Sharing Our Restoration Journey

Our Participation in the Kwale Blue Tourism Stakeholder Forum

Yesterday, our team had the opportunity to participate in the Go Blue Tourism Initiative – Kwale Tourism and Conservation Stakeholder Meeting, held at PrideInn Hotel Diani and organized by CORDIO. The full-day forum brought together key actors from across Kwale County’s tourism and marine conservation sectors, with the aim of unifying efforts toward sustainable blue tourism and co-designing a long-term collaborative framework.

During the session, we introduced our coral reef restoration programme, explaining how our nurseries and restoration site now host healthy, vibrant coral colonies and increasingly diverse marine life. The return of colourful reef fish and other species was highlighted as an encouraging sign of ecosystem recovery—proof that restoration truly works when communities and stakeholders collaborate. We also outlined the overarching goals of our restoration efforts:

• rehabilitating degraded coral reefs to boost marine biodiversity,

• creating long-term livelihood opportunities for coastal communities,

• and building stewardship through education, awareness, and capacity building.

  
  

A key part of our presentation focused on our collaboration with local Beach Management Units (BMUs). We emphasised the importance of responsible resource use, especially by ensuring fishing does not occur inside our community managed marine area (CMMA). Through regular sensitisation meetings, we engage fishermen, beach operators, and community members, raising awareness about the essential role coral reefs play in fisheries, tourism, and coastal protection.

The forum brought together a wide range of conservation groups, including Diani Turtle Watch, mangrove restoration teams, seaweed farmers, the Olive Ridley project, and marine education representatives. Each organisation shared their insights, and we were grateful for the opportunity to learn from their experiences.

During our session, we openly discussed some of the challenges we face—such as coral damage caused by fishing activities, continuous disposal of batteries by fishermen, and jet skis operating too close to the reef. Many jet ski operators were surprised to learn the impact their activities have on sea turtle health and were appreciative of the awareness we raised. We also engaged beach operators in a constructive dialogue about safe zones and responsible use of the reef.

The discussions were lively and positive, with participants from as far as Shimoni showing interest in visiting our project for benchmarking. Group discussions allowed everyone to exchange ideas on how best to reduce destruction of coral reefs and strengthen conservation enforcement.

We were honoured when the KWS General Warden approached us to commend our work—encouraging feedback that motivates our Reef Rangers to keep pushing forward. We also met the head of the Kenya Coast Guard in Diani, who expressed full support in helping ensure our coral restoration areas remain protected. Overall, the meeting was a great success. We left feeling inspired, energised, and confident about the growing network of partners committed to safeguarding our marine ecosystems. We look forward to welcoming stakeholders from the forum who expressed interest in visiting our nurseries and restoration site. Together, we are building a stronger, more united, and more sustainable future for Kwale’s blue economy.