Mazera Ndurya
24 July 2007
Nairobi — When he was first posted to the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute after graduating with a degree in agriculture about 10 years ago, Dr Jared Bosire had no idea what his work would entail.
His goal had been to be a medical doctor but instead, he landed in an agriculture class.
Dr Bosire took this in his stride and devoted himself to his studies at Egerton University, hoping to land a good job after college.
He had little knowledge about mangroves, but when he was offered a chance to do research work on them and present his findings at a conference in South Africa, he set about this the way he had taken the change in his dream career.
It was only when he started his research that he realised what the mangrove forests meant to the people who depended on them and how much attention they needed.
A passion for the conservation of the marine ecosystem was born in Dr Bosire and he has never looked back.
This passion has earned him the prestigious Royal Academy of Overseas Sciences award, although it is difficult to know this as one talks to the soft-spoken scientist in his modest office at the institute's headquarters in Mombasa.
"Mangroves support the livelihoods of about 70 per cent of the people living along the coastline by providing timber for construction and fuel wood as well as supporting fisheries and preventing sea erosion.
"But these forests have been exploited for many years because there is a false belief that mangroves grow naturally and cannot be depleted. The results are now there to be seen," Dr Bosire said.
The programme coordinator of the Maine Ecology and Environment Programme has been working with a team of colleagues from the institute and foreign scientists from Sweden, Belgium and the United Kingdom.
His efforts, contained in his work titled Ecological Recovery of Reforested Mangrove Forests in Kenya, revolved around determining whether replanted mangroves can grow and provide the products that natural ones do.
The results - that mangrove reforestation is possible - have been recognised internationally and led to conservation of biodiversity, thus increasing fisheries productivity.
The Mwache creek to the west of Mombasa shows the devastation of the mangroves by floods that have deposited sediments in their habitat and curtailed their growth.
The institute has started a reforestation project at the creek, raising more than 80,000 mangroves seedlings to be planted elsewhere. However, most of the seedlings have been wiped out by the soil deposited by flood waters.
"Soil erosion upcountry and poor tilling of the land has led to massive sedimentation downstream, affecting mangrove forests. Silt was also deposited in the port area. The region had to be dredged to maintain the depth of the channel for the safe passage of ships," Dr Bosire said.
"Mangroves are among the most productive ecosystems, offering a wide range of resources and services that include habitat stabilisation and a breeding ground for many fish species."
The scientist said a new danger has emerged: Areas like Mwache creek that have been left bare after the destruction of mangroves is being colonised by bushes and salt tolerant grasses that are likely to displace the multiple-use mangroves.
Dr Bosire's team has made recommendations for improved management of mangrove plantations. As in the case of Gazi in the South Coast, the local community has been assisted to set up an eco-tourism project that is generating income. The Gazi Women's Mangrove Boardwalk is a community-based conservation effort whose funds go to the bursary kitty and healthcare and physical facilities of the local primary school.
"Increased acreage of mangrove forests will create employment and enhance fish production. Active community involvement through the formation of community-based conservation groups has also been provided for in the Forest Act, 2005," Dr Bosire said in his report.
The scientist said although there has been increased research work in the conservation of mangroves and their ecosystem, most scientists have not looked into the effect that the neglect of the forests has had on climate change. Dr Bosire believes this has been responsible for increased flooding in mangrove areas
"Communities living around these forests need to be given skills in proper land use for purposes of safeguarding the environment and ensuring food security."
Dr Bosire will receive his award on October 18 during the opening session of the Academy in Brussels, Belgium. He will also be expected to give a talk on the subject.
The elated father-of-two attributed his team's success to support from his employer and family.
Dr Bosire is an avid reader of non-fiction works.
Now aged 36 years, one of his dreams was to get his PhD at the age of 32 years. But the accommodating scientist did not mind getting it during his 35th year.
Although much of his time is consumed by his research work, he always finds time for his young family and church work.
"My wife supported me greatly when I was working on my PhD. Now that she is also pursuing her career in public health, it's my turn to support her,' he said.
The institute's public relations officer, Mr Morris Munene, said the award was also a recognition of the centre's excellence in aquatic sciences.
"It is a recognition of scientific advances which directly benefit the people," he said.
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