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Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Biodiversity

Management Programme (BMP) In the Horn of

Africa

Project Title: Tana-Kipini Laga Badana Bush Bushle Land and

Seascapes

Cross Border Exchange Visit to Strengthen Capacity of Stakeholders on

Collaborative Biodiversity Management

November, 2015

Report compiled by;

Grace Koech; Josephat Nyongesa and Jan De Leeuw

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Introduction and Background Information

IGAD BMP program support a number of activities in Kenya Somalia cross border area. Among

the activities is project Activity 10 – on Biodiversity conservation capacity building which aims

at “building capacity in biodiversity conservation at local level for ecosystem management to

stakeholders from the cross border area”. The visit aimed at building capacity in biodiversity

conservation envisaged to contribute towards expected activity result linked to project Log

frame indicator (LFI) 2.4: Cross border exchange visits are organized to strengthen the skills of

stakeholders from the selected demonstration sites in collaborative biodiversity management

by Q4_2015”

To achieve the expected results, ICRAF facilitated delegation from Somalia and Kenya to visit

the Kenyan coast to strengthen their capacity in collaborative biodiversity management. The

theme of the study tour was; “Strengthening Cross-border cooperation in biodiversity

Management between Kenyan and Somali stakeholders”. During the excursion participants

visited a number of projects where biodiversity based value chains had been developed. The

excursion sites were selected in a participatory approach were the facilitations in discussion

with the participants identified a number of sites and settled on fewer sites which had

developed biodiversity based value chains and are involved in collaborative biodiversity

management. The team visited the carbon credit value chain that has been developed by the

Kasigau corridor REDD+ project. This project certified half a million acres of drylands between

Tsavo East and West National Parks for generating income from avoidance of carbon emissions

and brings the benefits of direct carbon financing to more than 100,000 people in the

surrounding communities. A second project visited was the butterfly value chain that has been

developed by the Kipepeo project in Arabuko Sokoke forest. In the 1990s surrounding

communities wished to transform the forest to croplands.

To create alternative livelihoods opportunities, farmers were trained to produce pupae of

tropical butterflies, which are exported to butterfly houses in Europe and North America. The

income that is generated by this value chain has changed the perception of the local

communities who now value the Forest Reserve and support its conservation. The third site

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was in Mida creek, a coastal area where mangroves had been cut and degraded over the years

to the detriment of local fishermen who no longer could make a living from the crab and fish

which supported their living before. In the 1990s the youth from this community took the

initiative to restore the mangroves to develop ecotourism and promote the production of crabs

that find their market in the hotels on the coast. Aside from the mentioned projects, the

participants visited the Arabuko Sokoke Forest which is a model for collaborative biodiversity

conservation. The communities are allowed to sustainably harvest forest product while

ensuring the biodiversity is conserved.

3 - Visit to ICIPE African Bee Health Laboratory

Prof. Raina Suresh, Project Leader

Prof. Suresh welcomed the participants and requested them to introduce themselves (Annex 1).

He then introduced his presentation by informing the participants that bees form an important

linkage between environment health, agriculture and livelihoods. He mentioned that about 80%

of the African continent depends on agriculture for their livelihood and the bees are the key

pollinators and affect the yields. The bees are faced with the challenge of colonization of the hives

due to effects of climate change and many bees are dying. Pest and diseases have had negative

impacts on bee diseases and this has significantly reduced bee population. Focusing his discussion

on the main objective of the visit which was to share experiences on honey value chain Prof. Suresh

highlighted a number of factors which should be included in the honey value chain;

Pest and disease identification; analysis of bee health is necessary as it affect the quality of

honey produced.

Training and capacity building of bee farmers to ensure high production of quality honey

Enabling policy environment on market options which is achieved through;

Harmonization of procedures of legislation on bee health issues

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Increasing market access for bee farmers

Improved honey and income for bee keepers

Analyzing the bee biology including the brain which aid in assessing the quantity and quality

of honey produced

Figure 1: Prof Suresh in front showing the participants the bio pesticide to manage bee pest, to

the left, Dr. Evelyn describing the various types of bees in the apiary. Photo by Josephat Nyongesa

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Table 1: Discussion following Prof. Suresh presentation

How is queen breeding done? The queens are artificially inseminated in the laboratories.

How are you interacting with

communities?

The farmers are the honey producers, ICIPE help farmers to

access funds and support from both government and non-

governmental institutions.

How is honey certification

achieved?

The samples are analyzed on HPLC machines to ensure the level

of honey complies with the EU regulations.

Do ICIPE sell the bio

pesticides?

No, ICIPE contracts private organizations and they sign MoU

with them. They benefit from royalties.

Day 1; Friday November 20, 2015

The participant left for Voi; 0800- 1800hrs Departure from ICRAF and arrival to Voi (Rock site

Camp)

Day 2: Saturday November 21, 2015 REDD+ Carbon Sequestration, Wildlife Conservation and

Ecotourism (Visit to Kasigau wildlife works)

Mr. Rob informed the participants that Wildlife Works is the world’s leading REDD+ (Reducing

Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation), project with an effective approach to applying

innovative market based solutions to the conservation of biodiversity. REDD+ was initiated by

the United Nations (UN) to help stop the destruction of the world's forests, protect threatened

forests, wildlife, and communities. In 2011, the Wildlife Works Kasigau Corridor REDD+ Project

was validated and verified under the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) and the Climate, Community

and Biodiversity Standard (CCB). This was the world's first REDD+ project to receive

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Issuance of carbon credits and is the world's first VCS REDD+ mega-project and this will result in

over 1 million tonnes of CO2-e emissions per year for the next 30 years.

Figure 2: Dr. Rob (seated next to projector/Laptop) briefing the participants on the Kasigau

wildlife works. To the right is a rainwater-harvesting site to support the establishment of trees,

Photo by Josephat Nyongesa, ICRAF.

The project is situated in Taita Taveta county south eastern Kenya to two main reasons; human

wildlife conflict, high poverty level and biodiversity hotspot. Before the project the land was a

hunting region. With the initiation of the project, the land was divided into ranches, land

distributed as cattle ranching land in 1970-1980. Cattle ranches collapsed due to closure of The

Kenya Meat Commission (KMC), water shortage became economically unavailable, beef price

became low.

The main challenges facing the project area are;

Slash and burn agriculture

Charcoal production to meet the demand of Mombasa energy supply, 2,000 bags of

charcoal leaving the area per day

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Bush meat poaching using poisons and snares. 7000 snares were caught recently; this has

however reduced drastically due to economic incentive increased from the project.

Elephant reduced from 14500 in 2010 to 12,500; currently elephant population is stable.

The project area was not recognized as forest by Kenya Forest Service (KFS) which posed

challenges to the implementation of the project. The project proved that they area had

more than 30% canopy cover and more than 6m average height thus qualify as a forest.

The existing methodology for carbon calculation did not fit the project area. in this regard

the project had to write their own methodology

They also face financial challenges

High immigration to the area

On aspect of income distribution, Mr. Rob informed the participants that the project runs as an

open book. Their market is growing and their best sale was in 2014. He said the income is

distributed among the land owners, community members and the project operation receiving a

third each. Land owners are contractual, have right to 1/3 of gross income.

The main challenges facing the project implementation are;

Un predictability of the sale; Best year was 2014 when they sold 5.6million dollars’ worth

of credit, 6.7 dollars per ton. They are however, expecting much lower sales this year.

How much is enough; how much money will attract the community to conserve the forest,

value the community attaches to the land?

Measuring additional benefits; how do you measure; social cohesion, security, land

tenure and land security, land use alternatives e.g. ecotourism and diversification of

income streams.

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Table 2: Discuss based on Dr. Rob presentation.

Question/ Comments Response

How is carbon credit analyzed in Carbon credit is analyzed both below and above

degraded land? biomass and measure the amount of carbon for

example in Rukinga 180000 tons per ha degraded

land has 30,000 tonnes per ha. The difference

150000 tonnes per ha. Carbon calculators are

available then can be offset

How do you reach your potential

Markets? The project spends a lot on marketing. Their CEO

selling the credits in Paris, all staff play a role to sell

the credits, Dr. Mwangi leads this assisted by two

other staff

Did you analyze the carbon level at the

initial of the project?

Yes. Initial carbon credit was calculated as a base line

evaluation will be done after 10 years

How are you managing charcoal

production in the area?

Charcoal production has reduced as the value of the

land increase not free as was before. Leaking flows

are closely monitored as this leads to loss carbon

credit. The project allows forest use as so long as it

is sustainable, training for charcoal training camp,

sustainable charcoal harvesting. The project design

will incorporates charcoal burning during the third

phase

Who are the actors in carbon value chain?

What are the products?

Community, landowners and operation. The

products are air and life style changes

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Who are the consumers of the products? Barclays, GUCCI, AUDI, MICROSOFT, LA POSTE,

COCA COLA, ALLIANZ, PUMA,BHP BILETON, VOLCO,

HERSHEY’S. The credit is not sold every year.

Are you accumulating your credit? Yes. Having ancient forest is a good thing, the

credits are accumulated each year, stand for trees

allow individuals to buy credits, Voluntary Carbon

Standard (VCS) website has 15 validated project.

What is the future of the project? Subnational reduction program with national

government working with KFS, jurisdictional

project, credit go through Kenya sale credits to

sovereign nation that is a buyer,

Community Engagement

Laurian Lenjo community liaison manager

Mr. Lenjo informed the participants that the project works with 6 location which are; Marungu,

Kasigau, Mwatate, Mwachabo and Sagala and is composed of over 100,000 in Kasigau Voi Sub

County and Taita Taveta County. The locations are headed by the chief who is a member of

locational carbon committee (LCC). The locational carbon committee is appointed by community

and they organize workshops annually to discuss focal issues affecting the community issues

major been poverty, education, human wildlife conflict, environmental degradation and

governance.

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Figure 3: Biodiversity based products made by community members under the wildlife works

project. To the left is Dr. De Leeuw leading participants on a discussion with Cara Brand on the

value chain development for the displayed products. Photo by Josephat Nyongesa, ICRAF

Mr. Lenjo mentioned that the project employ a number of techniques in ensuring community

engagement main been;

Community barazaas organized by chiefs

Education school program, outreach program educating on red project, conservation and

climate change

Focused group discussion 20-40 people educated then disseminate information to others

Theater art, plays and concerts to relay information to communities to allow community

come together

Film show program in collaboration with Mara

Sports e.g. football and bicycle challenges to attract youths, this is done annually

Periodic newsletters three months basis

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Revenue distribution among communities

There is a structure, which has a trust where all the money allocated to the community goes in

order to avoid tax. The locational carbon committee has seven members whose roles are to;

evaluate proposals, bursary vetting process, work with CBO, reported the project progress and

the completed projects. The LCC are represented, the committee receive proposal from

communities then prioritize them based on importance. The location carbon committee meets

once a month, the chief, ward administrator and MCA are opinion leader no voting rights. Once

the LCC approves the proposal the disbursement committee goes through the proposal for

approval then the WWCT releases money to the CBOs on the grassroots level to implement the

project.

He mentioned that they have more than 40 project, water project, several tanks, classroom, 20

health projects, renovating a lab in Voi. They have spent over 20 million through bursaries; partial

bursaries, full sponsorship program.

Figure 4: Water catchment area developed by the wildlife works to address the water problem faced

by the communities in the project site, Photo by Josephat Nyongesa, ICRAF.

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Table 3: Discussion based on presentation on community engagement

Question/comment Response

Are you experiencing any policy challenges? Yes. Land use planning is a huge problem in the

area, mining operations sitting all the players

and zoning the area, problems of devolution,

working Chinese contractors, KFS and county

government

How does the new KWS provision affecting the

project?

It has positive impacts as the community can

register can acquire legal entity once registered

as CWA

How important is water and how is it linked to

carbon credit

Water is a problem solution to the community,

each location people highlighted this as the

main problem hence prioritized

Biodiversity social and biodiversity monitoring

Bernard Makobe

Mr. Bernard introduced his presentation by highlighting the commitment of the wildlife works

project which are; to provide compelling arguments, describe indicators of social and

biodiversity monitoring and demonstrates evidence based on a monitoring program. Below is

a figure indicating the various scenarios.

He defined social monitoring as the consequences to human populations of any actions that alter

the ways in which people live, work, play, relate to one another and generally cope as members

of society, thus also includes cultural impacts, direct or indirect, intended or unintended and

positive or negative. He highlighted the theory of change, which describes the activities, outputs

and impacts. The social and biodiversity monitoring involve seven main stages; starting

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conditions, without project, theory of change, net income and risk analysis, indicators,

monitoring plan, data analysis and reporting.

Figure 5: Various scenarios in biodiversity and social monitoring

At the start point the focal issues that could probably affect the success of project activities are

highlighted and these include; governance, poverty, environmental degradation, education,

water shortage and health issues. The issues are then analysed through all the other stages

mentioned above mainly in household survey. The data obtained is analysed and report are

disseminates to users. Data is deposited in the company repository and is confidential.

Biodiversity monitoring focus on high conservation value species, bird species such as eagles and

vulture’s and plant species.

He also high lightened the main high conservation value issues as follows;

Species vulnerability eg Grevy’s zebra; African Wild Dogs; Big cats; Others: African

elephants, various raptors

Ecosystem value: Kasigau Corridor is important for migration and dispersal

Biome value: a complete dryland ecosystem, Mount Kasigau: threatened cloud forest

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Endemic species; Critical hydrological services; Livelihood support; Cultural value

Taita Hills: Eastern Arc Mt Global Hotspot hosting Taita Apalis & Taita Thrush

The focal biodiversity issues in the project area are;

African elephants and other HCVs: increase in the number of elephants in the project area

Ecosystem integrity: improved regeneration of indigenous trees and healthy ecosystem

Human-wildlife conflicts: reduction in violent human-wildlife conflicts and associated

losses

Mt. Kasigau: safe habitat for wildlife and life-supporting functions for the local

communities

Corridor function: project area fulfils major corridor functions

The project employs a monitoring strategy which analyses the threats and pressures, other non-

human effects and responses. The monitoring strategy employs;

Transects; this is done four times a year, aerial transect are done every two months and

ground transects are analyzed in mining fields

Ranger teams; use GPS and camera to recorded incidents which are recorded in well-

designed data sheets.

Camera traps are strategically placed in Rukinga project site at random to aid in collection

of data on nocturnal species

Water holes are also used as monitoring tools.

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Discussions based on social and biodiversity monitoring assessment

Table 4: Discussion based on social and biodiversity monitoring

Question/comments Responses

What are the impacts of elephants on the water

points

They indicate ecosystem use, breakage and it

sustainability

Are you also

conservation?

doing soil and water Yes we are training communities on sustainable

farming practices both in protected and un

protected areas

How do you do monitoring? There are permanent plots within the area

people are not allowed to work there

How do you manage your data? Data is not open access report are however

widely disseminated

Who finances your operations? The money allocated to the project for its

operations

Are you planning to collaborate with KFS? Collaboration with KFS is a challenge because

the project site is not recognized as a forest by

KFS.

Meeting with community representatives, Landowners KWS and the security staff Table

5: Meeting with community representatives, KWS and the security staff

How much capacity do you

have to understand and how

do you quantify your carbon

The community has no legal mandate, it’s the landowners who

have the legality, community based organization know how to

measure carbon. Some are members are landowners they

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emission Analyses what is allocated to ranches and see if it’s equal as

community allocation.

If you accept that the money

you are getting improve your

life why is it that there is still

poaching?

Poaching was there before the project, capacity building is

necessary and this take time, the project has made a lot of and

the poaching has reduced due to synergy with KWS good

collaboration.

In the project area, before project there was a lot of poaching but

after the project the case has reduced, they are few people in the

community who could be doing this; it is the immigrants who are

mainly involved.

Does the community

understand the linkage

between biodiversity

conservation with livelihood?

Yes they do understand, they are aware of the benefits hence

increasing value attached to natural resource

What is the arrangement past

the project?

The CBOs have a lot of partners for diversification, they also write

proposal to county government and national government, they

have been capacity build, all CBOs are independent and look for

different funding, they are developing a kit donating something

to the kit to ensure sustainability, the community has also learnt

important of conservation the generate income through nursery

establishment, the new wildlife act provisions support CWA for

establishment of conservancies.

Challenges unpredictability of carbon sale, market fluctuation

bursary application high expectation, the money doesn’t go to

the community, the money goes to the community

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development project

threats to the ecosystems; this were very common before the

carbon credit project

What is your security

arrangement like?

26 security guards, 18 to 85 rangers who operates inside the

project area to protect both flora and fauna control livestock in

Rukinga, they also keep poachers, KWS protect the boundaries,

community scouts works at the homestead, they liaise with the

rangers, 12community monitors inform the warden on the

problematic animals to allow him advise KWS and 12 data

collectors.

Four land cruise, fourteen ranches divided into four zones with a

zonal leader, share report daily. Data is collected using GPS,

digital cameras and data sheets,

How do you collaborate with

KWS

Information sharing

Day 7: Sunday November 22, 2015

Departure from Voi to Malindi

Visit to Arabuko Sokoke Forest

Blessington Maghanga, Forest Manager

Mr. Blessington informed the participants that Arabuko Sokoke is the largest single block of

coastal forest remaining along the East Africa Coast from Southern Somalia to Northern

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Mozambique. It covers 420 Sq. KM and was gazetted as a forest reserve in 1943. The Forest is

divided into three Forest Stations for easy of management: Gede Forest Station, Jilore

Forest Station and Sokoke Forest Station, each station is headed by a forest manager. Mr.

Blessington pointed out that the forest vegetation fall into three main categories:

Mixed forest which extends to about 7,000 ha on wetter coastal sands in the east of

Arabuko-Sokoke. It is mainly covered by Afzelia quanzensis, Hymenaea verrucosa,

Combretum schumannii and Manilkara sansibarensis and the cycad Encephalartos

hildebrandtii tree species.

Brachystegia Forest vegetation is an open forest about 7,700 ha, dominated by

Brachystegia spiciformis common in the drier and infertile white sands at the Centre of

the forest.

Cynometra Forest vegetation is composed of dense forest or thicket on the north-

west side of Arabuko-Sokoke covering about 23,500 ha. It is dominated by trees of

Cynometra webberi and Manilkara sulcata, and the euphorbia

species, Brachylaena huillensis species has reduced in the area.

Mr. Blessington informed the participants that the forest is

ranked the second largest source of bird biodiversity in Africa.

The forest host 230 bird species six (Clarke’s Weaver, Sokoke

Scops Owl, Amani Sunbird, Sokoke Pipit, Spotted Ground Thrush

and East Coast Akalat) which are globally threatened. The forest

also has fifty two mammal three of this are globally threatened;

Golden-rumped Elephant-shrew, Bushy-tailed

Mongoose and Ader’s Duiker. The forest support 70 large African elephant, 250 butterfly species

four are endemic to the forest and over 600 plant species.

Of interest to note is that Arabuko Sokoke forest is surrounded by settlement. To ensure effective

forest management under management Act 2005, KFS recognize the local community as the main

stakeholder in forest conservation. KFS therefore employ a participatory forest management

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approach which allows for collaborative biodiversity conservation among the multiple

stakeholders. The forest zoning has sections where communities are allowed to set apiaries,

ecotourism activities, collect firewood and collect construction materials, communities have been

trained on sustainable harvesting of forest products. KFS has also supported the communities in

income generating activities such as butterfly farming, bee keeping, ecotourism, aloe farming,

nursery establishment and agroforestry.

Despite the development of alternative income generating activities in the settlement regions,

KFS is still experiencing challenges with the communities which pose a number of threats such

as; illegal tree poaching for timber, tree cutting for wood carving, snaring wildlife for bush meat,

small diameter trees cutting for construction, charcoal burning, inside the forest and effects of

climate change which were evidenced in 2011 where all the wetland dried.

Figure 6: Participants in the Arabuko Sokoke forest, Photo by Josephat Nyongesa, ICRAF.

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Table 6: Discussion on Arabuko sokoke forest conservation

How do you interact with the communities? KFS support the communities in registering

Community Forest Association (CFA). CFA have

their own scouts who are patrolling in the

forest and inform the KFS of any incidents in

the forest such as poaching and illegal logging.

What happens to income that the community

received from the activities?

He income generated from the forest is used by

the communities to improve their livelihoods.

They pay money to KWS in form of export fee

and pay nothing to KFS.

How many visitors do you receive per year? 2012-2013 the area received a high number of

visitor, the visitors have reduced drastically in

2014 and 2015.

How do you ticket the visitor to the forest? The local community is not ticketed, however

visiting colleges and schools outside the county

are pay entry fees. The international visitors

also pay entry fee. Domestic visitors pay 200

per head while international visitors pay 600

per head.

What type of service do farmers get from

farmers when they want to establish their own

forest system?

KFS provide seeds, seedling and nursery input

to farmers. The county also buys seedlings and

gives it to the farmers.

Farmers within the area are planting casuarina

using certified seeds

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Day 8; Monday November 23, 2015

Visit to Kipepeo project, Arabuko Sokoke

Mr. Hussein Aden

Mr. Hussein welcomed the participants and requested them to introduce themselves (Annex 2).

He informed the participants that the project was initiated in 1993 due to increase in demand for

settlement, agriculture and tourism which exerted pressure on the forest resulting in

degradation. The population in the area is increasing geometrically which was cause forest

shrinkage due to the fact that the communities in the area depend entirely on forest and the

products for their livelihoods. Forested dependence exposed forest to degradation since the local

communities were illiterate and lack knowledge on sustainable harvesting of forest product.

Based on this background, NMK, KFS, KWS, ICIPE, Nature Kenya and other NGOs working on

biodiversity conservation came together and developed alternatives incoming generating

activities in the area surrounding the forest to reduce pressure on the forest.

Figure 7: Mr. Hussein seated in front at the center (far left in T-shirt) briefing the participants on

the Kipepeo Project, Photo by Josephat Nyongesa.

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The management team listed a number of income generating activities such as Butterfly farming

and bee keeping. He mentioned that at the beginning the communities were resistance to the

idea for 2-3 years with only 5% adoption. The project was persistent; they trained the

communities and sensitized them on importance of utilizing alternative means of income to

ensure conservation the adoption rose to 47% in 1995. The communities learned from the 5%

who had already adopted the idea as they had better livelihood as compared to non-adopter and

this increased the adoption rate. The first pupa export was in 1999.

The pressure on land was still high due to high population growth rate of about 3.7% per annum.

This condition called for introduction of other activities such as rabbit, silk worm and mushroom

farming, and bee keeping. The area support 6000 bee keeper and 700 Butterfly farmers with 500

actively involved. Butterfly farming is seasonal and depends on rains. There are six endemic

butterfly species in sokoke. Farmers trap a female parent of the species of interest and breed

them at home. The forage plants are planted by the farmers in their lands. Farmers receive their

payments immediately upon delivery. The prices of Butterfly vary from

$0.75 to $ 3 depending on the species. Their market fluctuate with March to July been the best

season and October to February been the low seasons. The main competitors in the global

markets are Costa Rica and Philippines.

Bee keeping in the forest is supported by a number of organizations where the farmers recently

received 10,000 hives form both governmental and non-governmental institutions. Kipepeo

project collect up to 10,000 litres of honey per year with an annual return of about 3M. The

supply of honey is consumed locally. The project is not able to meet the demands of the local

market to allow them export some. The amount of honey that reaches the processing units is low

because sometimes farmers sell their honey to locally available market especially when they

urgently need cash.

In their engagement with the community the project offer training, technical support, transport

for honey more than 100 litres, marketing for the products, supply surplus income to farmers for

conservation and support the community in writing proposal to purchase equipment. The

community on the other hand has the role to sustainably use their forest products to ensure

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Conservation. The main actors in honey value chain are; the producer, brokers, transporters,

processors, marketers and consumers. To reduce input cost the project trained artisans to make

hives and reduce the cost of production.

The main challenge facing the project is;

High illiteracy level up to 90%

Community perception on the need of the project to deliver the required outputs

Need for regular extension services

Pest and diseases affecting bee health and quality of honey

Apiary management needs regular attendance

Mr. Hussein reported to the participants that after 10 years of project initiation 87% of the

farmers have embraced forest conservation which is evidenced by the recent cases in the area

for example;

In 1997, the former president of Kenya proposed expansion of settlement to forest area

but the communities resisted and the proposal was dropped.

In 2014-2015 the government permitted the oil exploration companies to do a survey I

the coastal region. The local communities living adjacent to the forest demonstrated as a

result the forest was exempted from the exploration.

Figure 8: Concrete designed apiary for honey bees (L) Mr. Hussein in white T-shirt (R) and foraging

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materials for butterflies, Photo by Josephat Nyongesa ICRAF.

Table 7: Discussion based on Hussein presentation

Questions/ Comments Responses

Who is Kipepeo in the value chain Kipepeo is a custodian of the community resources given

the mandate by the management team to manage nature

based value chains.

How much does one litres of

honey sale?

Kipepeo buys comb honey at ksh 500 provided it meets

the required standards.

Has your project been

validated?

Not yet

Who buy butterflies? Europe and America, price range from $0.75 to $3

depending on the species

Farmers are not allowed to collect the species selectively

to avoid over exploitation

What are your payments Terms of trade exist, seasonal traders pay in advance,

some pay at the months others pay a down payment

modalities? and clear the balance upon delivery of the products.

How are butterfly farmers paid? They are paid on deliverable of the pupa 30-90 Kenya

shilling per pupa depending on the species. The project

save 10 shilling per pupa each month and this is given to

the farmer at the end of the year to promote their

development.

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How do you manage seasonal

variation in butterfly

production?

The project has brought on board farmers from Kwale and

Shimba hill to boast the market during such seasons.

Honey processing

Mrs. Florence Katana

Mrs. Florence started by reminding the participants that honey is bees’ food and one should

thus take surplus honey and leave the rest for them. Honey should not be harvested during

raining season as this would cause great stress for the colony and increase the water content of

the honey. On aspect of honey quality, she noted that quality honey is ripe honey from capped

honey comb, free from scraps of wax and other contaminants, processed using clean equipment

and stored in a clean and dry environment. To ensure quality honey, the bee keeper should

employ proper harvesting techniques which involve use of protective clothing, gum boot, gloves,

bee brush, smoker/saw dust, hive tool/ knife, container with close fitting lid, torch and a knife.

She then highlighted the procedure of harvesting which involve several steps listed below;

Make sure the smoker is fully fueled.

Put on the protective clothing

Approach the hive quietly from behind (away from the bees’ entrance.)

Smoke gently.

Remove the top of the hive and smoke across the hive.

Tap the bars with the hive tool to determine where the combs have been built and

which ones not yet.

Sealed honey combs can be harvested by removing the bees using a brush.

Put the harvested honey in a clean bucket.

The next step after harvesting is preparation of honey for processing which involve a number of

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steps summarized below;

Take the weight of the honey in each bucket and record.

Clean and dry your hands then wear gloves and transfer the comb honey to a dry stainless

tray.

Boil water in a clean aluminum bowl and immerse in the knives.

Take the sealed peace of the comb honey and uncap both sides using the hot knife.

Place the uncapped combs in the frame.

Put the frame in the centrifuge extractor and start the machine.

It takes 2-3 hrs. For the liquid honey to be separated from the combs.

The machine has got an opening at the bottom where the liquid honey will pass through

a sieve and drop in a bucket.

The honey is then processed and this involves;

Taking extracted liquid honey and pouring it to the processing unit which is a water jacket

warmed.

Filter the warmed honey using different types of cloths and sieves, arrange them

according to fines.

Leave the honey for 2-3 days in a clean white bucket to cool down.

After three days, remove the thin wax layer formed on top of the honey using a plastic

plate.

Package the honey into bottles direct from the bucket using a small jar.

Put the lids tightly, label the honey and sell at a reasonable price.

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Figure 9: Mrs. Florence (left next to camera) explaining to the participants honeys processing,

packaging and products at Arabuko Sokoke Honey processing centre-Malidi -Kenya, Photo by

Josephat Nyongesa, ICRAF

Apart from honey other bee products include Wax, Pollen, Propolis, Bees venom and the Royal

jelly. Honey and other bee products has a number of uses such as; medicine, food, to make

alcoholic beverages and as preservative. In conclusion Mrs. Florence emphasized that when

harvesting honey ensure that you smoke colonies- to keep them calm, be gentle- avoid killing

bees and making sudden movements and working with a partner- to assist one another.

Mida Creek Conservation Group

Benjamin Charo, Executive member

Mr. Benjamin welcomed the participants and introduced the present members of staff. Dr. De

Leeuw then briefed the Mida staff on the objective of the visit which was to share experiences in

biodiversity based value chains and collaborative biodiversity management, he then requested

the participants to introduce themselves (Annex 2).

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Figure 10: Mr. Charo showing the participants the fish which is sustainably harvested from the

restored mangrove forest and explain the value chain of the product, photo by Josephat

Nyongesa, ICRAF.

Mr. Benjamin gave the background of the project, which was motivated by high poverty level and

the shrinking mangrove forest. The reason was low literacy level and knowledge of sustainable

harvesting of natural resources and lack of alternatives sources of livelihoods. The youth in the

community decided to do a door to door campaign to address the issue and promote

conservation. The team understood that it wouldn’t make sense to ask people to conserve forest

if they don’t have food on the table. They therefore initiated the process themselves by planting

mangroves, initiating crab fattening program and building canoes for board walk. The group as

seen itself grows to the level of owning a restaurant which employs community members and

non-members. The average net income of the group is about ksh 800,000 annually. The

participants were then invited to Crab samosa.

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Figure 11: Restored mangrove vegetation hosting the community office, to the left is the Mida

restaurant which is the primary market for the product harvesting from the mangrove forest,

Photo by Josephat Nyongesa ICRAF.

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Table 8: List of Beneficiaries

Name Institution Contact details

Hassan Ali Yusuf Full time lecturer Banadir university hassanagri99@gmail.

com

Mohamud Ahmed Madey Ministry of Enviroment, Jubbaland madeyma4@gmail.co

m

Mohamed Khadar Abdi

Mohamed

Dean Faculty of Agriculture Banadir

university

siyaad93@hotmail.co

m

Mathenge Gitonga KFS mathengeg@gmail.co

m

Titus Ndiwa NMK ndiwatitus@yahoo.co

m

Maarifa Ali Mwakumanya Dean Faculty of Enviroment, Pwani

University,

maarifaali@yahoo.co

m

Prof. Em. Olavi Luukkanen

DSc (Agr&For), Dr h.c

Professor Emeritus, Viikki Tropical

Resources Institute (VITRI), University

of Helsinki.

olavi.luukkanen@hel

sinki.fi

Jan De Leeuw ICRAF, Dry land scientist; PI BMP

Project

J.deleeuw@cgiar.org

Josephat Nyongesa IGAD, BMP, Project manager j.nyongesa@cgiar.org

Grace Koech Research Assistant g.koech@cgiar.org