Description

Expedition Summary
Help Earthwatch restore important mangrove ecosystems.

Expedition Details
You will live and work with local villagers to help conduct pioneering plantation experiments to rehabilitate degraded mangroves in Gazi Bay. In addition to planting mangrove seedlings on our two beach sites, you will also help monitor the effects of these plantations on rates of beach erosion and on the animals, particularly crabs and fish, dependent on them. The results will benefit the local fishing community, which relies on mangrove forests for wood products and fish habitat. You will also contribute to global efforts to restore dwindling mangrove forests and combat the effects of rising sea levels, as well as provide applied data on the use of mangrove forests as carbon sinks. On your recreational day, you can visit Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park, watch dolphins, and tour historical sites.

Meals and Accommodations
Your team will live in Gazi Village, staying in a shared village house, getting to know the village and immersing yourself in Kenyan culture. The houses have toilets and electricity, and provide bedding and mosquito nets. A cook will provide local food, including coconut curries and fresh seafood. Gazi Village is a quiet village, home to about 1000 people, and is close to beautiful beaches and impressive bird life.

About the Research Area
Gazi Bay, in the Kwale district of Kenya, is located 55 kilometers (34 miles) south of Mombasa. The bay has a surface area of 18 square kilometers (6.9 square miles) and is sheltered from strong sea waves by the presence of Chale Peninsula to the east and a fringing coral reef to the south. The reef supports a local subsistence and commercial fishery, with catches being landed on the main beach in the bay. On the landward side, Gazi Bay is bordered by 6.2 square kilometers (2.4 square miles) of mangrove forests. These forests are heavily used by local people as a fishing ground and a source of wood for building and fuel.

The bay area has beautiful beaches and impressive bird life, including three species of bee-eater, pelicans, palm vultures, and hornbills. It is near a black and white Colobus monkey reserve, the tourist resort of Diani beach, the Shimba Hills National Park (famous for its elephants) and the Kisite-Mpunguti Marine National Park (with dozens of dolphins, sea turtles and spectacular coral reef snorkeling). There are many sites of historical interest on the coastline, including a ruin in Gazi that was once used as a concentration center for slaves before they were shipped to Far East countries.

Highlights

Mangrove forests are among the most productive wetland ecosystems on Earth. These tropical coastal woodlands provide crucial habitat, protect coral reefs from sedimentation, and, as demonstrated by the tsunami of 2004, play a critical role in protecting tropical coastlines. They are also one of the most threatened habitats. Historically, mangrove forests lined three-quarters of all tropical and subtropical coasts. Today, less than half of these forests remain, and an estimated two percent more are degraded each year for firewood, building materials, coastal development, and industrial shrimp fisheries. The community of Gazi Village, on the south Kenyan coast, is examining the ecosystem dynamics of replanted mangrove forests with the direction of Prof Mark Huxham, Dr James Kairo, Dr Martin Skov, and Dr Bernard Kirui.

Travel Types

• Eco Tours
• Ecology
• Environmental Studies
• Homestay
• Native Culture Studies
• Nature Tours
• Volunteering
• Snorkeling

Qualifications

Volunteers are enthusiastic to learn about the research topic and are willing to contribute their time and energy to support leading scientists in conducting field research. Volunteers will be trained upon arrival at the research site. Teams have a minimum age of 18, unless accompanied by parent or legal guardian, in which case the minimum age is 16.

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

2,646 USD

Cost Includes:

• Housing
• Food
• Medical insurance
• Medical services
• Emergency evacuation services
• Excursions
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Registration fees
• Written materials abroad

Program Fees Include:

Our volunteers not only contribute essential funds that help to cover the cost of the research, but also, through their inspiration and effort, they provide the people power without which many of our vital projects simply couldn’t take place. We are a non-profit organization but accommodation, meals, insurance, training and transport in the field are also included in your contribution cost. As a non-profit organization that supports scientific research, your contribution and airfare costs are usually tax-deductible for U.S. citizens.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

Earthwatch expeditions appeal to a variety of people, including students, retirees, families, educators, and anyone seeking an exciting journey that enables them to give back to the environment. Our expeditions have a wide range of activity levels, from hiking intensive to easy expeditions with limited physical activity. There is an Earthwatch expedition out there for everyone!

Age Range

Adult (age 18-90) teams available.

This Program is open to

American, European, Canadian, Australian, South African, Kiwi, Worldwide and Asian Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays
• Group living

Participants Travel

Independently

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of 6-12

Scholarships are Available

Fellowships may be available, mainly for high-school students and educators. Visit our website for more information.

Application Process Involves

• Other
• Phone/Video Interview
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

Brief

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network

Earthwatch Institute's Mission Statement

Our mission is to inspire connections between people and the environment by engaging them in worldwide scientific field research and education. These efforts will promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. Earthwatch enables scientists to pursue research goals and members of the public to gain hands-on experience with science. We believe it is essential that people participate in solving the environmental challenges we face.

Year Founded

1971