A Rocha Kenya home page

Arabuko-Sokoke Forest

A Rocha Kenya (ARK) is based in Watamu, a village in the Kenyan coastal district of Malindi, 100 km north of Mombasa, where we operate our conservation programmes out of a residential centre, Mwamba.

Malindi District is home to some of the richest and most diverse habitats in the whole of Kenya - 10% of Kenya’s Important Bird Areas, considered internationally important for bird conservation, are found within a 30 km radius of Malindi. These include Arabuko-Sokoke Forest which is the largest remnant of dry coastal forest in East Africa and considered to be one of the most important forests for bird conservation in mainland Africa. It also includes Mida Creek, considered one of the most productive mangrove ecosystems on earth and of international importance for some of its bird species, and the Sabaki River Mouth with thousands of waders, gulls and terns regularly found on it.

Despite the richness and diversity of local habitats in this area, an exploding population and desperately high levels of poverty are putting a huge strain on the delicate relationship between the local people and the surrounding environment.

By working with the local communities, A Rocha Kenya aims to achieve the long-term conservation of threatened habitats and species in the Malindi-Watamu area. ARK was formally established in 1999 and opened the Mwamba Bird Observatory and Field Study Centre in Watamu in 2002.

A Rocha Kenya’s work focuses on four main areas:

• Environmental Education: ARK’s Environmental Education Officer works with wildlife clubs in schools and trains local school teachers to coordinate and oversee educational activities and to teach about environmental care within existing National Curriculum activities.
• Community Conservation: The Arabuko-Sokoke Schools and Eco-tourism Scheme (ASSETS) was set up by ARK in 2001. The scheme uses money generated from eco-tourism to provide secondary school “eco-bursaries” for local children and also contributes to nature conservation.
• Research & Monitoring: ARK's scientific programme has focussed to date on avian studies with some work on invertebrates, benthic fauna, plants and mammals. Regular surveys are carried out on endangered species and in threatened habitats in order to better understand and therefore protect them. 
• Mwamba Field Study Centre & Bird Observatory: Mwamba provides simple and pleasant accommodation for all and any interested visitors, including researchers and conservationists, and offers opportunities for volunteers to get involved as well as facilities for small workshops and seminars. 

Follow the ARK and ASSETS blogs...

A blog is being updated as regularly as possible for both the work of A Rocha Kenya in general and ASSETS in particular. Follow these links to learn more:

A Rocha Kenya blog

ASSETS blog

Support the Tana River Delta campaign

The Tana River Delta is amongst the top three of Kenya's largest and most important freshwater wetland systems with a significant local community of cattle herders and others dependent on it and who have done so for centuries.  However, it is under serious threat.  In June 2008, Mumias were granted a licence to turn the wetland into sugarcane plantations for sugar production and “eco-friendly” bio-fuels.  The Tana River Delta conservation lobby took the issue to the High Court to try to halt the decision but the battle continues.

For more details and to find out how you can help, visit the Tana River Delta campaign site.