rates. Through this technology, out of the 6,000 thousands seedlings planted in Baraka Conservation Group in Gazi, Jimbo Environmental Group and Mwagugu Mari-Culture Group in Vanga 80% of them survived to date. • The cost of implementation compared to the impact levels.

In implementing its mandate the Authority employees a participatory, multi-sectorial and integrated approach considering all related factors in sustainable utilization and management of the natural resources. Therefore, to achieve this CDA has involved various institutions and assigned them specific roles as detailed below: 1. National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) - Implementing Entity for the entire project. 2. Kenya Marine & Fisheries Research Institute – Provide technical expertise on mangroves. 3. Kenya Forestry Service – The custodian of the National Forests. 4. Community Forest Associations (CFAs) – Implementers of the activities. They comprise community user groups including: Baraka Conservation Women Group, Mwagugu Mariculture Group, Mwambiweje Women Group, Vumilia Nguvu Kazi Group and Jimbo Environmental Group.

1. Indigenous knowledge is crucial in mangrove rehabilitation 2. Participatory approaches in implementation of projects is key in ensuring success and sustainability. 3. Innovation in project implementation is vital because it ensures success of project at a cheaper cost. 4. Proper timing is key in mangrove planting. To improve the initiative, further research is recommended.