Earthwatch
Kenya, July 2008
Earthwatch engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. Their “Tidal Forests of Kenya” expedition is based in Gazi Bay, on the Southern Kenyan Coast and helps to maintain and restore a vital mangrove ecosystem through working with the local community in a small Kenyan fishing village.
Mangroves have one of the highest rates of degradation of any global habitat, exceeding one per cent of total mangrove area per year. Understanding their ecology and restoration is an international conservation priority. The “Tidal Forests” Project runs long term, large scale experiments measuring a range of ecosystem functions in replanted mangrove stands, recording data on which species survive and grow best in the harsh conditions of these restoration site.
- A woman leads a group of Earthwatch volunteers along a boardwalk through the mangrove forests that is part of a project to help with mangrove forest preservation in Gazi Bay, Kenya on the 27th July, 2008.
- Nancy Shedrack Anwary, from Tanzania, one of ten Earthwatch volunteers from Africa and Sri Lanka, listens to a lecture about the issues facing the Mangroves in Gazi Bay, Kenya on the 27th July, 2008. The volunteers were taking part in a tour of the mangrove swamps surrounding Gazi Village before starting a week of volunteer work to help with the Mangroves protection and regeneration.
- View of a Mangrove Swamp in Gazi Bay, Kenya on the 26th July, 2008.
- An Earthwatch volunteer examines a hermit crab while listening to a lecture about the issues facing the Mangroves in Gazi Bay, Kenya on the 27th July, 2008. The volunteers were taking part in a tour of the mangrove swamps surrounding Gazi Village before starting a week of volunteer work to help with the Mangroves protection and regeneration.
- Amina Hamza, from Kenya,(right) and Célia da Conceição Felisberto Macamo Felisberto Macamo, from Mozambique, (left) help with the washing up in the hostel for Earthwatch volunteers in Gazi Bay, Kenya on the 31st July, 2008. They are part of a team of ten Earthwatch Volunteers from Africa and Sri Lanka who are taking part in a ten day project to help with the regeneration and protection of Kenya's Mangrove swamps.
- Children play in the main street in Gazi Bay, Kenya on the 26th July, 2008.
- Earthwatch volunteers stand outside the main Research office in Gazi Bay, Kenya on the 28th July, 2008. The group forms part of a team of ten Earthwatch Volunteers from Africa and Sri Lanka who are taking part in a ten day project to help with the regeneration and protection of Kenya's Mangrove swamps.
- A fisherman burns the bottom of a dugout canoe made from Mango tree, to kill off bugs, in Gazi Bay, Kenya on the 27th July, 2008. Gazi Bay is where ten Earthwatch Volunteers from Africa and Sri Lanka who are taking part in a ten day project to help with the regeneration and protection of Kenya's Mangrove swamps.
- Amadou Yansané, and Earthwatch volunteer from Guinea, talks to a group of school children about his work and his country Gazi Bay, Kenya on the 28th July, 2008. Ten Earthwatch Volunteers from Africa and Sri Lanka who are taking part in a ten day project to help with the regeneration and protection of Kenya's Mangrove swamps. With the support of Earthwatch the school is in the process of building a new administrative block.
- A group of school children perform a song for Earthwatch volunteers in Gazi Bay, Kenya on the 28th July, 2008. Ten Earthwatch Volunteers from Africa and Sri Lanka are taking part in a ten day project to help with the regeneration and protection of Kenya's Mangrove swamps. With the support of Earthwatch the school is in the process of building a new administrative block.
- A group of school children listen to talks given by Earthwatch Volunteers from Africa and Sri Lanka in Gazi Bay, Kenya on the 28th July, 2008. Ten Earthwatch Volunteers from Africa and Sri Lanka who are taking part in a ten day project to help with the regeneration and protection of Kenya's Mangrove swamps. With the support of Earthwatch the school is in the process of building a new administrative block.
- Nancy Shedrack Anwary, an Earthwatch volunteer from Tanzania, and Joseph Langat a Kenyan Research Assistant, examine mangrove seedlings at a nursery plantation at Kinondo, Gazi Bay, Kenya on the 27th July, 2008. Ten Earthwatch Volunteers from Africa and Sri Lanka are taking part in a ten day project to help with the regeneration,protection and research of Kenya's Mangrove swamps.
- Fodé Luceny Camara, an Earthwatch volunteer from Guinea (left), Dr Bernard Kirui, a Kenyan scientist, and Alkaly Doumbouya,an Earthwatch volunteer from Guinea (right) discuss methods for data collection at Kindondo, Gazi Bay, Kenya on the 28th July, 2008. Ten Earthwatch Volunteers from Africa and Sri Lanka are taking part in a ten day project to help with the regeneration,protection and research of Kenya's Mangrove swamps.
- Kangana Amarsena, an Earthwatch volunteer from Sri Lanka, records data taken while examining different types of mangrove plants that have been planted in Kinondo, Gazi Bay, Kenya on the 28th July, 2008. Ten Earthwatch Volunteers from Africa and Sri Lanka are taking part in a ten day project to help with the regeneration,protection and research of Kenya's Mangrove swamps.
- A group of Earthwatch volunteers measure off areas of soil around different types of newly planted mangrove plants in order to collect data on the numbers of animals living in the area around the plants , in Kinondo, Gazi Bay, Kenya on the 27th July, 2008. Ten Earthwatch Volunteers from Africa and Sri Lanka are taking part in a ten day project to help with the regeneration,protection and research of Kenya's Mangrove swamps.
- A group of Earthwatch volunteers measure off areas of soil around different types of newly planted mangrove plants in order to collect data on the numbers of animals living in the area around the plants , in Kinondo, Gazi Bay, Kenya on the 27th July, 2008. Ten Earthwatch Volunteers from Africa and Sri Lanka are taking part in a ten day project to help with the regeneration,protection and research of Kenya's Mangrove swamps.
- Gladys Luvuno Ndegwa an Earthwatch volunteer from Kenya (right) labels a soil sample that is being held by Joseph Langat, a Kenyan research assistant, that they have taken from around newly planted mangroves at Kindondo, Gazi Bay, Kenya on the 27th July, 2008. Ten Earthwatch Volunteers from Africa and Sri Lanka are taking part in a ten day project to help with the regeneration,protection and research of Kenya's Mangrove swamps.
- A group of Earthwatch volunteers measure off areas of soil around different types of newly planted mangrove plants in order to collect data on the numbers of animals living in the area around the plants , in Kinondo, Gazi Bay, Kenya on the 27th July, 2008. Ten Earthwatch Volunteers from Africa and Sri Lanka are taking part in a ten day project to help with the regeneration,protection and research of Kenya's Mangrove swamps.
- Volunteers from Earthwatch measure the size of the leaves of different types of mangrove plants at Kinondo, Gazi Bay, Kenya on the 27th July, 2008. Ten Earthwatch Volunteers from Africa and Sri Lanka are taking part in a ten day project to help with the regeneration,protection and research of Kenya's Mangrove swamps.
- Outcrops of old coral reefs can be seen where areas of a mangrove swamps have been cut down by local villagers near Kindondo, Gazi Bay, Kenya on the 27th July, 2008. Ten Earthwatch Volunteers from Africa and Sri Lanka are taking part in a ten day project to help with the regeneration,protection and research of Kenya's Mangrove swamps.
- Dr Bernard Kirui, a Kenyan scientist, discusses research techniques with Earthwatch volunteers, near Kinondo, Gazi Bay, Kenya on the 28th July, 2008. Ten Earthwatch Volunteers from Africa and Sri Lanka are taking part in a ten day project to help with the regeneration,protection and research of Kenya's Mangrove swamps.
- Kangana Amarsena, an Earthwatch volunteer from Sri Lanka, records data taken while examining different types of mangrove plants that have been planted in Kinondo, Gazi Bay, Kenya on the 28th July, 2008. Ten Earthwatch Volunteers from Africa and Sri Lanka are taking part in a ten day project to help with the regeneration,protection and research of Kenya's Mangrove swamps.
- Dr Martin Skov talks to a group of Earthwatch volunteers from Africa and Sri Lanka about the issues facing the Mangroves in Gazi Bay, Kenya on the 27th July, 2008. Ten Earthwatch Volunteers from Africa and Sri Lanka are taking part in a ten day project to help with the regeneration,protection and research of Kenya's Mangrove swamps.
- A view of newly planted mangroves at Kindondo, Gazi Bay, Kenya on the 27th July, 2008. The plants form part of an experiment to determine the most hardy and appropriate species of mangroves to plant when replanting mangrove swamps. Ten Earthwatch Volunteers from Africa and Sri Lanka are taking part in a ten day project to help with the regeneration,protection and research of Kenya's Mangrove swamps.
- Nancy Shedrack Anwary, an Earthwatch volunteer from Tanzania, takes soil samples from around newly planted mangroves at Kindondo, Gazi Bay, Kenya on the 27th July, 2008. Ten Earthwatch Volunteers from Africa and Sri Lanka are taking part in a ten day project to help with the regeneration,protection and research of Kenya's Mangrove swamps.
- A sample of a mangrove plant leaf is placed in a bag for later examination at an experimental mangrove plantation site in Kindondo, Gazi Bay, Kenya on the 27th July, 2008. Ten Earthwatch Volunteers from Africa and Sri Lanka are taking part in a ten day project to help with the regeneration,protection and research of Kenya's Mangrove swamps.
- Gladys Luvuno Ndegwa an Earthwatch volunteer from Kenya enjoys eating a fresh coconut while taking a break from gathering research data about different types of mangrove plants at Kindondo, Gazi Bay, Kenya on the 27th July, 2008. Ten Earthwatch Volunteers from Africa and Sri Lanka are taking part in a ten day project to help with the regeneration,protection and research of Kenya's Mangrove swamps.
- Amadou Yansané, (right) an Earthwatch volunteer from Guniea, talks to Alkaly Doumbouya (left), another Earthwatch volunteer from Guinea, overlooking an estuary close to the site where they have just assisted in replanting mangroves that have been destroyed by El Nino weather patterns in Mwache, Kenya on the 29th July, 2008. Ten Earthwatch Volunteers from Africa and Sri Lanka are taking part in a ten day project to help with the regeneration,protection and research of Kenya's Mangrove swamps.