By: Albright Okech

Indigenous knowledge about land and other natural resources is critical for sustainable management of sensitive ecosystems such as mangrove forests.

In particular, information about geomarkers that traditional communities used to identify locations of mangroves degradation and sites for different mitigation is critical in developing adaptive strategies for mangrove conservation in the face of climate change and anthropogenic influences.

At GeoPsy Research, we are supporting local CBOs and communities in Kilifi county to promote management of mangrove forests through the integration of earth observation data analysis and indigenous knowledge of the forests.

Specifically, we are currently engaging Community-Based Organization for Environmental Conservation (COBEC) and Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KEFRI) to craft ideas for multidisciplinary research whose aim is to promote sustainable restoration and management of coastal forests.