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Nature-Based Therapy

Health is a key component of sustainable development goals. We promote mental and physical awareness and well-being through organizing outdoor ventures that include hikes, treks, biking, networking, weekly bird and nature walks. We utilize interactions between people and nature to promote mental and physical health. We partner with mental expert organizations like PDO to organize team building and bonding sessions for organizations and groups to promote nature-based therapy.

ANGAZA VIJIJI
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Integrating Technology into local conservation for sustainable development

We recognize the significance of technological advancements in this age we are living in for ensuring sustainable living. To that effect, we try as much as possible to integrate possible technological elements into our work that engages schools and young people. This has been enabled through strategic partnerships as one of the approaches to ensuring sustainability. For example, we create safe platforms from where students and youth can engage safely without exposure to outsiders. We have also created a bat monitoring platform that students engaged in our straw-colored fruit bat monitoring use to collect monthly bat data thus early exposure to the current workplace environment.

ANGAZA VIJIJI

Previous Projects

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Community-Based Conservation Actions of Lake Victoria papyrus wetland ecosystems

We have previously worked with 15 schools and 7 community groups in Kisumu County to help in the conservation of Dunga and Yala papyrus wetland ecosystems. This has seen the establishment of 12 environmental wildlife clubs in 12 schools and five community-based umbrella associations working for environmental awareness and ecotourism. More than 125 young people have directly benefited from these initiatives with at least 8 going on to study conservation-related courses for careers at the college level.

 

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Community-Based Research/ Citizen Science

From 2004 to 2010 we have worked with community action groups around Dunga and Yala papyrus swamp Key Biodiversity Areas to set up a locally based monitoring of the important bird areas with the support of Wildlife Conservation Society and Nature Kenya.

 

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Setting up Education models

Since 20018, we have partnered with the American Embassy to establish learning models on sustainable development. This involved setting up clubs and training students on nutrition gardening and nature conservation practices.

 

FUNDING ORGANIZATIONS

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National Geographic Society

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The Rufford Small Grants Foundation

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The American Embassy in Nairobi

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The Mohamed Bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund

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International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC)

Current Projects

Schools involvement in the conservation of Straw-colored Fruit bats in Vihiga County (Kenya)

About the project

This project focuses on establishing bat clubs in schools and mentoring them through citizen science to become future conservation leaders and bat advocates. It involves establishing a community monitoring framework for straw-colored fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) in Vihiga County. The project also strives to incorporate technology in monitoring this charismatic species through the development and use of both mobile and web applications to monitor, record, and communicate straw-colored fruit bat science to the public for public awareness.

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Sustainable Ecotourism and Conservation of Threatened Harrison’s Giant Mastiff Bat at Mt Suswa Conservancy, Kenya

Funders: The International Conservation Fund of Canada (ICFC) and the Rufford Foundation.

Project coordinator: Dr. David Wechuli

Summary

Bats are essential in maintaining ecological processes and providing valuable services for human health and well-being (Kunz et al., 2011). The Harrison’s Giant Mastiff Bat (Otomops harrisoni) is currently listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and therefore requires maximum protection. It meets the criteria for this designation because there have been extreme population declines located at two of its roosts (Mount Suswa and Ithundu Caves). The globally Vulnerable Harrison’s Giant Mastiff Bat uses the volcanic cave roosts of Mt Suswa Conservancy, Kenya (1° 10.37'S, 36° 20.85'E). Crucial maternity colonies are endangered by expanding ecotourism and human disturbance in the forests. This project sought to establish how bats use the caves to improve the management of the cave systems while promoting sustainable ecotourism and roost protection. We engage communities to

promote the protection of caves as roost sites and restoration of local forests as foraging habitats for bats through training and education awareness programs.

Activities undertaken

  1. Documented human activities in several parts of the Conservancy and adjoining areas. Human activities are major threats that the Harrison’s Giant Mastiff Bat and their roosting caves face. This includes proximity of human settlement to natural habitats. Tourism (national and international) and religious activities in the caves continues to dominate the Conservancy. In some areas, the production of charcoal and sale is common livelihood activity.

  1. Construction of the Mount Suswa Conservancy's first office and information center. This was an important and necessary step because it will allow people to report, register, and be accompanied by bat guardians as they explore the Conservancy's caves or other areas.

 

  1. Training bat Guardians-We had the first training session for bat guardians, who will assist to watch over the caves and be involved in tree planting and policing of trees.

    1. Educating local farmers and pastoralist on roost conservation, monitoring protocols, capitalizing on cooperative relationships to protect key roosts

     

    1. Engage communities in tree planting exercise to promote and catalyze protection and restoration of local forests as foraging habitat for bats.

     

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The role of Bats in Agriculture in the face of Climate Change

Kenya is home to some of Africa’s densest human settlements as well as some of its most productive agriculture. Bats may be critical to food security especially in Kenya. By consuming agricultural pests, insectivorous bats contribute enormously to agricultural productivity through avoided crop losses and unused pesticides. However, the diets or food habits of bats of Kenya have not been characterized. We aim to survey and document the food habits of insectivorous bat species. Estimates of the economic value of bats as contributors in agriculture will be carried out through online resources. An overall synthesis or model for predicting the distribution of bat species under a global warming scenario will also be developed.

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Conservation of the Endangered Hildegarde’s Tomb Bat from Human Persecution and Habitat loss at the Coastal areas in Kenya and Tanzania

We have previously worked with 15 schools and 7 community groups in Kisumu County to help in the conservation of Dunga and Yala papyrus wetland ecosystems. This has seen the establishment of 12 environmental wildlife clubs in 12 schools and five community-based umbrella associations working for environmental awareness and ecotourism. More than 125 young people have directly benefited from these initiatives with at least 8 going on to study conservation-related courses for careers at the college level.

 

Future Projects

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Using market based tools to promote conservation of species under threat

 We are exploring the opportunities presented by nature based enterprises to promote sustainable community based conservation of natural resources in rural villages where biodiversity still faces least threats from agricultural practices compared to cities. Some of the opportunities we are currently looking at are the bat excretes/ faecal matter also called guano which can be utilised as very effective farm manure. Bat guano can be safely used as a fertiliser, both indoors and outdoors, and will benefit vegetables, herbs, flowers, all ornamentals, and fruit and nut trees. Its primary ingredients are roughly 10% nitrogen, 3% phosphorous, and 1% potassium. We are also further exploring ecotourism in its various forms to promote restructuring tourism in rural areas so that it can be more attractive to attract vibrant local economies as well as conservation of both biodiversity and peoples’ native ways.

New partner to be added to the list of partners is: Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior

Radolfzell, Germany: we are partnering under the African network for the conservation of straw coloured fruit bats (Eidolon helvum) in Africa. The institution has also provided a small grant to facilitate our monthly community based  eidolon monitoring.

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Balancing biodiversity conservation and food production

It is still challenging to expand agriculture’s contribution to biodiversity conservation, for example, because of potential trade-offs with other agricultural and sustainability goals. The goal of this project is to investigate how farms may be enabled to contribute more to biodiversity conservation while also achieving goals in agricultural production.

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Improving participation of special schools in sustainable development learning

In 2023, we are rolling out a program that focuses on incorporating people living with any forms of disability in sustainable development learning. We will be focusing on empowering teachers and care givers in these schools with skills to support participation of students in experiential sustainable development learning. We will also be integrating programs that can enable us involve PLWDs directly into participation in our programs.