2012

GUARDIANSAPPEAL

UK

SustainabilityClimate ChangeConservation

Nurturing new roots~

LIVING ON THE EDGE

Few places on Earth can match the vibrancy and diversity of life in coastaleast Africa. Where else can you find vast swathes of woodland, lush tropicalrainforests, mangroves, palm-fringed beaches, coral reefs and seagrassbeds, all within a few hundred kilometres of each other?

The region’s coastal forests are home to hundreds of

species found nowhere else. Its waters sustain five of

the seven species of marine turtle found globally – all

of which are endangered – as well as whales, dolphins

and the increasingly rare dugong. But this unique and

incredible place is under huge and increasing pressure.

An expanding population, and demands from world

markets for products such as tuna, shrimp, timber,

gas and oil is driving environmental destruction at an

unprecedented scale and pace. Only 10% of the region’s

coastal natural vegetation still remains, and in the past

50 years, fish catches have plummeted by almost half

due to over-harvesting. In the longer term, the

predicted impacts of climate change are expected to

exacerbate these problems. If the situation continues

unabated, the remaining remnants of fragile habitats

and the species they support could be lost, and the lives

of local people who depend heavily on natural resources

will suffer.

We’re working hard to conserve east Africa’s coastal

forests and marine environment, engaging governments

and local communities, and reducing human impact

through a range of approaches. Our long-term and

trusted presence in the region means we’re already

making progress, and with the Guardians beside us

we can do even more.

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FORESTS OF LIFE

East Africa’s coastal forests are a diverse mosaic of natural vegetation,including moist evergreen forest, Miombo woodland, scrub forest, dryforest, swamps, grassland and mangroves. These wildlife treasure trovesare home to an amazingly high density of plants and smaller animals, aswell as elephant, African hunting dog, leopard and antelope.

Unique and rare speciesMany of these plants and animals are found nowhere

else on Earth. More than 200 species of forest birds

have been recorded in the coastal forests of Kenya

and Tanzania alone, of which eleven species and eight

sub-species are endemic. They include the tiny Sokoke

scops-owl, now listed as endangered because of its very

small, severely fragmented range.

Golden-rumped sengi

East Africa’s coastal forests are the most important areas

in the world for elephant shrews, or ‘sengis’. Three of the

four known species of giant elephant shrew – about the

size of a small cat – are found nowhere else, including

the endangered golden-rumped sengi, now confined to

only two small patches of coastal forest in Kenya.

Aders duiker

This tiny forest antelope is thought to have once ranged

widely across eastern Africa’s coastal forests, yet

numbers have plummeted over the last two decades,

largely due to hunting and habitat destruction. A new,

globally important population has recently been

discovered in Kenya’s Boni-Dodori forests.

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1,750EAST AFRICA’S COASTAL FORESTS AREHOME TO 1,750 ENDEMIC PLANT SPECIES,INCLUDING EIGHT SPECIES OF WILD COFFEE

Flame tree

A species of flame tree previously thought to be extinct,

and which is found nowhere else in the world, has been

rediscovered in the little known Namatimbili-Ngarama

forest block, in south east Tanzania.

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MOZAMBIQUE

TANZANIA

KENYA

E

Moçambique

Dar-es-Salaam

Mombasa

Nairobi

Zanzibar

coastal east africaecoregion

1.4 MILLION SQ KMTHE COASTAL EAST AFRICA ECOREGION COVERS AN AREAOF AROUND 1.4 MILLION SQ KM, FROM SOUTHERNSOMALIA, THROUGH KENYA, TANZANIA AND MOZAMBIQUE

22 MILLIONTHE REGION IS HOME TO AROUND

22 MILLION PEOPLE. THE COASTALPOPULATION GROWTH RATE IS

5-6% EACH YEAR, ALMOST TWICEAS HIGH AS INLAND AREAS

400+MORE THAN 400 SPECIESHAVE BEEN DISCOVERED INCOASTAL EAST AFRICA IN THELAST 10 YEARS INCLUDING261 INVERTEBRATES, 28 FISH,25 AMPHIBIANS, 19 REPTILES,10 BIRDS, 7 MAMMALS AND93 PLANTS

Dar-es-Salaam

Mombasa

Nairobi

Zanzibar

kilwa

mafia island

rumakiseascapeproject area

Jaja village

matumbi-kitchiproject area(coastal forests)

boni-Dodoricoastal forests

kwale project area(coastal forests)

SEAS OF PLENTY©

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Dugongs grazing on seagrass beds in warm, shallow waters, magnificentcoral reefs teeming with colourful fish, marine turtles nesting on palm-fringed beaches. The coastlines of Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambiquecontain an abundance of different habitats, and host around 11,000species of marine life, around 15% of which are unique to the region.

Hawksbill turtle

The critically endangered hawksbill turtle helps to

maintain marine ecosystems by transporting nutrients

from rich coral reef feeding grounds to relatively

nutrient-poor nesting beaches. Worldwide, populations

have reduced by 80% in the last three generations,

largely due to habitat degradation, poaching and

accidental entanglement in fishing gear.

Dugong

The dugong, or ‘sea cow,’ is related to the manatee.

Once plentiful in east African coastal waters, they are

now classified as threatened on the International Union

for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, and seen

far less frequently. Their decline has been largely due to

hunting, a reduction in the seagrass meadows they feed

on – and all too often they are accidentally caught in

fishing nets and drown.

Whale shark

The largest of all sharks, they can grow to an incredible

17 metres long. In Tanzania, fishermen avoid them

because of the potential damage to their nets, though

they are sometimes caught accidentally.

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400AROUND 400 SPECIES OF FISH, AND AHOST OF CORALS, MOLLUSCS, SPONGES,STARFISH AND SEA URCHINS ARE FOUND INMAFIA ISLAND MARINE PARK, TANZANIA

Mozambique has the most remaining pristine coastal forest cover, almost 5,000 sq km,

and although much of it is still relatively undisturbed, the vast majority is unprotected.

Overall across the region, only around one fifth of the area covered by coastal forest is

protected in some way, and only 4% is under the highest levels of protection.

Unhealthy harvestInternational demand for timber is driving deforestation at alarmingly high and

unsustainable levels. Around 80% of Mozambique’s timber exports are traded to

China. In Tanzania and Mozambique, an estimated 6,000 sq km of forest each year

is lost to illegal logging, charcoal production, agriculture and other development.

This equates to an area four times the size of greater London – representing one of

the highest loss rates in the world. The impacts of climate change are also likely to

increase the pressures on forest habitats and the animals and plants within them.

1/5THONLY 1/5TH OF THE

REGION’S REMAININGCOASTAL FORESTS HAVE

ANY FORM OF PROTECTION

FRAGILE AND FRAGMENTEDOf the nearly 300,000 sq km of natural vegetation that once coveredcoastal east Africa, only 10% remains. Vast swathes of forest, grassland,mangrove and scrub have been cleared for agricultural land, timber, fuelwood and charcoal production. Just 400 patches of forest are left acrossKenya and Tanzania, and most are less than 20 sq km in size.

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Agriculture

Demand for farmland to support subsistence agriculture

poses a major threat to coastal forests. Forests are also

being cleared, often by destructive slash and burn

methods, for commercial agriculture, such as coconut,

sisal, clove, cardamom and cashew nut plantations.

Illegal logging

Unsustainable, illegal logging is an increasing problem.

An estimated 50-70% of Mozambique’s timber is illegally

logged, costing the government around £15 million

annually in lost revenue.

Infrastructure and mining

Poorly planned developments such as roads, pipelines,

hotels, residential housing and oil, gas and mineral

extraction are all adding to coastal habitat loss. Coastal

forests often have a wealth of mineral resources,

including oil, gas, gemstones, iron, manganese, titanium,

ancient coral bedrock and kaolin, that in some areas are

being exploited using destructive mining practices.

Charcoal and fuel wood

The vast majority of people in the region rely on charcoal

and fuel wood for domestic energy. This is causing major

forest habitat loss, especially near towns and cities.

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n 60%AN ESTIMATED 60% OFNATURAL HABITATS INCOASTAL EAST AFRICAHAVE BEEN CONVERTEDOVER TIME TO FARMLANDAND URBAN AREAS

SUPPORTING WILDLIFE THROUGH PEOPLE

EMPOWERING LOCAL COMMUNITIESWe’re working closely with Kenya’sindigenous Boni people, to help givethem more influence over the futureof their forest home.

The Boni-Dodori forests harbour elephants, buffalo,

African hunting dogs and leopards, as well as a stunning

variety of unique frogs, lizards, insects, invertebrates and

plants. They’re home to the Boni community too, who

rely heavily on the natural resources around them for

their survival and income. Ensuring the forests stay

healthy and intact is vital, which is why we’re helping the

Boni develop forest and wildlife management systems

that will help them take ownership of their natural

environment and have a real say in its protection.

Protecting east Africa’s coastal forests is a conservation priority for us. Withso little left, we’re campaigning hard to gain better protection for all of them.We’re actively addressing threats such as illegal logging and unsustainablecharcoal production, and helping local people find alternative livelihoods toreduce pressure on fragile forest ecosystems. The following are just a fewexamples of our work.

A key step towards this is identifying and monitoring the

animals that live in the forests. Recently we supported

camera trap surveys, undertaken by the Zoological

Society of London (ZSL) to get a feel for the wildlife in

the area. The results were unexpected and amazing.

As well as capturing images of leopard, porcupine,

caracal and other known forest dwellers, the photos

have confirmed the presence of what could turn out to

be the world’s largest known population of the critically

endangered forest antelope, Aders duiker. A possible new

species of elephant shrew was also photographed, and is

being researched further. Other treasures could yet be

revealed, making it all the more important to protect

what’s left of this incredible place.

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MAKING WOOD WORKWe’re enabling local people likeRafii Hashim to make a living whilstreducing their impact on the forest.

Rafii’s a 56-year-old father who lives in Kinsangi

village in the southern district of Lindi, Tanzania. He

wants to give his children a more secure future, and

today he has every reason to be hopeful. The forests

from which he and his fellow villagers earn their living

are now Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified,

which means they’re being carefully managed to

international standards, with all activities sanctioned

by the government and community, and a fair price

being paid for the timber.

It wasn’t always the case. Before we helped the

community gain FSC certification the trees were being

harvested unsustainably, and the price people could

get for the wood was barely enough to survive on.

90%

“FSC is helping us conserve our forestsbetter,” says Rafii. “We’re now makingover Tsh 100,000 (around £40) for everycubic metre, and gaining knowledge thatwill help us harvest our trees in a waythat doesn’t harm the forest and ensuresit will be there for our children to enjoy.” rafii Hashim

HOPE FROM THE ASHESWe’re supporting changes in theway charcoal is currently produced,to make it more sustainable.

In Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest city, charcoal is

the main source of domestic energy, with over 90% of

people using it in one way or another. Most comes from

the surrounding woodlands, making charcoal

production a major threat to the forests.

The traditional method of producing charcoal involves

slowly burning wood in large earth mound kilns, which

are highly inefficient. We’re promoting the use of more

efficient kilns, and helping to ensure that charcoal

producers harvest wood more sustainably and replant

the forests they take it from. We’re also supporting the

development of community nurseries to provide tree

saplings for replanting, and dedicated plantations

where trees are grown specifically for charcoal

production. A recent study we carried out reveals that

producing charcoal from plantations can save an area

of forest equivalent to more than 2,000 football pitches

every year.

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IN DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA’SLARGEST CITY, 90% OF PEOPLE RELY ONCHARCOAL AS THEIR MAIN FUEL SOURCE

Most catches are from local fisheries using simple artisanal equipment such as hook

and line, hand spears, woven fish traps and various types of net. Total annual catches

from Mozambique are about 115,000 tonnes, with 90-95% being caught by artisanal

fishers. Other, more industrialised fishing methods, include motorised vessels

equipped with trawl nets hauled by power winches.

Food for thoughtIn Tanzania, the estimated average consumption of seafood per person is greater than

their combined consumption of meat and poultry. Hundreds of thousands of people

along the coast are employed in the fishing industry, including post-harvest activities

such as processing and marketing.

>300,000TONNES

TANZANIAN FISHERIES ALONECATCH OVER 300,000

TONNES OF FISH EACH YEAR

ON THE WAVES OF A CRISISMarine resources are under pressure along the entire length of coastal eastAfrica. In the past 50 years, fish catches have plummeted by over half dueto over-harvesting and habitat destruction. This huge loss of marine lifethreatens millions of poor local people who rely heavily on fish and seafoodas their main source of protein and income.

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>£30MILLIONEACH YEAR OVER £30 MILLIONWORTH OF FISH - MOSTLYSHRIMP AND TUNA - ISESTIMATED TO BE FISHEDILLEGALLY OR UNREPORTED IN MOZAMBIQUE

Bycatch

The accidental capture of non-target species in fishing

gear kills tonnes of juvenile fish each year, as well as

animals such as threatened dugongs and marine turtles.

Destructive fishing practices

Over the last few decades, destructive fishing methods

such as dynamite fishing have destroyed seagrass beds

and coral reefs, which act as vital fish nurseries and

breeding grounds. Unfortunately, despite being illegal

in all three countries, the practice still continues.

Overfishing

Illegal fishing and growing international demand for

tuna has placed the region’s tuna stocks under serious

threat. Although foreign fishing fleets pay to fish within

the region’s offshore areas, there is little monitoring of

their catches, and vessels are regularly recorded as

fishing illegally within inshore waters.

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TIDES OF CHANGE

In July 2005, we launched the Rufiji-Mafia-Kilwa

(RUMAKI) Seascape programme in association with

district councils in Rufiji, Kilwa, and Mafia Island. As

part of the programme we’ve helped establish and train

26 Beach Management Units (BMUs) involving

thousands of local people.

The BMUs coordinate and collaborate with one another

to help improve the management of shared local

fisheries. They watch out for illegal fishing and dynamite

blasting which they report to the local authorities, and

agree ‘no fishing’ areas. They also keep a record of any

threatened marine wildlife to help monitor numbers.

Together they establish and manage acceptable fishing

practices and arrange exchanges of harmful fishing

equipment for environmentally-friendly alternatives.

COASTAL GUARDIANSWe’re helping local communities inTanzania safeguard their naturalmarine resources.

Securing a healthy marine environment is vital, and involving coastalcommunities is key to making it happen. We’re working hard to help localpeople find alternative ways of making a living, improve the management of themarine resources around them, and protect vulnerable habitats and species.

Dugong conservationPart of our RUMAKI programme involves raising

local awareness of the need to protect threatened

dugongs. We’ve trained local community members

to record dugong sightings, and held conservation

workshops, including demonstrating the best ways

to free them from entanglement in fishing nets.

Tourists, particularly those visiting Mafia Island,

are becoming more aware and interested in these

incredible marine mammals.

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BACKING ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOODS

Sauli Salum lives in a fishing village near Kilwa in

Tanzania. When she’s not at school, seven year-old Sauli

helps her mother, who is a member of a milkfish farming

group. The milkfish are raised in ponds, then harvested

and sold every three months or so. It’s Sauli’s job to

collect the fingerlings (juvenile fish) that are placed in a

fishpond until they reach a weight of around 500g.

Milkfish are a fast growing and easily reared source of

protein and so far we’ve helped set up 25 farming groups.

We’ve also set up 22 pearl oyster farms. The oysters are

suspended from a floating bamboo raft, then ‘seeded,’ by

super-gluing a plastic bead onto the inside of the shell.

STAMPING OUT POVERTYWe’re enabling people to escape thepoverty trap and build sustainablealternative livelihoods.

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Many local people aspire to own or expand their own

small businesses, yet all too often lack the means to do

so. We’ve been establishing Village Cooperative Banks,

known as VICOBAs, which act as saving and loan schemes

in some of the region’s poorest coastal villages. Local

people deposit their savings and build up enough capital

to become eligible for a small loan to start or develop a

business. The profits they make are used to repay the loan,

support their children’s education, improve housing and

cover emergencies such as medical costs.

Khadija’s storyKhadija is 40 years-old and a mother of four children.

She lives in Njianne village, near Kilwa, Tanzania, and

joined her local VICOBA group in 2007. Her main

income comes from keeping goats, as well as selling

clothes and ‘mama lishe’ (fast food).

In 2007, Khadija borrowed Tsh 100,000 (around £40) to

invest in her fast food business. She made a small profit and

used it to take out a second loan of Tsh 200,000 (around

£80) to invest in her goat-keeping project. Her husband,

also a VICOBA member, contributed another Tsh 200,000

and the business has now grown from 30 goats to over 100,

bringing in much-needed income for the family and

enabling them to send two of their children to school.

£1MTO DATE 76 VICOBA’S ACROSS RUMAKI HAVE SUPPORTEDOVER 6,500 LOANS AND APPROXIMATELY £1 MILLIONHAS BEEN CIRCULATED

VICOBA RULESA strict set of rules is adhered to by

all VICOBA members. To prevent

passers-by from knowing how much money they

are depositing, members buy shares, each worth

between Tsh 5,000-12,000, which are identified by

a goat stamp. Savings are placed in a plastic bowl,

verified by the VICOBA treasurer, and then locked

in a safe box, secured by three padlocks. The key is

held by one of three members of the VICOBA’s

executive committee.

Over many months, the mother of pearl coating grows

over the bead, which is then turned into a piece of

jewellery and sold. In pilot trials, three fishermen earned

£400 for their pearl-seeded shells – a substantial

addition to their income.

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We’re helping to introducealternative ways of making a living,to help reduce pressure on thenatural environment.

SHOOTS OF A BETTER FUTURE

WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP TODAYOur overall goal is to ensure the governments and people of the region are

working more collaboratively – effectively controlling decisions over their

natural resources and sustainably managing key ecosystems and habitats.

Creating efficient, coordinated institutions and policies, promoting responsible trade,

identifying and protecting further areas of high conservation value, and continuing to

engage with local people are key to making this happen. But reaching all of these

objectives takes time and money, and with the generous funding from Barclays Bank

coming to an end, we’re facing a significant shortfall, which we urgently need to fill in

order to go on supporting vital projects.

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£280,000WE DESPERATELY NEED TORAISE THIS AMOUNT SO WECAN CONTINUE SUPPORTING

VITAL PROJECTS

Despite the many challenges, we’re making real progress in coastal eastAfrica. We’ve been instrumental in establishing and improving themanagement of protected areas, building key conservation partnerships,engaging with local communities, achieving increasing commitment fromthe private sector to sustainable practices, and critically, gaining the trust ofthe region’s three national governments. But there’s still a long way to go.

Please will you donate at least £1,000 so that our workcan continue? Here are just some of the many ways your generosity can make a realand significant difference.

We need to do all of this and more. Please help us by completing the enclosed

pledge form today. Thank you for your understanding and support.

£3,000 could help us assess the impact of Marine Protected Areas on fisheries in

Mozambique, enabling us to inform the government about how best to protect vulnerable

species like dugongs and whale sharks, and ensure that fishing is sustainable.

£1,000 could help us train the people living

in and around the forests of Boni-Dodori to

manage their forests in a more sustainable

way, for example through community

patrolling. This will help them maximise

the productivity of their forest home while

protecting the wildlife around them.

£1,500 could help set up a tree nursery to

supply sustainable wood for energy-efficient

charcoal kilns in Tanzania. Growing trees

in plantations specifically for charcoal

production helps reduce pressure on

natural forests. The money could pay for

seedlings, shovels, rakes and water pumps,

as well as ongoing nursery maintenance.

£2,000 could help set up a new Village

Cooperative Bank on Mafia Island, giving

local people the opportunity to change or

improve their livelihoods and so alleviate

pressure on the irreplaceable natural

resources of the marine park.

£2,500 could help us train a new Beach

Management Unit in a village in the Kilwa

district of Tanzania. We’ll provide training

for villagers on how to manage their

fisheries more sustainably, how to collect

fisheries data and how to monitor for

illegal activities, such as dynamite fishing.

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100%RECYCLED

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WWF.ORG.UK/GUARDIANS•GUARDIANS APPEAL 2012 • COASTAL EAST AFRICA

wwf-uk, registered charity number 1081247 and registered in scotland number sC039593. a company

limited by guarantee number 4016725 © 1986 panda symbol and ® “wwf” registered trademark of

wwf-world wide fund for nature (formerly world wildlife fund), wwf-uk, panda House, weyside park,

godalming, surrey gu7 1Xr, t: +44 (0)1483 426333, e: supportercare@wwf.org.uk, wwf.org.uk

Details correct at time of going to print, february 2012.

Why we are here

wwf.org.uk

To stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment andto build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.

30-40%36

5Mafia Island Marine Park

consists of a group of five

islands whose coral reefs,

seagrass beds and mangroves

host some of the richest life

on the east African coast

We’ve been working

in east Africa’s coastal

forests since the 1990s

We’ve helped

establish and train 36

sustainable charcoal

producer groups

Coastal East Africa in numbers

Destruction of mangroves

and overfishing have

reduced fish catches from

coral reefs by 30-40%

1990s