News Archives - A Rocha Kenya

The Future guardians of Conservation

11 April 2024

by Alex Simiyu with No Comment News

In the realm of conservation, the involvement of young people is not just desirable; it’s essential. As custodians of the Earth’s future, today’s youth hold the key to preserving our planet’s biodiversity, natural resources, and ecological balance. Empowering them in conservation efforts not only ensures the sustainability of our environment but also cultivates a generation of environmentally conscious leaders.

Recognizing the Role of Youth:

Young people bring fresh perspectives, innovative ideas, and boundless energy to the table. Their passion for environmental causes, coupled with their adeptness with technology and social media, makes them potent agents of change. Moreover, engaging youth in conservation fosters a sense of ownership and responsibility towards nature from an early age, instilling lifelong environmental stewardship.

Education as a Catalyst:

Education forms the cornerstone of empowering young individuals in conservation. By integrating environmental studies into school curricula and extracurricular activities, we can nurture a generation that understands the intricate relationships between humans and nature. Hands-on experiences, field trips, and outdoor education programs not only enhance academic learning but also foster a deeper connection with the natural world.

Mentorship and Skill Development:

Providing mentorship opportunities and skill-building programs is crucial for nurturing the next generation of conservationists. Experienced professionals can guide young enthusiasts, share insights, and impart practical knowledge about conservation techniques, biodiversity monitoring, and sustainable practices. Moreover, offering internships, workshops, and volunteer programs allows young people to gain firsthand experience and develop essential skills in environmental management and advocacy.

Amplifying Youth Voices:

Empowering young people in conservation also entails amplifying their voices and incorporating their perspectives into decision-making processes. Establishing youth councils, advisory boards, and participatory platforms enables them to contribute ideas, influence policies, and drive grassroots initiatives. By actively involving youth in conservation planning and implementation, we not only harness their creativity and enthusiasm but also foster a sense of ownership and commitment towards conservation goals.

Leveraging Technology and Innovation:

In today’s digital age, technology serves as a powerful tool for engaging and empowering young people in conservation efforts. From crowdsourcing biodiversity data through citizen science projects to using social media platforms for advocacy and awareness-raising campaigns, technology offers myriad opportunities for youth involvement. Embracing innovation, such as GIS mapping, remote sensing, and blockchain for conservation, not only enhances the effectiveness of conservation initiatives but also appeals to tech-savvy youth.

Building Collaborative Networks:

Collaboration is key to empowering young people in conservation on a global scale. Creating networks, partnerships, and alliances among youth organizations, environmental NGOs, educational institutions, and governmental agencies fosters knowledge exchange, resource sharing, and collective action. By connecting young conservationists across borders and cultures, we can leverage their collective power to address pressing environmental challenges and catalyze positive change worldwide.

Cultivating a Culture of Empowerment:

Ultimately, empowering young people in conservation requires fostering a culture of inclusivity, diversity, and empowerment. By creating safe and supportive spaces where young individuals feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute, we can unlock their full potential as catalysts for environmental sustainability. Celebrating their achievements, acknowledging their efforts, and providing opportunities for leadership and growth nurtures a generation of confident and motivated conservation leaders.

Conclusion:

Empowering young people in conservation is not just a moral imperative; it’s an investment in our planet’s future. By harnessing their passion, creativity, and potential, we can address the pressing environmental challenges of our time and build a more sustainable and resilient world for generations to come. Through education, mentorship, technology, collaboration, and a culture of empowerment, let us empower young people to become the guardians of conservation and stewards of our planet’s precious resources.

The Coral Crisis; Understanding Corals and Coral Bleaching

9 April 2024

by Alex Simiyu with No Comment News

Introduction

In the mesmerizing depths of our oceans lies a wonder of nature: the coral reefs. These vibrant ecosystems, often called the rainforests of the sea, teem with life and color, providing a habitat for a myriad of marine creatures. However, beneath their beauty lies a silent crisis – coral bleaching.

The Marvels of Corals

Corals are marine invertebrates that form colonies, primarily found in tropical oceans where the water is clear and shallow. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, ranging from the branching Acropora to the massive brain corals. Despite their stony appearance, corals are living organisms, with tiny polyps building calcium carbonate skeletons over generations, forming the intricate structures we recognize as coral reefs.

These reefs serve as vital ecosystems, supporting a quarter of all marine life despite covering less than one percent of the ocean floor. They protect coastlines from erosion, provide food for millions of people, and are hotspots of biodiversity.

The Bleaching Plague

Coral bleaching is a phenomenon that occurs when corals expel the algae living in their tissues, causing them to turn white. These algae, called zooxanthellae, provide corals with their vibrant colors and most of their energy through photosynthesis. When corals are stressed due to changes in conditions like temperature, light, or pollution, they expel these algae, leaving behind a pale, ghostly skeleton.

The primary driver of coral bleaching is rising sea temperatures, attributed to climate change. As oceans warm, corals experience heat stress, leading to bleaching events on a large scale. Other stressors like pollution, overfishing, and ocean acidification exacerbate the problem, making corals more vulnerable to bleaching.

The Devastating Impact

Coral bleaching is not just an aesthetic issue; it has severe consequences for marine ecosystems and the millions of people who depend on them. When corals bleach, they become weak and more susceptible to disease, reducing their ability to provide habitat and support marine life. This can lead to a collapse of entire reef ecosystems, causing ripple effects throughout the food chain.

Furthermore, coral reefs contribute significantly to the economy through tourism, fisheries, and shoreline protection. The loss of coral reefs can devastate coastal communities that rely on these resources for their livelihoods.

Hope on the Horizon

Despite the bleak outlook, there is hope for the future of corals. Conservation efforts such as marine protected areas, sustainable fishing practices, and reducing carbon emissions can help mitigate the impacts of coral bleaching. Scientists are also exploring innovative solutions like coral restoration and breeding programs to enhance the resilience of corals to stressors.

Individuals can also make a difference by reducing their carbon footprint, supporting sustainable seafood, and raising awareness about the importance of coral reefs. By coming together and taking action, we can protect these invaluable ecosystems for generations to come.

Conclusion

Corals and coral bleaching represent a critical environmental issue that demands our attention and action. As stewards of the planet, it is our responsibility to protect these fragile ecosystems and ensure a sustainable future for marine life and coastal communities. By understanding the marvels of corals and the threats they face, we can work towards solutions that preserve these underwater wonders for future generations to marvel at.

Our marine team at A Rocha Kenya is keen to follow up and find out just how best can we prevent or reduce the risks of killing the entire colonies that we have at the moment. Feel free to support our work and volunteer with us.

Another Southern Banded Snake Eagle Rescue

2 April 2024

by Alex Simiyu with No Comment News

Introduction

Excuse the pun but our partners at the Watamu Raptor Centre are off to a flying start with another Southern Banded Snake Eagle rescue last week. For such a rare, endangered and unknown species of snake eagle that is confined to declining coastal forests, it’s both interesting and concerning that two of these eagles have needed assistance over recent months. It is also telling of the need for the new Watamu Raptor Centre to provide raptor rescue, rehabilitation and research at the coast.

Late in the afternoon of March 27^th, Leslie Kadane of Primate Global (the same person who alerted us to the prior snake eagle’s predicament) reached out to Roy Bealey from the Watamu Raptor Centre to share that another unwell raptor was being held for collection at the KWS office in the Arabuko Sokoke Forest. He rushed over to collect the bird and was stunned to see another Southern Banded Snake Eagle in need of help. He quickly noted with relief that this eagle did not have an identifying ring or tracker attached, reassuring him that this was not a case of the recently released snake eagle, Ngala, getting himself into trouble again already. Mr Salim Makomba, Warden of Arabuko Sokoke Forest Reserve and National Park, had kindly stayed after hours to ensure the eagle was safely retrieved and assisted Roy in his initial checks of the bird’s condition.

The eagle was picked up after some KWS rangers had noticed it behaving strangely during their patrols, firstly being stood on the road and then repeatedly flying only a few meters before again landing on the ground when approached. Mr. Timothy Baya Mweri, a researcher in attendance who works for Friends of Arabuko Sokoke Forest, was able to capture the eagle, which they provided with some water before returning to the KWS office. The eagle vomited en-route and the Warden informed Roy that it was weak and drooling on arrival. It did seem dazed on collection but by the time Roy had returned home and given the eagle some energising glucose fluids it was looking strong, ready for a fight and highly unimpressed about receiving so much human attention.

With technical guidance from the Kenya Bird of Prey Trust team, a full assessment of the eagles’ condition was conducted, and nothing was found to be clearly wrong anymore. A night of rest under ICU conditions gave the eagle a chance to rehydrate and recover from the prior day’s ordeal, and it was then relocated to one of the brand new Watamu Raptor Centre pens. After three days of observation, with no further signs of weakness, injury or illness and in fact being very fat, strong and grumpy about being retained, the decision was made to return this eagle to where it belongs the following morning. While any raptor that can be captured by hand is usually in a critical condition, and we’ll probably never fully solve the mystery of what initially brought this eagle to the ground, with the recent start of rains at the coast we were also acutely aware that this eagle may have a mate, chicks and various domestic duties to attend to in the forest. There was no clear reason to retain it in captivity any longer. Due to the timing over Easter Weekend, Bea Anderson Schipper, who generously financed construction of the brand new Watamu Raptor Centre on her property, aptly named this beautiful eagle Magdalena.

The recent start of rains in Watamu may provide a clue as to what might have happened to this eagle, however. With the first heavy rains following a dry spell, many amphibians become much more active, including toads. Toads contain bufotoxins, which, if eaten can lead to illness, drooling and animals behaving intoxicated. Intoxication can last for a relatively short period of time before a full recovery, but these toxins can also be deadly, so vomiting en-route to the KWS office may have actually saved Magdalena’s life.

Warden Makomba was kept updated about the eagles’ condition throughout its time at the Watamu Raptor Centre and showed great concern for its wellbeing. After placing an identifying ring on Magdalena’s left leg, opposite leg to Ngala so we can differentiate them from a distance or photos, we congregated together with various concerned KWS rangers, the Arabuko’s Head Forester, and members of the Arocha Kenya and Primate Global teams who had also helped save Ngala, the prior snake eagle. We convened at the beautiful and newly refurbished Nyari Viewpoint which closely overlooks the site where Magdalena had originally been collected. Warden Makomba swiftly released the eagle and in a flash it rocketed off back to its freedom within the stunning Arabuko Sokoke Forest. We hope that by now it has reunited with its potential mate and settled back into its rightful home, perhaps also a bit less inclined to snack on toads in future

KWS Warden Salim Makomba releasing Magdalena (left) and the team of concerned citizens, Head Forester Truphena Njaka, and other concerned citizens that attended the early morning release at the beautiful Nyari Viewpoint (right).

The receptiveness, collaborative spirit and genuine concern shown not only by officials of KWS and other authorities, but also by a great diversity of regular people living along the coast has been very encouraging and inspires all who love raptors to continue expanding upon recent successes at the coast. We take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to everyone involved, including a special new mention of Kenchick who have now generously started donating young chickens to the Watamu Raptor Centre on a weekly basis to provide an important food source for raptors in their care. It would be remiss of us to not add that, thanks to the satellite tracker kindly donated by The Peregrine Fund, we know the previously released southern banded snake eagle, Ngala, has been on the move and is currently also in the main Arabuko Sokoke forest after spending a few days in the forest surrounding the Gede National Monument immediately following release. He may have even been spotted by local birder extraordinaire Jonathan Baya near the Arabuko Sokoke Forest swamp last week. You can read more about his remarkable journey back to freedom here and, who knows – he and Magdalena may become a pair one day.

Sustainable sources of livelihood-Kitchen garden

21 March 2024

by Alex Simiyu with No Comment News

Kitchen garderning training at Bogamachuko

The kitchen gardening training at Bogamachuko was a wonderful experience. We got to learn the different farming methods the individuals were embracing and the output status in terms of yield and crop production. Defining Kitchen gardening is vital to answer the questions on why it is a kitchen garden? what crops I should plant on the garden and how should I maintain the garden, these were among the myriads of questions that this training session sought to answer. Our Environmental officer, Lenah Akoth and Gideon Kishoyan who were both well acquainted with the agricultural and environmental conservation matters took the lead on this training.

Showing previous successes and performance of other farmers in the different area around the Arabuko- Sokoke Forest seemed to have been a better encouragement as their eyes would beam at the different pictures and images of the kitchen garden that has been set up by different farmers. They were so encouraged that this project was doable, and they felt confident that they would put every part of the Kitchen gardening installation into practice at home. Having shown this great commitment we proceeded to the practical training which was led by Kishoyan.

The Kitchen gardening installation process involves different stages which are crucial and therefore ought to be followed keenly to the end. The first stage is the mixing of manure and soil in the ratio of 1:1 near the site of the sack garden. This will make transportation easier and save you time, for it could get heavier as you add other components. Then we placed a hollow tin in the middle of the polythene/bag at the bottom this helps your sack to be steady and straight up.

The hollow sack was filled with ballast and the space between the tin and the polythene bag with a mix of manure and the topsoil, then the sack was unfolded as we filled the sack with ballast. Once it was filled to the top, it was pulled out and any new spaces filled with stones. This stage was done repeatedly until the whole polythene bag or sack had a tunnel down in the middle. Right after this holes were made the holes were the size of a coin on the bag wall using a sharp stick each having a gap of 15 cm between each hole. It was important to note that the holes would form a “V” shape, and that the holes are not in the same vertical line to prevent blocking some from getting direct sunlight.

Finally, our facilitators demonstrated how to plant seedlings in the holes carefully so as not to damage the roots by pressing the soil around the seedlings using the fingers to make it firm. It is advisable that if the farmers wanted to plant different types of crops, root crops (eg, bulb onions) were the best solution and they were to be planted at the top and leafy vegetables (spinach or kale) on the sides. Most of these other crops like the bulb onion have strong antibiotic and antimicrobial properties which are used to inhibit soil-borne diseases. Water is a necessity and the farmers were advised to pour water down the ballast tunnel they would need approximately 20 litres (1 jerry can) of water for 2 days. We pray and hope that the kitchen gardens would thrive!!

Volunteer stories; Sabaki Waterbird counts.

8 March 2024

by Alex Simiyu with No Comment News

Sabaki Water bird count activity was an amazing experience for me, seeing the beauty of God’s creation in matters relating to birds. Getting to see different species of birds, different colors of feathers and different sounds which were so captivating and mind blowing. The sounds of the birds in the sky brought about a rhythm that was so relaxing. The great efforts from our team leader Mr Kirao, the bird count process went down smoothly, every member got a role, this made me feel involved and engaged in this wonderful and exciting experience.

Consequently, accurate data was collected data was collected. This made me appreciate teamwork and its effectiveness in the achievement of goals. The process of data collection and count requires several tools to be successful and are as follows; binoculars and telescopes are used to view the different species of birds from a distance to avoid distracting the birds hence flying away. Data entry application which records the species of birds that have been counted.

I got to realize that most of the feeding zones for the birds were occupied by mangrove, resulting to most of the birds such as whimbrel, grey plover, common greenshank, sooty gull, lesser crested tern, and little egret relocating to find new feeding zones this significantly led to the reduction in their population. To my surprise I found out that there are flamingos around the coastal region and actually this was so new to me, I have never thought I would see them here and it was such an eye opener and I can confidently say that there are flamingos in the coastal region even in places like Sabaki River mouth.

Walking in the slippery mud was such a huge challenge for me, you would risk falling and sinking in the mud if you do not balance your feet quite well to maneuver. I am grateful that I got an opportunity to volunteer with A Rocha Kenya and I don’t regret this decision. I have grown even in the things and ventures I never pictured in my entire life. The team and staff are so friendly and are willing to teach and engage volunteers in whatever aspect they would want to learn from. One lesson I would love to pass on to someone who would consider volunteering at A Rocha Kenya is, be flexible and have the heart of service to serve God’s creation.

Written by Ernest, Volunteer

Working and growing together.

27 February 2024

by Alex Simiyu with No Comment News

Working together and learning from one another.

Cooperation is one of the C’s that A Rocha derives its meaning from. Cooperation simply means the action or process of working together towards the same end of focusing to the same outcome. A Rocha Kenya has colluded with the Kenya Community Development Fund(KCDF) and I&Mfoundation to grease the wheels for the different projects fixated on environmental conservation, community development and sustainable livelihoods. We can surely say that this partnership predominantly uplifted the rate at which roles were executed and this consequently increased the level of productivity.

For three consecutive days I&MFoundation and KCDF organized the learning event for the I&M Environmental Conservation project early this month. The three day learning event aimed at the following; to share learning experiences and innovations for the three years of the project implementation, the implementing parties that is KCDF and I&M Foundation to be jointly exposed to the projects done by MEDA-F and A Rocha Kenya and lastly the event was to fundamentally help the different organizations harness ideas for future programming and implementation.

Their Project on environmental education at Kagombani primary school was so apparent, the moment we set our feet to the school the energy from the students could not be outmatched. Their jolly faces could plainly show that they were so excited to receive the guests. They did a number of presentations on songs and dances which I later on asked the headteacher how long it took them to prepare all that and she said, “just a day”. The number of fruit trees in their garden was impressive and the drip irrigation is handy especially during the drought times.

Day one with MEDA-Foundation at Cerebral palsy center.

On the first day, the meeting was held at Malindi hosted by the MEDA-Foundation at Sinbad Park which was officially their new residence having set up their offices and their vocation training center in the 6 Acre piece of land they claim to have recently purchased. MEDA- foundation CEO took us through the different projects they run in their foundation. MEDA-foundation runs a Cerebral Palsy Centre in Malindi. The cerebral Palsy Centre is a gift to the community in Malindi, the children living with Autism and Cerebral palsy are well taken care of and the caregivers are happy to give their lives to this children. On a one-on-one conversation with one of the caregivers, the duty of serving the children is not because of the pay but it all stems out from the desire to serve and the hope she have that one day a child who walked in with weak bones, will walk again or will hold a spoon again.

At A Rocha Kenya

The second day the team was at A Rocha Kenya, Mwamba Conservation center .Judith Ochieng The projects coordinator joined the meeting and clearly explained the duties and activities conducted under the various departments and where the vision of the organization is derived for it came out clearly that the organization is more focused on conserving environment more so the threatened habitats for threatened species appearing on the red list as indicated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature( IUCN).

Later on, the team went to Mida Primary where they exuberantly congratulated the young ‘wangari Maathai’, Viola Karisa who managed to plant 350 trees with 285 of these surviving the drought. Shomani girls also did an exemplary work with their school looking all green and their principal commenting that their environmental club had over 100 committed members and this translated to enormous number of trees around the school. The energy saving jiko is another gift to the school from this project. The school chef is truly grateful, he said that were it not for the jiko he would have left the occupation, yet this jiko not only save him time food preparation but also saves him from the deadly smoke in the kitchen.

Last but not least..

Last but not least seems to be an understatement to express the occurrences from the last day.The meeting was held at Sea view hotel Malindi. A Rocha Kenya, MEDA-foundation, Nguzo-Africa and Nkoilale community Development Foundation-NCDF made presentations on their highs and lows in their projects. The different stakeholders such as the county government of Malindi, The Kenya Forest Service(KFS) ,principal and teachers from the different schools that were invited graced the occasion.

James Gatere head of the I&M Foundation helped the different organizations to their heads together focusing on the future and how they ought to be prepared for the impacts and for the change that would come out of the amazing projects that have been implemented. There is need for more awareness at the community level on matters environmental conservation.

Impact stories from an epic project

21 February 2024

by Alex Simiyu with No Comment News

Impacts stories from the project.

Starting strong is good. Finishing strong is epic”-Robin Sharma. This quote best explains why our efforts and zeal to accomplish our stipulated plans should stem out of the innate desire to derive change or impact and ultimately do so efficaciously. How then do we learn better, refocus, and strategize for the future? Taking discerning out look of the results from the initially conducted project could help in making sure that the project was done in the best possible way to culminate impacts that are geared towards development.

The recently concluded three-year project conducted by A Rocha Kenya, a Christian based environmental non-governmental organization that deals with conservation and protection of threatened habitats, has brought about lifechanging impacts and benefits. This project was funded by I&M Foundation in collaboration with Kenya Community development Foundation (KCDF). This project and the interventions aimed to solve the issue of environmental degradation. This was so much timely and in line with A Rocha’s mission to protect the Arabuko-Sokoke forest which is in the verge of deterioration and depletion because of massive deforestation from the community surrounding the forest.

The interventions included tree planting, installation of energy saving jiko, fireless cooker, distribution of solar lanterns and provision of water tanks and conduction of awareness forums. This project targeted communities surrounding the Arabuko-Sokoke forest including Mida, Mijomboni, Girimacha, Malanga, Kahingoni, Bogamachuko, and Nyari. The community members were open minded about the various interventions, and this facilitated the implementation process, the collaboration from different school headteachers and principals was exceptional.

Tree planting at Mida primary

Visiting Mida primary school gave a synopsis of how viable environmental awareness and tree planting was. The principal who could not help but grin like a cheshire cat while expressing how the tree planting and the water tanks have been so crucial to help them take care of the over 3000 trees planted in the school environment. Out of the environmental awareness sessions students have been inspired to plant trees at home. “Thanks to this wonderful program we do have a mini-Wangari Maathai” says the principal. The “mini-Wangari Maathai” is a student at Mida Primary who have planted 350 trees with 285 trees doing well in her small piece of land that she cheerfully shares with her grand mother who is growing her cassava in the same portion.

Energy saving jiko at Shomani Girls

Goes without saying that the energy saving jiko installed in Shomani girls, is a huge blessing to the chefs who incessantly make sure that the four meals are served on time and that the schools programs are not delayed, as opposed to the previous days when they would be cooking using the three-stoned (meko) that not only consume a lot of firewood but also pervade the whole kitchen with smoke. The chief chef, Franklyn Wamalwa who has been working for the school for three years claims that were it not for the energy saving jiko he would have resigned due to the unhealthy conditions that would fill up the kitchen.

The fireless cooker

At Bogamachuko village, women are delighted to have the fireless cooker, which according to Agnes Shindo a mother of five, finish up the cooking for meals like rice and ugali. She can save up firewood. Otherwise, she would be in the forest cutting down some firewood. She is happy that she is not worried about waking up late to warm dinner for her household members who would come late for this fireless cooker can keep the food warm for longer time. These interventions have surely revealed great impacts not only to the individuals involved but also to the aspiration of protecting the environment against degradation and exploitation. We appreciate the support and the team work that has been put in play to bring about these lifechanging impacts.

Annual waterbird counts 2024.

8 February 2024

by Alex Simiyu with No Comment News

Reasons behind the waterbird count.

A waterbird or aquatic bird is a bird that lives on or around water. The evolution of waterbirds is often mainly centered around adaptations to improve feeding techniques. This includes legs that are adapted to diving or wading and webbing between the toes. The shape of bills is very crucial for filtering from mud or water for food. Most of these adaptations are common between different types of waterbirds. Waterbird count is an annual monitoring activity to collect information on the species and number of waterbirds in wetlands, indicating the health of the wetland.

This year A Rocha team armed with binoculars, telescopes and notebooks embarked on this invigorating activity for three days. We had different teams visiting different sites for the waterbird counts. We recorded a decline in the total number of birds compared to the previous year. The prevailing conditions at the sites indicated extreme deterioration. Here is a compendious report of how the annual waterbird counts went down for the three days.

Day 1-Mida Creek

On Tuesday, 23^rd of January marked the first day of the annual waterbird counts. The team led by Mr. Kirao who coordinates the terrestrial projects at A Rocha Kenya. Having packed up the telescopes and data sheets needed for the task, the team set out for Mida creek at 2pm and the counts commenced at 2:20pm.

To the casual eye, you could catch a glimpse of a great flock of grey plovers from a far, such a majestic sight that was, sign of life for the waterbirds. The other species of waterbirds counted included Black-headed heron, common ringed-Plovers, Whimbrel, Little stints who were most of the time hovering over the water. The curlew sandpipers recorded the greatest population of 1161, the little stints recorded a total of 849, greater sand plovers recorded a total of 516 and Terek Sandpipers recorded a total of 265, these were the species that recorded the highest number.

On the flip side we also had species that recorded low population count under 10 like the Lesser crested tern, Sanderlin, Bar-tailed godwit and Eurasian Curlew. A total of 3841 water birds were recorded.

Day2-Lake Mikimba, Gongoni Krystal salt, Sabaki River mouth and Kensalt.

On 24^th January 2024 at crack of dawn, the counting crew headed out for what marked the second day of the annual waterbird counts. This time round we had teams splitting because we had four regions to cover for the day. We had team Kirao heading to Lake Mikimba and Gongoni Krystalline Salt LTD and team Colin heading to Sabaki River mouth and Kensalt LTD.

At Sabaki River mouth the count started at 8:30 am. A mangrove lagoon behind the river mouth was noted, it was soddened with shallow waters filled with mud. A total of 3791 waterbirds were counted from this place. Curlew sandpipers recorded the highest number of 915, common ringed plovers recorded 765, Little stints (560) and Sooty gull (356) we also counted Lesser crested Terns, swift terns, Lesser sand plovers and little Egret.

At around the same time Team Kirao were at Lake Mikimba which was covered with a great deal of reeds and water hyacinths. Most of the African-billed storks patched on trees that surrounded the lake. The team positioned their telescopes from a hilly view and counting kicked off. A total of 499 waterbirds were counted. African open-billed stork recorded a total of 450, African Jacana 14, Allun’s gallinule (5). Other species counted from this place included, Malachite kingfisher(1), Black-headed Heron (3), Western Marsh harrier (1), white-winged Black Tern (2), white-faced whistling duck (17).

At 2pm the teams set out to the salty grounds and Team Colin started their counting at Kensalt at 1:52pm. A total of 3255 birds were counted. Little stints recording 1119, Curlew Sandpiper (569) Greater Flamingo (509) common ring plovers (227). Other species of waterbirds included Lesser Flamingoes, Common Sandpipers, Gull-billed Tern, Great White Pelican and Caspian Terns.

Team Kirao started the counting at Gongoni Kaysalt at 2:54 p.m. A total of 3450 waterbirds were recorded. Greater Flamingo were 2627 and 480 Lesser Flamingo. Most of the salt pans were empty due to the high concentration of salt and food for the birds was hard to come by. A huge number of flamingoes were in the water reservoir. There was a small flock of little stints which could not settle for good time because of a hovering raptor (yellow-billed Kite).

Day 3 Lake Mbaratum, Lake Chemchem, Arabuko Swamp, Lake Jilore and Malindi harbor

26^th January marked the third day of the annual water bird counts and just as the previous day the teams set out for the journey at 5am in the morning. One team headed to Lake Mbaratum and Lake Chemchem while the other proceeded to Arabuko swamp and Lake Jilore.

Counting at Arabuko swamp started at 6:56 am, the species counted included Knob-billed duck (21), whistling Duck (27), African Fish eagle (4), African Jacana (4), Lesser Moorhen (1) and Wood Sandpiper (3). The counting ended at 7:44am and the same team headed to Lake Jilore and counting began at 09:44 am.

A total of 24 birds were counted, open billed stork (15), African Jacana (4), Wood sandpiper (1), white faced whistling duck (1).

The other team made their first stop at Lake Mbaratum and a total of 36 waterbirds were counted. Fulvous whistling duck (5), Little grebe (6), Pygmy geese (2) White backed duck, Black-headed heron, Grey-headed kingfisher, Squacco Heron and Wood Sandpiper. At Lake Chemchem, the water level was 20 metres from the main counting hill. The water was covered with reeds, and there was only 15% of open water. A total of 133 birds were recorded with Open-bill stork with the highest number (62).

The teams merged and counting at Malindi Harbor kicked off at 11:30 am, counting was done at low tides, massive area was exposed for feeding and it was such a calm environment. The total number of birds recorded were 817 with 411 being the Lesser-crested terns. The counting ceased at 12:30pm.

Loving God through conservation

30 January 2024

by Alex Simiyu with No Comment News

New Year, new resolutions

It is that time of the year when many of us are setting goals or resolutions to focus on during the entirety of 2024. That is why we are taking a minute to talk about our goal as A Rocha, and why we hold it in such high esteem. Ultimately, the goals we set for a given year should in some way be building blocks for the goals we have set for the next 10 years which will in turn help us achieve our lifetime goals.

A huge portion of my work as a communications person is to share the vision (goal) of A Rocha Kenya with the rest of the world. To help our partners, friends, and everyone really, appreciate the why behind everything that we do. As a Christian organization in conservation, the Bible is the basis of all that we do. And that is why today, in a brief way, I wish to take us back to the very beginning, not just the beginning of A Rocha Kenya, but the beginning of our mission, which was given at the very beginning of the universe itself.

If you love me...

After creating everything (that was good) God created man to take care of His creation, entrusting him (man) with the responsibility of the highest order. The Bible says that “The LORD God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it. (Genesis 2:15, NIV)”. Somewhere else, the Bible records that God created man to honour and glorify Him (God). And through Jesus’s own words, we know that we love God (show that we honour Him) by obeying His commands [John 14: 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.]

Throughout the Bible, I have come across two commands that directly speaks to our vocational life, one is care for the world given in Genesis 1, and the other is go out and make disciples of all nations given in John 3. But even the great commission given in John 16, contains an element of taking care of the creation. Some manuscripts speak of spreading the gospel to all of creation, not just people!

Conservation is a lifetime goal, meant for all of us

From us as individuals to the many A Rocha organizations throughout the world, we understand that taking care of the environment is a job description given to all of us. It isn’t a career path or something we do just on the side, it is a mandate…a life-long goal assigned to all of us. Which means the daily, or weekly, or monthly, or yearly sub-goals we set, should in one way or another take us one step further towards accomplishing this goal.

The shape that taking care of God’s world will take may vary from person to person, organization to organization. Because at the end of the day, we can’t all work for conservation organizations just like we can’t all be front-line missionaries. But we can all be part of the conservation efforts.

Over the years, conservation (taking care of God’s creation) has been left in the by stands, often viewed by many as something that is neither here nor there. A vacation reserved for the selected few. But this couldn’t be any further from the truth. Taking care of this world is a responsibility for all of us! It is not a stretch to say we were created for this very purpose, because we were created for this very purpose! As we observed above, the sole purpose of man is to honour God, and what better way to do that than by doing what He created us to do.

Setting New Year resolutions

When writing this article, I am sitting here in the A Rocha Kenya compound, taking in the vista before me. Perching on the nearby trees, I can hear birds singing their melodious songs which blends well with the sound of the waves from the ocean a few metres away.

In sharp contrast, I remember the many places I have been where excessive distraction has been done. Where nature doesn’t smile at you but mourn, where everything has been burned to the ground. Where the waters have been polluted and the environment neglected, or even worse reduced to nothing but means of making short-term profits.

Instead of passing on the same old tale “the good old days”, where the air was fresh, when global warming was unheard of, and climate change was yet to be a thing. Maybe we can be a voice of change. It is my prayer that as we set this year’s resolutions, one of them will be “I will make sure that all my wastes are disposed properly, and I won’t use single-use plastics”

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A garden of hope

22 January 2024

by Alex Simiyu with No Comment News

Introduction

The willingness to give a lot of time and energy to the plants because they are important is one major trait about Viola that could get your eyes on stalks. Taking a glimpse of her small garden filled with nothing but over three hundred trees is such a majestic sight. After the few minutes stroll through her garden, we got to learn about the different tree species she has managed to plant in her small garden. She also showed us the tress she had planted recently and those from a while back. This is truly exceptional and commendable work from such young girl.

Who is Viola?

Viola is a junior high student at Mida primary (one of the partner schools that we actively work with). She lives in Mida, a village in Kilifi County. She is one of the students who have been keen and really benefited from our environmental education classes. Her enthusiasm and her motivation to plant trees is drawn from the inner satisfaction of wanting to just sit under a tree shade and enjoy her time. She loves and appreciates the beauty that these trees provide to not only her homestead, but to the entire environment. Mother nature is the ultimate inspiration.

Truly, walking through her garden, enjoying the fresh air, and hearing the leaves flip was such an amazing thing. I asked her why she is so dedicated to each plant and why keeping the count was so necessary. Her response was breathtaking, “My target is to plant 500 trees. I do the best I can with this small space I have. I am grateful that my grandfather graciously gave me this portion of land to plant these trees”.

Where she get the trees

A Rocha Kenya in partnership with Kenya Community Development Fund (KCDF- an organization that aims to promote social justice and sustainable development of communities), and I&M bank foundation (which aims to deliver a positive impact to society through social investment programs and create shared value for its stakeholders). We have worked together to ensure that the young conservationist across the villages around Arabuko-Sokoke Forest like Mida get enough tree seedling for planting. We have a team whose work is to aid in this by teaching communities on how to care for the trees, how to water them, and on which trees are better suited for their soil. We provide them with both indigenous (for restoration) and exotic trees (for domestic use as they grow fast). Our aim is to achieve sustainable development and protection of the natural resources for, which in this case is Arabuko -Sokoke Forest and the Mida-Creek, against exploitation and destruction.

We are encouraged to see such young and vibrant conservationists take on this noble course. Whether it is through participating in their environmental clubs or by taking a step further and planting their own tree gardens, it is encouraging. Viola is one of the many young students who benefit from our work with the community. We welcome anyone who would love to partner with us so that together we can continue empowering the communities as we gear them towards sustainable development.