Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD): Biodiversity Management … · 2019-04-18 ·...

Table of Contents

World Agroforestry Centre-

ICRAF. United Nations Avenue, Gigiri, Nairobi, Kenya |

Post: PO Box 30677, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya

Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD): Biodiversity

Management Program (BMP) in the Horn of Africa-Kenya.

Public Sensitization Meeting: Witu Primary School, July 22, 2015

Theme: Improving Livelihoods through Biodiversity Management

Report compiled by;

Grace Koech, Josephat Nyongesa and Wilfred Muriithi

World Agroforestry Centre-ICRAF. United Nations Avenue, Gigiri, Nairobi, Kenya |

Post: PO Box 30677, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................................... iii

LIST OF ABBREVIATION ....................................................................................................................... v

ACKNOWLEDGMENT............................................................................................................................ vi

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................... vii

1.0. Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 0

2.0. Justification of the public event: Activity linkage to project results ................................................... 1

3.0. Public Event proceedings ..................................................................................................................... 2

4.0. Key note speeches .............................................................................................................................. 13

4.1. Wilfred Muriithi-Project officer ICRAF ........................................................................................ 13

4.2. Josephat Nyongesa-Project Manager-ICRAF ................................................................................ 14

4.3. Hon. Amina Rashid-Lamu County Lands Minister ....................................................................... 16

4.4. (DO I) Guest of Honor .................................................................................................................. 18

5.0. Presentation of gifts to the winners and runners up ........................................................................... 19

6.0. Closing Remarks ................................................................................................................................ 21

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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Zawadi (ASDSP seated-right) registering participants, photo by Grace Koech -ICRAF .......... 3

Figure 2: Grace Koech (left)explaining to the participants the ICRAF- IGAD BMP PROJECT activities,

pilot areas and the role of communities in implementation of BMP activities, Photo by Wilfred Muriithi

ICRAF ......................................................................................................................................................... 4

Figure 3: Mr. Yassin Mohamed ( second left) NRT Coast show casing their role in BMP programme,

Photo by Grace Koech –ICRAF .................................................................................................................. 5

Figure 4: KFS exhibiting alternative source of wood fuel key to forest conservation in addressing BMP

objective, photo by Grace Koech -ICRAF .................................................................................................. 5

Figure 5: Mrs Beth Mwaringa (2nd left –ASDSP) explain to the Lamu county Lands minister ® and

county commissioner DO1 (2nd right) the ASDSP role in BMP project, Photo by Grace Koech -ICRAF 6

Figure 6: ICRAF trained Honey value chain group exhibiting the role of BMP in honey value chain

development, photo by Grace Koech –ICRAF( R) and Nyongesa-ICRAF (L) ........................................... 7

Figure 7: Back to Eden self help group explaining to the participants the in the role of bees in crop

pollination and biodiversity conservation related sustainable farm practices, Photo by Grace Koech -

ICRAF ......................................................................................................................................................... 8

Figure 8: Witu primary school entertaining the participants with poem and song on biodiversity

conservation for improved livelihoods, photoby Grace Koech ICRAF ...................................................... 9

Figure 9: Soroko Primary school entertaining the participants on biodiversity conservation for better

livelihoods, photo by Grace Koech ICRAF .............................................................................................. 10

Figure 10: Maisha Masha honey value chain group present their poem on biodiversity conservation for

better livelihoods, Photo by Grace Koech -ICRAF .................................................................................. 11

Figure 11: Witu secondary schools presenting a poem on biodiversity conservation for better

livelihoods, photo by Grace Koech -ICRAF ............................................................................................. 12

Figure 12: Pokomo dancers entertaining the participant, with a song entitled iodiversity conservation for

better livelihoods, photo by Grace Koech- ICRAF ................................................................................... 13

Figure 13: Wilfred Muriithi, program officer BMP addressing the participants on the BMP project,

photo by Grace Koech -ICRAF ................................................................................................................. 14

Figure 14 : Josephat Nyongesa, BMP project manager adressing the participant on BMP project, photo

Grace Koech-ICRAF ................................................................................................................................. 16

Figure 15: Hon. Amina Rashid addressing participants, photo by Grace Koech -ICRAF ........................ 17

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Figure 16: Guest of Honor, Mr. Elijah Kiptoroi addressing the participants, photo by Nyongesa J.M-

ICRAF ....................................................................................................................................................... 18

Figure 17: Soroko primary school student (next to camera left) receiving a trophy from the guest of

owners, photo by Grace Koech ICRAF..................................................................................................... 19

Figure 18: Witu Mjini secondary student receive a gift from the BMP project manager, photo by Wilfred

Muriithi -ICRAF........................................................................................................................................ 20

Figure 19: Witu Primary school receiving a trophy from the BMP project manager, Photo by Wilfred

Muriithi ICRAF ......................................................................................................................................... 21

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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

ASDSP African Sector Development Support Programme

BMP Biodiversity Management Programme

EU European Union

ICRAF World Agroforestry Centre

IGAD Intergovernmental Authority on Development

KFS Kenya Forest Services

LCG Lamu County Government

LFI Log Frame Indicator

LUP Land Use Planning

MC Master of Ceremony

NRT Northern Rangeland Trust

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The success of this event would not have been realized without joint commitment of the stakeholders.

ICRAF appreciate event planning team for THEIR support and dedication. We also recognize support

from Lamu County Government Lands Ministry, County Commissioner’s Office, the area Officer

Commanding Station, Witu Division Officer, Lamu County Directors, partners and exhibitors for their

input and efforts towards planning the event. Finally, ICRAF is indebted to the local community for

accepting the invitation to attend event and learn. As the main target audience, without their

participation, the event would not have achieved the project awareness creation objective.

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Executive Summary

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Biodiversity Management Programme

(BMP) is a project managed by IGAD with financial support from European Union (EU). In Kenya and

Somalia intervention sites, the BMP project is implemented by World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). It

aims to contribute to conservation and sustainable management of ecosystems in the IGAD region.

This report covers public event organized by ICRAF in collaboration with partners to sensitize the

stakeholders including communities on biodiversity conservation for improved livelihoods. The event

attracted over 100 invited participants including community members from Witu and Aweer areas. Key

speakers during the event included Lamu County Commissioner representative, Lamu County minister

for Land s, Divisional Officer-Witu, ICRAF project staff and area women representative. Two schools;

one secondary and one Primary performed during the event, the schools were selected as winners of the

event theme competition organized before the public event. Local Traditional dancers also performed

during the event. The main achievement of the event was the positive significant public response

participation and kind reception from the local communities, assurance of support from the Lamu county

government and successful Biodiversity related exhibitions by invited partners and community groups.

The event successfully communicated the IGAD BMP project to the larger public and the county

government appreciated the effort of ICRAF to conserve the Lamu unique biodiversity and ecosystem.

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1.0. Introduction

There is growing recognition that natural capital supports our economies and wellbeing. The concept of

ecosystem services has influenced and altered our perspectives on the relation between people and their

environment. It has led to the recognition that nature provides many goods and services, called

ecosystem services, important to people. This includes services that satisfy basic human needs such as

food, fiber, energy and water (provisioning services),benefits got from regulation of ecosystem

processes for instance pollination (regulating services), non-material benefits from ecosystems for

instance social relations such as honey gathering communities, recreation and ecotourism (cultural

service and services that serve for production of other ecosystem services for example habitat provision,

nutrient cycling and production of atmospheric oxygen(supporting services). However, degradation of

biodiversity through human related activities threatens sustainable production of the ecosystem services.

Degradation of ecological health is further exacerbated by climate change.

Biodiversity in the horn of Africa is vulnerable to degradation particularly in the cross border area where

high poverty level limits the livelihoods options of people living in these areas. This is the case in the

Kenya –Somalia border where poverty and low social economic development have led to unsustainable

use of ecosystem goods and services resulting in loss of natural habitat. There is increasing recognition

of Biodiversity as main source of ecosystem goods and services which support socio-economic

development. However, biodiversity conservation cannot be achieved in isolation from social wellbeing.

Conservation of the cross border diversity requires joint stakeholder collaborative efforts to restore

ecosystem goods and services. The Biodiversity Management Programme (BMP) is an IGAD initiative

with the financial support of the European Union (EU) aiming to contribute to poverty reduction by

improving the social and economic wellbeing of the populations in the IGAD region, through a better

regional integration in the environmental sector. Its purpose is the conservation and sustainable

management of the ecosystems in the IGAD region, in order to contribute to lasting ecosystem goods

and services. ICRAF is one of the BMP Implementing Partners and is managing one of the three

projects, the Tana-Kipini and Laga Badana Bush Bushle Land & Seascapes financed through the IGAD

Biodiversity Management Programme.

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The Horn of Africa (HoA, synonymous with the IGAD region) has a rich and unique biodiversity,

expressed in a diversity of landscapes and the richness of species therein. It hosts for example the second

largest terrestrial wildlife (white-eared kobb) migration in Africa, and several of the regions’ eco-regions

figures among the Global 200 Terrestrial Eco-regions. The Coastal Forests of Kenya and Somalia

further comprise one of the worlds’ 34 biodiversity hotspots.

Unsustainable use and overexploitation of the natural resources degrades the natural capital and its

ability to provide the ecosystem services that underpin our wellbeing. While this is undesirable for

humanity at large, it is particularly problematic for poor people whose livelihoods mainly depend on the

ecosystem services provided by natural resources. The Horn of Africa is a global poverty hotspot and

many of the regions’ poor experience this loss of benefits from ecosystem services. Most ecosystems in

the Horn of Africa are threatened by increasing level of degradation, with reduction of benefits to people

as a result. Ecosystem degradation is worsened by progressive climate change. The benefits that poor

people derive from nature are further weakened by loss of access to land and water resources facilitated

by weakness or absence of secure tenure over these resources.

The Horn of Africa is characterized by unique biodiversity hotspots that span the borders between

IGADs member states. There are challenges however to preserve biodiversity in areas close to borders,

particularly when government institutions are weak (or absent) than in more intensively used areas and

when insecurity prevails as a result of this. In such cases it is difficult to manage biodiversity within

national territories. Given the trans-boundary nature of the activities of stakeholders and the need to

maintain corridors to allow genetic exchange between cross border species populations, there need to

manage the biodiversity of cross border areas across the border of individual states.

2.0. Justification of the public event: Activity linkage to project results

Ecosystem services connect biodiversity and livelihoods, and there is increasing recognition that

biodiversity may be preserved and social needs addressed through projects that support the poor to

benefit from biodiversity based ecosystem services. The Tana Kipini Laga Badana Bush Buhle project

was initiated in November 2013 targeting local communities in intervention sites as main primary

beneficiaries. However implementation of most activities has faced insecurity related challenges

therefore leading to limited traction and visibility. The main objective of the public event was to

sensitize stakeholders including the local communities on IGAD BMP projects to enhance its visibility

and by-in of the targeted groups in the intervention sites. The public event is linked to project Result 1:

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Conservation of cross-border biodiversity land/seascapes strengthened and institutional capacities for

management improved. The result is related to Activity 8; Communication. This activity is envisaged to

result in Log frame Indicator 1.8 “Communication strategy aligned with project objectives drafted by

ICRAF and at least five (5) communications, educational and advocacy products distributed to relevant

stakeholders. Public event is one of activity strategies to reach larger public therefore enhance project

visibility. Communication aims to support achieving the goals of project activities through development

and dissemination of promotional and awareness creation in order to raise publicity and support

advocacy.

3.0. Public Event proceedings

The public event was called to order by the MC Chief Abdulla Mohamed at 9. 30am; all the participants

were registered. After registration, participants were invited to various exhibition stands to learn ICRAF

and partners activities in relation to biodiversity conservation and livelihoods. At the first table, the

participants met Grace Koech who explained to them ICRAF mandate and specifically the activities of

BMP, pilot areas and the role of various stakeholders in implementation of the activities. She informed

the participants that ICRAF is implementing the BMP project in collaboration with a number of partners

who are; the Northern range land trust (NRT- Coast) in establishment of community based

conservancies and wildlife monitoring system, ASDSP in value chains, KFS in agroforestry activities

including selection of species, nursery establishment, regeneration and restoration of degraded areas of

Witu and Boni forest, County Government and NMK in land use planning with the main objective of

ensuring biodiversity conservation is mainstreamed to the Lamu county spatial plan and ICRAF

working with local communities on honey value chain

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Figure 1: Zawadi (ASDSP seated-right) registering participants, photo by Grace Koech -ICRAF

.

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Figure 2: Grace Koech (left) explaining to the participants the ICRAF- IGAD BMP PROJECT

activities, pilot areas and the role of communities in implementation of BMP activities, Photo by Wilfred

Muriithi ICRAF

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Figure 3: Mr. Yassin Mohamed (second left) NRT Coast show casing their role in BMP programme,

Figure 4: KFS exhibiting alternative source of wood fuel key to forest conservation in addressing BMP

objective, photo by Grace Koech -ICRAF

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Figure 5: Mrs. Beth Mwaringa (2nd left –ASDSP) explain to the Lamu county Lands minister (R) and

county commissioner DO1 (2nd right) their role in BMP project, Photo by Grace Koech -ICRAF

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Figure 6: ICRAF trained Honey value chain group exhibiting the role of BMP in honey value chain

development, photo by Grace Koech –ICRAF

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Figure 7:Back to Eden self-help group explaining to the participants the in the role of bees in crop

pollination and biodiversity conservation related sustainable farm practices, Photo by Grace Koech –

ICRAF (L)

After observing and learning ICRAF and partner’s exhibitions linked to BMP program, participants

converged for entertainment performance by various community groups and selected schools on the

team biodiversity conservation for better livelihood and for key note speeches from invited guests.

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Figure 8: Witu primary school entertaining the participants with poem and song on biodiversity

conservation for improved livelihoods, photo by Grace Koech ICRAF

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Figure 9: Soroko Primary school entertaining the participants on biodiversity conservation for better

livelihoods, photo by Grace Koech ICRAF

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Figure 10: Maisha Masha honey value chain group present their poem on biodiversity conservation for

better livelihoods, Photo by Grace Koech -ICRAF

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Figure 11: Witu secondary schools presenting a poem on biodiversity conservation for better

livelihoods, photo by Grace Koech -ICRAF

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Figure 12: Pokomo dancers entertaining the participant, with a song entitled biodiversity conservation

for better livelihoods, photo by Grace Koech- ICRAF

4.0. Key note speeches

The entertainment was followed by presentations by key note speakers and invited guest.

4.1. Wilfred Muriithi-Project officer ICRAF

Mr. Muriithi informed the participants that the Biodiversity Management Programme (BMP) is an

IGAD initiative with the financial support of the European Union (EU) aiming to contribute to poverty

reduction by improving the social and economic wellbeing of the populations in IGAD region, through a

better regional integration in the environmental sector. He mentioned that its purpose is the conservation

and sustainable management of the ecosystems in the IGAD region, in order to contribute to lasting

ecosystem goods and services. Mr. Muriithi informed the participants that ICRAF is one of the BMP

Implementing Partners and is managing one of the three projects financed through the IGAD

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Biodiversity Management Programme in the Horn of Africa to develop collaborative management in 3

cross-boundaries land and seascapes between Kenya-Somalia, Djibouti-Ethiopia and Ethiopia-South

Sudan. He informed the participants that he is the BMP project officer based in Lamu and his office is

open for any consultation.

Figure 13: Wilfred Muriithi, program officer BMP addressing the participants on the BMP project,

photo by Grace Koech -ICRAF

4.2. Josephat Nyongesa-Project Manager-ICRAF

Mr. Nyongesa mentioned that the ICRAF project started end of 2013 and will last till November 2017

and will be implemented in the cross-border area of North Eastern Kenya and Southern Somalia in an

area extending from the Tana River in Kenya to the Laga Badana Bush Bushel National Reserve in

Somalia. He also mentioned that the activities supported in Kenya focus on achieving impact in two

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pilot sites. The first consists of the Witu forest and public lands to the north and east, including the

Hanshak Nyongoro conservancy, the Amu ranch and areas to the southeast. The second pilot site

consists of the Awer conservancy and the adjoining Boni and Dodori National reserve. He explained that

the project will be implemented through private public partnership approach involving identified

partners and collaborators. The main focus will be local communities as primary beneficiaries. He

emphasized that the project will as well target Policy makers, biodiversity stewards and experts, civil

society, NGO’s, and Lamu County government. He called upon the public to embrace biodiversity

conservation for sustainable livelihood development. He observed that the rich biodiversity in Lamu

County if conserved could promote tourism and sustain livelihoods. He noted that this could be achieved

through joint stakeholder efforts to support communities on biodiversity related value chains

development, agroforestry for both protected and agricultural farms, development of community based

conservancy development plan, spatial/Land Use planning for Lamu County and capacity building on

biodiversity conservation. Aw well as rain water harvesting for human, livestock and agriculture use. He

equally noted that though the project implementation has delayed, ICRAF has devised joint

collaborative work plan to recover lost time. He informed participants that the project as well covers

Laga Badana Bush Bushel target sites in Somalia, and since it is cross border project, ICRAF will

closely work with Lamu County Commissioner’s Office and Somali administration and identified

partners to fast track the project activities implementation in both divide of cross border intervention

sites. He finally thanked all participants for having time out of their busy schedules to attend the public

event

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Figure 14 : Josephat Nyongesa, BMP project manager adressing the participant on BMP project, photo

Grace Koech-ICRAF

4.3. Hon. Amina Rashid-Lamu County Lands Minister

Hon. Amina was welcomed to give her speech by Witu Divisional Officer Mr. Elija Olukolo. In her

speech, Amina acknolwedged ICRAF effort to sensitize the communities on biodiversity conservation

for improved livelihoods. she informed participants that Lamu County has unique biodiversiry and

ecosytem which are unexploited. She also highlighted that the rich biodiversity is faced with a number

of challenges for example wildlife corridors have beeen closed, human wildlife conflicts, forest fires and

degradation through unsustainable use of naturl resources occassioned by increasing poverty levels

along with land grabbing.

Hon. Amina informed the participants that ICRAF in collaboration with the Lamu County government

and the National Museum of Kenya are working together to ensure that biodiversity conservation is

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mainstreamed to the Lamu spatial plan to be developed. She highlighted that Witu forest has only four

euphorbia trees which are the only remaining species in the world and therefore the need to conserve

such rare biological biodiversity from extnction.

She also mentioned that Lamu County is facing drourht which has never beeen observed before. She

was however consoled by the knowledge that ICRAF has expertie in rain water harvesting and is

working in collaboration with KFS to ensure regeneration of the degraded forest and build local human

capacity in rainwater harvesting technologies. This expertize will help Lamu County to adress it water

challenges. Hon. Amina in her consclusion reminded the local leaders that they are the owners of their

own land and they should avoid accepting bribes for land grabbing and land division for sale

Figure 15: Hon. Amina Rashid addressing participants, photo by Grace Koech -ICRAF

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4.4. Mr. Elijah Kiptoroi (DO I) Guest of Honor

The guest of honor assured ICRAF of support from the county government on matters concerning

security and cross border activities. He encouraged the local communities to ensure sustainability of the

project once ICRAF has left at the end of project period. He emphasized that implementation of the

activities will not be possible without security. In view of this the guest of honor requested the local

administration to support his office in reporting any case of insecurity that they observe. He challenged

the youth to focus on useful activities such as biodiversity conservation and income generating activities

instead of allowing them to be recruited into activities which can be harmful to them. In his conclusion

he informed ICRAF of all support they wish to have and the county government will work closely with

them to ensure successful implementation of project activities.

.

Figure 16: Guest of Honor, Mr. Elijah Kiptoroi addressing the participants, photo by Nyongesa J.M-

ICRAF

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5.0. Presentation of gifts to the winners and runners up

After the speeches, the master of ceremony invited the winning schools and the runners up to receive the

gifts to recognize their exemplary performance on sensitizing the public about the need to Improve

Livelihoods through Biodiversity Management through songs and poems.

Figure 17: Soroko primary school student (next to camera left) receiving a trophy from the guest of

owners, photo by Grace Koech ICRAF

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Figure 18: Witu Mjini secondary student receive a gift from the BMP project manager, photo by Wilfred

Muriithi -ICRAF

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Figure 19: Witu Primary school receiving a trophy from the BMP project manager, Photo by Wilfred

Muriithi ICRAF

6.0. Closing Remarks

The master of ceremony appreciated ICRAF for sensitizing the communities on biodiversity

conservation for better livelihood. He appreciated the guest speakers and all the participants attending

and participating to ensure the event was a success. He concluded by informing the participants that

biodiversity translates to better livelihoods. The event was closed by a prayer

Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD): Biodiversity Management … · 2019-04-18 ·...

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