Dahdouh-Guebas, F.

Hamza, A.J.

Kairo, J.

Koedam, N.

Open Marine Archive

Mangroves and Livelihood: An assessment of livelihood 
projects in the mangrove ecosystem along the Kenyan Coast
Hamza Amina Juma1' 2>3, James Kairo2, Nico Koedam1 and Farid Dahdouh-Guebas1' 3
1 Laboratory of Plant Biology and Nature Management, Faculty of Sciences and Bio-engineering Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
(VUB), Pleinlaan 2, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium 
2 Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, PO Box 81651-80100, Mombasa, Kenya 
3 Laboratory of Systems Ecology and Resource Management, Department of Organism Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles
(ULB), Av. F.D. Roosevelt 50, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium 
Email: amina ¡2002@vahoo.com /  ahamza@kmfri.co.ke, ¡kairo@kmfri.co.ke. nikoedam@vub.ac.be, fdahdouh@ulb.ac.be
Introduction
The coastal people have strong economic ties with the 
coastal ecosystem
Their main livelihood is mainly marine based
Mangroves form an important ecosystem along the Kenya's
coast
The Kenyan coastal population is 3.3M , this has shown a 
22.6% increase from 1999 to 2009 
Increased population poses a challenge to resource 
sustainability
Initiating livelihood projects have been necessary to 
complement or replace existing activities
Objectives
Overall objective:
Assess the feasibility and sustainability of livelihood 
projects in the mangrove ecosystem along the Kenyan 
Coast
Specific objectives:
*$■ To identify the livelihood projects
To assess the status/condition of the livelihood 
projects
To conduct a SWOT analysis of identified livelihood 
projects
A  To identify the causes of failure or success of the 
livelihood projects
Research approach
1. Focus Group 
Discussion (SWOT)
Community
Stakeholders
Others 
(Researchers; GO; 
NGO; Private sector)
» 2. Local interviews
3. DELPHI Survey:
Questionnaire preparation and 
distribution
Analyze questionnaire response
Has consensus been met? 
Yes
................................  , . , « - - - - o \ Provide information and summary ofStatistical analysis: Local interviews: Chi-square tests (x2) responses
Delphi: Validation (Chu & Hwang, 2008)
120
100
80<u
c
o
S- 60
<Dcc
NOffN
40
20
Local interview
Are livelihood projects effective in conserving mangrove forests?
No Yes I don’t know
Mida Majaoni Makongeni Gazi Wasini
(n=43) (n=44) (n=42) (n=42) (n=38)
Name of village
Results and Conclusion
Delphi Survey
Frequency bating mean^
(qO
Standard
deviation
(SD)
Quartil
deviation
(Q)
Rating scale of agreement
Is conflict of interest a challenge facing all 5 4.6 0.55 0.5
projects?
Is corruption a challenge facing all 5 3.4 1.67 1
projects?
Rating scale of importance
Challenges on ecotourism
Poor marketing
1 1
4.5 0.69 0.5
Lack of transparency
1 1
4.2 0.60 0.25
Accountability 11 4.4 0.50 0.5
Challenges on aquaculture
Lack of ownership 8 4.1 0.99 0.5
Site selection 8 4.5 0.53 0.5
Lack of technical skills 8 4.8 0.46 0.13
Challenges on beekeeping
Lack of technical skills 9 4.2 0.97 0.5
Prolonged drought 9
I  3 -9  J
0.93 0
0.5 &(qi) > 3.5 or (qi) < 3.5
Identified livelihood activities:
Beekeeping, Mariculture and Ecotourism
SWOT Analysis: Strength Healthy mangrove
forest; Weakness-Un capacitated members;
Opportunity -  Diversifying activities;
Illegal mangrove cutting
Conclusion
-v- Potential mangrove-related projects are 
significant in mangrove conservation 
-v- Established challenges which if not properly 
addressed would affect project 
management 
-v- Study covers the actual situation and the 
perception of SWOT
To M alm ei
Water bodies
& rivers Malindi
Sabaki /  Galana
Mida Creek
Watamu
Ethiopia
A f /K E N Y A
}> Nairobi I
\  Creeks —
' O  Water t= ]
^  Mangrove c=i
inhabited terrestrial area ^ 3
Indian
Ocean
Mombasa
To M alindi
Kilifi Creek
Kwetu
M ajaoni
I Mangrove 
I Inhabited terrestrial
M  tica pa Kidogoweni akongohiShimo La Tewa
A109 MOMBASA
Likoni
Mkurumuji 0 $
Tiwi Beach I I Mangrove 
sS:2 Seagrasses 
Road 
I— < Transect
'alu Beach
Shimoni
Msambweni asmi
Ramisi
I  Mangrove 'S
□  Inhabited terrestrial landhimoniWasini Islan
39°25’01” E
Seasonal
PerennialMain road
river
river


Mangroves and livelihood: An assessment of livelihood projects in the mangrove ecosystem along the Kenyan Coast

Introduction 
²  The	  coastal	  people	  have	  strong	  economic	  2es	  with	  the	  
coastal	  ecosystem	  
²  They	  derive	  the	  main	  livelihood	  from	  the	  marine	  
environment	  
²  Mangroves	  form	  an	  important	  ecosystem	  along	  the	  Kenya’s	  
coast	  
²  The	  Kenyan	  coastal	  popula2on	  is	  3.3M	  ,	  this	  has	  shown	  a	  
22.6%	  increase	  from	  1999	  to	  2009	  	  
²  Increased	  popula2on	  poses	  a	  challenge	  to	  resource	  
sustainability	  
²  Ini2a2ng	  livelihood	  projects	  have	  been	  necessary	  to	  
complement	  or	  replace	  exis2ng	  ac2vi2es	  	  
Objectives 
Overall	  objec,ve:	  	  
Assess	   the	   feasibility	   and	   sustainability	   of	   livelihood	  
projects	   in	   the	  mangrove	  ecosystem	  along	   the	  Kenyan	  
Coast	  
Speciﬁc	  objec,ves:	  
²  To	  iden,fy	  the	  livelihood	  projects	  
²  To	   assess	   the	   status/condi,on	   of	   the	   livelihood	  
projects	  
²  To	  conduct	  a	  SWOT	  analysis	  of	   iden2ﬁed	  livelihood	  
projects	  
²  To	   iden2fy	   the	   causes	   of	   failure	   or	   success	   of	   the	  
livelihood	  projects	  
Mangroves and Livelihood: An assessment of livelihood 
projects in the mangrove ecosystem along the Kenyan Coast 
Methodology 
!
Hamza	  Amina	  Juma1,	  2,	  James	  Kairo2,	  Nico	  Koedam1	  and	  Farid	  Dahdouh-­‐Guebas1,	  3	  
1	  Laboratory	  of	  Plant	  Biology	  and	  Nature	  Management,	  Faculty	  of	  Sciences	  and	  Bio-­‐engineering	  Sciences,	  Vrije	  Universiteit	  Brussel	  	  
(VUB),	  Pleinlaan	  2,	  B-­‐1050	  Brussels,	  Belgium	  
2	  Kenya	  Marine	  and	  Fisheries	  Research	  Ins2tute,	  PO	  Box	  81651-­‐80100,	  Mombasa,	  Kenya	  
3	  Laboratory	  of	  Systems	  Ecology	  and	  Resource	  Management,	  Department	  of	  Organism	  Biology,	  Faculty	  of	  Sciences,	  Université	  Libre	  de	  Bruxelles	  
(ULB),	  Av.	  F.D.	  Roosevelt	  50,	  B-­‐1050	  Brussels,	  Belgium	  
Email:	  ahamza@vub.ac.be	  /	  ahamza@kmfri.co.ke,	  jkairo@kmfri.co.ke,	  nikoedam@vub.ac.be,	  fdahdouh@ulb.ac.be	  	  
Study	  area	  
Data	  collec,on	  
The	  study	  was	  conducted	  in	  three	  sites	  along	  the	  
Kenyan	  Coast:	  Wasini	  Island,	  and	  Gazi	  Bay	  in	  the	  
South;	  and	  Mida	  Creek	  in	  the	  North	  
Focus	  group	  discussion	  
²  Conducted	  at	  the	  project	  sites	  with	  members	  
directly	  involved	  in	  project	  management	  
²  	  To	  generate	  qualita2ve	  informa2on	  on	  the	  
strengths,	  weaknesses,	  opportuni2es	  and	  
threats	  (SWOT)	  of	  the	  respec2ve	  project	  	  
Individual	  interviews	  
²  A	  ques2onnaire	  was	  used	  to	  interview	  locals	  
and	  iden2ﬁed	  project	  stakeholders	  
DELPHI	  
²  Stakeholders’	  online	  survey	  using	  Google	  docs	  
for	  consensus	  building	  in	  view	  of	  project	  
implementa2on	  
	  
	  
Projects	  studied	  
!
²  Iden,ﬁed	  livelihood	  ac,vi,es:	  Gazi	  Bay	  and	  Mida	  
Creek:	  Ecotourism;	  Beekeeping	  and	  Mariculture	  and	  
Wasini	  Island:	  Ecotourism	  
	  
²  SWOT	  Analysis:	  Strength	  -­‐	  Healthy	  mangrove	  forest;	  
Weakness-­‐	  Un	  capacitated	  members;	  Opportunity-­‐	  
Presence	  of	  resourceful	  ins2tu2ons;	  Threat	  -­‐	  Lack	  of	  
project	  ownership	  
	  
²  Ongoing	  research:	  Analysis	  of	  individual	  
ques2onnaires	  and	  Delphi	  procedure	  
	  
Preliminary results and ongoing research 
	  
Ecotourism	  
Beekeeping	  
Mariculture	  
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Ques,onnaire	  response	  


 - 52 -  
Mangroves and livelihood – An assessment of livelihood projects in 
the mangrove ecosystem along the Kenyan coast 
Hamza Amina Juma
1, 2
, James Kairo
2
, Nico Koedam
1
 and Farid Dahdouh-Guebas
1, 3 
1 
Laboratory of Plant Biology and Nature Management, Faculty of Sciences and Bio-engineering 
Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium 
E-mail: ahamza@vub.ac.be  
2
 Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, PO Box 81651-80100, Mombasa, Kenya 
3 
Laboratory of systems Ecology and Resource Management, Department of Organism Biology, 
Faculty of Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Av. F.D. Roosevelt 50, 1050 Brussels, 
Belgium 
 
Mangroves form an important ecosystem along Kenya’s coast and produces goods and services that 
are of environmental, ecological and economic importance to human society (Abuodha & Kairo, 
2001). According to the 2009 population and housing census (GOK, 2011), the population of the 
coast province was 3,325,307 equivalent to 8.6% of the national population showing an increase of 
22.6% from 1999 to 2009. Most of these people have strong economic ties with the coastal 
ecosystems with which they interact and interfere in various ways (Dahdouh-Guebas et al., 2000). 
Several livelihood activities have been initiated along the Kenyan Coast to complement or replace 
existing activities. These include integrated fish farming, ecotourism, apiculture, and agro-forestry 
amongst others. The objective of the study is to assess the feasibility and sustainability of the 
‘livelihood projects’, defined as a means of supporting one’s existence especially financially. An 
analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) was conducted on the 
livelihood projects in Mida Creek, Gazi Bay and Wasini Island in Kenya. Preliminary results indicate 
the presence of healthy mangrove forest as a major strength in all the sites, while seasonality of the 
projects observed as a major weakness. On the other hand, diversification of the livelihood projects 
is seen as the greatest opportunity, while high maintenance cost is seen as the major threat in 
ecotourism projects. A Delphi procedure will be used to involve project stakeholders in a 
participatory and consensus building process in view of the projects implementation as part of this 
ongoing study. The results obtained in this study will form the benchmark in providing 
recommendations to improve on efficiency and effectiveness of the initiatives so as to help in wise 
management of the mangrove ecosystem. 
References 
Abuodha P.A.W. and J.G. Kairo. 2001. Human-induced stresses on mangrove swamps along the 
Kenyan coast. Hydrobiologia 458(1):255–265.  
Dahdouh-Guebas F., C. Mathenge, J.G. Kairo and N. Koedam. 2000. Utilization of mangrove wood 
product around Mida Creek (Kenya) amongst subsistence and commercial users. Economic 
Botany 54(4):513–527. 
Government of Kenya. 2011. Integrated Coastal zone management Action plan for Kenya, 2011-
2015. 
 


Mangroves and livelihood – An assessment of livelihood projects in the mangrove ecosystem along the Kenyan coast

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