Profiling Kenya - Mida Creek

General description

Located on the highly popular tourist coastline of the Malindi-Watamu, Mida Creek is a large, almost landlocked saline lagoon that includes an extensive area of intertidal mud (580 ha). The lagoon merges into a highly productive 1,600ha Mangrove forest, which comprises the majority of the study site area. This diversity of habitats supports a broad range of fauna and flora, including resident indigenous and migratory species. Together with the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest the area is designated as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

Importance for conservation

Designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA), Mida Creek is a significant passage and wintering area for Palaearctic migrant waders. Some 65 species of aquatic bird are regularly recorded on the Creek and reach numbers of over 6,000 individuals, including internationally important numbers of Greater Sandplover (Charadrius leschenaultii), Lesser Sandplover (Charadrius mongolus ) and Crab-plovers (Dromas ardeola). The area is also a key spawning ground for several fish species and a feeding ground for young turtles. These wildlife attributes make the site one of the most important regions for conservation in mainland Africa.

Conservation concerns

Currently the local people benefit very little from the sizeable revenue generated through tourism in the area and poverty is widespread. In order to survive they are driven to illegal logging, poaching and over-fishing, all of which threaten Mida Creek’s habitats. The rapidly increasing population is also placing immense pressure on resources and land, and many people feel that they do not benefit enough from the Creek’s natural resources.

Achievements to date

In 2001 A Rocha Kenya set up the Arabuko-Sokoke Schools and Ecotourism Scheme (ASSETS) to combat problems mentioned above and provide secondary school eco-bursaries for children in the Arabuko-Sokoke forest and Mida Creek area. The project provides these funds through local ecotourism, generated by visitors to the Creek and forest and donations from tourists and others. In addition to giving the local people a tangible reason for caring for the natural resources, all beneficiaries receive environmental education and take part in conservation work in the area. In 2005 122 students were being supported by the programme.

Vision for the future

Having witnessed the success of the ASSETS project to protect Mida Creek and help local people, A Rocha Kenya has set itself an ambitious target of supporting 1,100 students within a 5 km range of the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest and Mida Creek by 2015. It is hoped that the continuing growth of the scheme will encourage local people to care for the natural resources surrounding them.