Geopsy Research is working with Botanical Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) to support the Kaya Connect Project. The project is focused on conserving the eastern African coastal forests hotspots by reconnecting fragments of remnant indigenous forests in Kilifi County of Kenya.
In particular, Geopsy Research is contracted by BGCI to develop communication and marketing strategies targeting various audiences. Specifically, Geopsy Research is currently developing material for raising awareness about the importance of propagating rare, endangered, and native tree species in the conservation of unique coastal ecosystems.
The eastern African coastal forest hotspots are among the world’s most diverse and threatened ecosystems, with high levels of endemism and unique biodiversity. They are also vital for the livelihoods of millions of people in the region, providing ecosystem services such as water regulation, carbon sequestration, and timber and non-timber forest products. However, these forests are facing a range of threats, including deforestation, habitat degradation, and climate change.
The Kaya Connect Project, led by BGCI, aims to address these threats by working with local partners and communities to promote sustainable forest management and conservation practices. The project is working to build capacity and support for community-led conservation efforts and to promote the use of traditional ecological knowledge in forest management.
In the project, Geopsy Research’s team of communication experts is working closely with BGCI to develop a range of communication materials and campaigns, including social media content, press releases, and multimedia content, to reach a wide audience and build support for the project.
The assignment is another opportunity for GeoPsy Research to apply experiences from other landscapes in East Africa in promoting behavior change communication strategies for sustainable environmental conservation. Specifically, the communication strategies in this project focus on promoting the effective adoption and propagation of indigenous tree seeds.
