Marine Research and Conservation at A Rocha Kenya: 2010-2014
A Rocha Kenya
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Abstract: A Rocha Kenyaâ??s Marine research began in 2010 and has since achieved several research objectives and grown in capacity. The mission of the programme has always been to be an extension of Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) research team based permanently in Watamu. We are collecting data on relevant ecological and conservation issues facing Watamu Marine National Park (WMNP) and the surrounding area and doing so in a way that honours God and A Rochaâ??s core commitments to five Câ??s (Christian,Conservation,Community,Cooperation,Cross-Cultural). We are grateful to the A.G. Leventis Foundation for a small grant to help us start our work and to the financial support of A Rocha International and A Rocha USA. Our research initially focussed on the coral reef areas of WMNP,though increasingly we are trying to understand the other four main habitats including,the rocky intertidal areas,beaches,sea-grass beds and rocky/sandy sub-tidal areas. In addition we are beginning research into the human dimension looking at stakeholders and resource users and the ways in which they interact with natural resources in the area. The marine portion of A Rocha Kenyaâ??s Science and Conservation Programme has grown,inviting local and foreign scientists to contribute and collect information relevant to KWS and A Rocha objectives. This has vastly increased our ability to understand the status of the park and aid KWS in their management of this crucial protected area. The first marine protected areas (MPAs) established in Kenya were in Malindi and Watamu in 1968. The purpose of creating marine parks and reserves was to protect biodiversity,manage resources in a sustainable way to protect the livelihoods of coastal communities and manage tourism. The work conducted by A Rocha Kenya intends to provide relevant information to these goals through research,capacity building within the local community,partnerships and practical conservation action where necessary.
