Posted on August, 07 2006

Kiwayu, Kenya – On the scenic beaches of Kiwayu on Kenya’s northern Indian Ocean coast, WWF is combining conservation with social development to improve the health of people and wildlife.

In addition to focusing on marine turtles as part of WWF’s Kiunga national marine reserve conservation and development project, the global conservation organization has helped construct a new medical dispensary in the nearby village of Mkokoni.

“The purpose of the project is not only to make a significant contribution to the sustainable conservation of the reserve’s habitat, but to improve the livelihoods of local communities who live here,” said Sam Weru of WWF’s Eastern Africa Regional Programme Office (EARPO).

“The health of the local community is very important, especially as they play an important role in our conservation efforts.”

Together with the WWF Kiunga project team, local communities, including the village of Mkokoni, have been actively involved in the marine turtle conservation. Through a volunteer programme, local youth are assisting WWF field staff with beach patrols and turtle nesting surveillance. And women collect beach litter that impedes nesting female turtles and their emerging hatchlings. With thousands of plastic beach shoes continually being washed ashore, WWF has also trained women in recycling some of the litter into handicrafts for sale. The recycled handiworks bring in up to US$65 a month, often more than men earn from fishing.

This new income allows households to buy clothes and educate their children. Currently there are about 80 children attending the Mkokoni primary school in Kiwayu, almost half of them girls.

Three years ago, WWF linked up with global pharmaceutical and healthcare products manufacturer Johnson & Johnson and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in an effort to integrate environmental conservation with social and health needs. Through this partnership, WWF has been able to conduct several mobile health clinics in Kiunga and surrounding areas to provide direct healthcare to the community.

END NOTES:

• Designated as a national marine reserve in 1979, Kiunga covers 25,000ha of land and seascapes, including mangroves, mudflats, lagoons, sand dunes, beaches, sand islands, raised reef islands, seagrass beds and coral reefs. It is also home to a wide range of species, including green, hawksbill and leatherback turtles, white-cheeked, bridled, and roseate terns (the largest breeding colony in the world), pelicans, flamingoes, dugongs, dolphins, and whales.

• The newly built dispensary in the village of Mkokoni was made possible with contributions from WWF, Johnson & Johnson, USAID and the Kenyan Ministry of Health.

For further information:
Kimunya Mugo, Communications Manager
WWF EARPO
Tel: +254 20 387 7355
E-mail: kmugo@wwfearpo.org