In Kwale county, residents of Mwamdudu are urging both government bodies and private enterprises to assist in developing their rehabilitated mangrove forests into an ecotourism hub, aiming to generate employment and stimulate the local economy.
Juma Mashanga, who chairs the Mwatsumbo Community Forest <a href="https://absafricatv.com/minister-hails-re-election-of-nigerian-as-african-public-relations-association-scribe/” title=”Minister hails re-election of Nigerian as African Public Relations Association scribe”>Association (CFA), stated that conservation initiatives ought to be complemented by
“After rehabilitating this mangrove forest, what next? We need a sustainability strategy. Ecotourism has great potential for this area,” he said.
Mashanga delivered his remarks on Friday at Mwamdudu Beach, following an event where 20,000 mangrove seedlings were planted.
This planting activity was conducted collaboratively with I&M Bank, facilitated by the I&M Foundation, and also involved Furaha and Baraka Farms.
Mashanga highlighted that Mwamdudu, situated on the Tsunza Peninsula, boasts picturesque scenery and is well-suited for homestay tourism, enabling local families to earn directly from guests.
“When you have homestays here, the income goes straight to families and strengthens community livelihoods,” he said, adding that diversifying income
Kihara Maina, the regional CEO for East Africa at I&M Bank Group, reiterated the bank’s dedication to environmental protection and to achieving the national goal of planting 15 billion trees by the year 2032.
Maina noted that the I&M Foundation, which allocates 30 percent of its financial re planting one million trees during the recent Mwamdudu initiative
“Tree planting creates ecosystems that support employment and ecotourism is one way of ensuring environmental conservation and sustainable livelihoods,” he said.
Daniel Mwero, CEO of Furaha and Baraka Farms, explained that this collaboration has facilitated the monthly planting of approximately 250,000 trees throughout the Tsunza Peninsula, thereby generating jobs
“It is the community that raises the seedlings using the funds we provide, creating jobs for thousands of residents,” Mwero said, adding the initiative has contributed to nine of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Elvis Fondo, the Kwale county conservator for the Kenya Forest Service, reported that the county contains approximately 8,500 hectares (21,003 acres) of mangrove forests, with over 2,000 hectares (4,942 acres) located on the Tsunza Peninsula. He encouraged all Kenyans to back the nationwide tree-growing effort.
According to Mashanga, the restoration of mangroves in Mwamdudu presents greater difficulties compared to adjacent regions, as seedlings require a roughly 30-minute transport from the nursery to their designated planting locations.
Operating under a participatory forest management plan, the Mwatsumbo CFA oversees 2,067 hectares (5,107 acres) of mangrove forest and has successfully rehabilitated 288 hectares (711 acres) out of its 300-hectare (741 acres) goal.
Mashanga, whose tenure concludes next year, expressed confidence that the outstanding objective would be met prior to the year’s end and appealed to partners for ongoing support of conservation initiatives.
