Lamu conservationists embrace ecotourism to fight environmental degradation, climate change

Conservationists in Lamu have embraced birds’ sanctuaries, the establishment of natural sites and tourist bandas in a bid to explore ecotourism for sustainable development in the county.

Ecotourism is sustainable tourism that seeks to promote the conservation and protection of the environment while providing opportunities for tourists to appreciate the rich natural and cultural heritage of a destination.

The youth-led group of conservationists from Pate Island in Lamu East has already identified Mtanga-Bandari, one of the mangrove sites situated right smack in the middle of the Indian Ocean to undertake ecotourism.

Mtanga-Bandari is renowned for having birds of all kinds flocking the area during morning hours and in the evenings.

During an interview with The Eastleigh Voice, Haji Ramadhan, one of the leading youth conservationists in Pate, said bird watching at Mtanga-Bandari has proved to be the most rapidly growing and most environmentally conscious segment of ecotourism in recent times. They started the initiative in 2018.

Haji says the idea has continued to provide economic hope for many threatened natural resources, particularly the mangroves in Pate.

He says tourists have been visiting the area to watch the birds and enjoy the scenery, hence enabling the group and the community at large to generate income instead of relying entirely on mangrove logging.

Domestic tourists enjoying their stay at the Pate tourist banda in Lamu East. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)

“Pate is rich in fish variety, sea turtles and birdlife. Some of us here have also been lucky to spot the rare dugong. Instead of focusing on fishing and mangrove logging for our livelihood, we decided to come up with alternative ideas to conserve the existing natural resources,” said Haji.

“We introduced ecotourism where tourists coming to this place are taken around special sites and bandas just to watch sea turtles and birds in places like Mtanga-Bandari. That alone has helped generate income and at the same time to curb over-harvesting of mangroves through logging and overexploitation or overfishing in the Indian Ocean.”

Mohamed Kassim alias Stopa, the chairman of the Pate Resources and Tourism Initiative (PRATI), said apart from the birds’ sanctuary, the group had to establish bandas in the area to host tourists visiting the place.

Initially, Pate lacked proper visitor facilities, a situation that forced tourists to opt for homestays or day trips.

A section of the tourist banda smack right in the middle of the Indian Ocean at Pate, Lamu East. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)

Most visitors during that time were either researchers or fish traders. But since the establishment of the bandas in Pate in 2019, the group has been hosting day tourists at their banda.

“We took it upon ourselves to construct the banda using local materials. The banda now serves as the nerve centre for mangrove rehabilitation, beekeeping, collection of ruins for the local museum, site-seeing and shoreline conservation,” said Mohamed.

Other ventures

The conservationists have also explored other ventures, including beekeeping, provided it helps to preserve the environment.

“Ventures such as beekeeping, birds’ sanctuary, the bandas for tourists, snorkelling among others help to upscale our income generation and hence, prevent over-dependence on mangroves or fishing,” said Mohamed.

A sunset view at Pate in Lamu East. Lamu is rich in Eco-tourism. (Photo: Farhiya Hussein)

Swaleh Abdalla, one of the conservationists, reiterated that they are driven by the need to have healthy mangroves as forests are part and parcel of their lives.

“We are doing all this to enhance mangrove conservation and help improve the health, welfare and livelihood of members through improved planning and resource management,” said Swaleh. Lamu boasts of having sandy beaches and terrestrial wildlife.

“We have rich marine and birdlife here. We also have priceless historical and cultural heritage and thriving mangroves.”

Contacted, Lamu County Tourism Executive Aisha Miraj acknowledged that ecotourism in Lamu is high and that her department was working closely with all stakeholders, including the PRATI youth group from Pate Island in a move to fully explore the venture.

“As a department, our focus is on eco-tourism since it’s very high in Lamu. We want to drive the socio-economic and environmental benefits of ecotourism for sustainable development. We’re seeking to use ecotourism to sustain and improve its biodiversity and also invigorate the local economy,” said Aisha.

The tourism sector in Lamu has for years suffered a blow owing to insecurity caused by the Al-Shabaab militia and hence its diversification is crucial to enable it to fully stand on its feet.