Establishment and Empowerment of Mtakimau CFA Community Scouts


To strengthen mangrove protection and community-based monitoring, twelve community scouts were selected and trained from within the Mtakimau Community Forest Association (CFA). Equipped with uniforms, patrol skills, communication tools, and basic enforcement knowledge, the scouts actively support restoration, surveillance, and awareness-raising across the 2,550-hectare mangrove area. Scouts conduct regular patrols, detect illegal activities, sensitize local communities about forest conservation, and collaborate with Kenya Forest Service (KFS) officials for enforcement actions. Their work enhances ground-level presence and helps bridge the gap between formal forest authorities and the community.

  • Technical training and operational support provided by KFS and WWF-Kenya.
  • Provision of uniforms and incentives (such as meals during patrols) to motivate scouts.
  • Strong community buy-in and recognition of scouts as ambassadors for conservation.
  • Clear roles and integration into the Participatory Forest Management Plan (PFMP).
  • Offering logistical support and small incentives (like meals or stipends) sustains scout engagement over time.
  • Early training on conflict resolution and community relations improves patrol effectiveness.
  • Recognition and visibility (uniforms, public introductions) boost scout credibility within the community.
  • Scouts' work should be embedded into broader conservation and enforcement strategies to avoid isolation or burnout.
Community-Based Mangrove Nursery Establishment and Restoration Activities

Recognising the importance of restoring degraded areas within the 2,550-hectare mangrove landscape, Mtakimau CFA members, with WWF-Kenya and KFS support, established mangrove nurseries such as the one in Nzombere Village. Community members were trained in propagating indigenous mangrove species, nursery management, and enrichment planting techniques. Restoration efforts prioritized degraded patches identified during the PFMP development. The nurseries serve not only for restoration but also as a sustainable livelihood opportunity through future seedling sales to projects and partners.

  • Technical training and mentorship provided to CFA members.
  • Community awareness of the link between healthy mangroves and local livelihoods (fisheries, coastal protection).
  • Material support for nursery infrastructure (e.g., pots, tools, seedlings).
  • Clear restoration targets defined in the PFMP.
  • Timing of planting activities to match tidal and seasonal patterns significantly increases survival rates.
  • Including youth and women's groups in nursery operations enhances community cohesion and project continuity.
  • Strong coordination is needed to match nursery outputs with available restoration sites to avoid overproduction or wastage.
Participatory Forest Management Planning (PFMP) AND AGREEMENTS

Covering approximately 2,550 hectares across Mtwapa, Takaungu, and Kilifi mangrove forests, the MTAKIMAU Mangrove PFMP (2024–2028) was developed through a highly participatory process involving the Mtakimau Community Forest Association (CFA), Kenya Forest Service (KFS), WWF-Kenya, and local stakeholders. Prepared under Section 47(1) of the Forest Conservation and Management Act (2016), the plan defines sustainable management practices, conservation priorities, and community benefit-sharing models. It was based on extensive data collection, including forest assessments, household surveys, and community dialogues. The PFMP ensures that community aspirations, ecosystem integrity, and biodiversity conservation are balanced for long-term resilience.

  • Strong technical leadership by KFS and WWF-Kenya.
  • National legal framework (Forest Conservation and Management Act, 2016) mandating PFMPs.
  • Active involvement of adjacent communities through the Local Planning Review Team (LPRT).
  • Availability of financial resources to support a participatory approach.
  • Early and continuous community engagement builds trust and ensures ownership of the plan.
  • Combining scientific assessments with local knowledge enhances the quality and relevance of management strategies.
  • Clear linkage between conservation objectives and socio-economic benefits motivates community support.
Improved knowledge on the opportunities and constraints for supporting forest-friendly sustainable land uses in the area around the ONP

The project has identified some key forest-friendly activities, specifically, beekeeping and agroforestry, which are acceptable to the communities. This provides an avenue for replication in other communities and up-scaling throughout the landscape to provide substantial and sustainable livelihood for communities, while ensuring that the forest is preserved.

 

During the agroforestry, plant propagation and nursery management training, SCERA actively promoted the use of locally made organic manure. Manure from composting palm tree products, was used in planting seedlings during the practical sessions. Participants were advised on the use of poultry waste as manure, to allow for proper decomposition before using it for planting in pots.  Also, natural pest control such as the use of wood ash was discussed. 

 

 

Under this project, the foundation for the systematic introduction of Agroforestry in local farming practice and restoration of forests in the Okomu landscape has been laid. With capacity building in agroforestry, plant propagation and nursery management, and the construction of a tree nursery and water borehole in Udo Community, SCERA and other organisations will find it easier, building on this and contributing to the restoration of degraded areas in the Okomu landscape, with significant community involvement. This will contribute to sustainable livelihoods for communities and help mitigate the threats to biodiversity in the park.

During the value chain analysis survey, it was observed that community women generally are not interested in beekeeping and tree nursery establishment as they feel these are men’s job, rather, they prefer either the processing and or sale of the products including trading businesses generally. Even with increased effort on involving women, SCERA was only able to achieve about 20% attendance in training activities. For future projects, SCERA will find a more targeted way of involving women in forest-friendly farming practices which could be by empowering females to sell or increase their sales of farm produce or introducing farming that women favour such as snail farming, as this would ensure the involvement of more women.

Continuously provide agricultural and forestry technology training for farmers in Liziba, encourage and guide villagers to establish characteristic agricultural and forestry cooperatives

Based on the local natural resource conditions, Liziba Village vigorously develops economic forest industries such as walnuts and chestnuts, cultivates and processes tea, fungus, and edible mushrooms, cultivates traditional Chinese medicinal materials such as Tianma and Chonglou, and engages in beekeeping and chicken farming. Some farmers in Liziba Village spontaneously formed a tea cooperative, registered their own tea brand, and built an online trading platform through e-commerce, promoting the vigorous development of the green economy.  Targeted training was provided to village level management and maintenance personnel on fund management, mountain patrol and maintenance, responsibility implementation, safety education, etc., to enhance the villagers' ability and level of independent management and maintenance.                                                                                                 

Collaborate with local governments and organizations to promote community participation
Organize training to enhance villagers' ability and level of self-management and protection
Continuous guidance and follow-up support have achieved long-term imaging
Strong support from the government and forestry related units

Through the continuous efforts of the Protection Bureau and the Liziba community over the years, other villages and communities have been guided to innovate the management and protection mode of the Tianbao collective forest, mobilizing the enthusiasm of villagers. The management and protection measures have been continuously strengthened, resulting in an increase in the area of Tianbao state-owned forests and collective forests, a significant improvement in forest quality, and a dual growth of forest area and accumulation, with significant ecological benefits. The typical case of Liziba Village has been comprehensively implemented in various villages and communities. The people in the jurisdiction of Liziba have benefited from the management and protection of natural forest resources, changed their mindset, and their awareness of ecological protection has significantly increased. Illegal activities such as illegal logging, illegal transportation of timber, illegal purchase of timber, poaching of wild animals, and deforestation and land reclamation have been controlled. The phenomenon of active and spontaneous protection of forest resources, rescue of wild animals, and community patrols and monitoring has been increasing among the nine communities. The edge forest line of the experimental area has shifted from backward movement in the 1980s and 1990s to forward movement, and natural resources and ecological environment have been significantly improved, fully mobilizing the enthusiasm of villagers to love forests and protect forests.

The villagers of Liziba have spontaneously formed a forest protection team to participate in the conservation of forest resources, in order to inspire more people to join the work of forest resource protection.

The forest resource conservation in Liziba faces many challenges in various aspects, which hinder the active participation of local residents in the protection of natural resources and the sustainability of the environment. These challenges include illegal logging, theft of timber, illegal purchase of wood, poaching of wild animals, and deforestation for farming. In addition, traditional living habits that rely entirely on forest resources, such as building houses and meeting basic needs like heating and cooking, also cause destruction to forest resources and ecosystems.

We collaborate with local forest protection teams, local governments, forest public security departments, and other relevant units. We also meet with the person in charge of each party. The purpose is to work closely with the local forest protection teams to jointly protect the local forest resources. In this process, we ensure that the local forest protection teams receive support from the government and relevant units. This way, the local forest protection teams and the public feel that they are an important part of the solution and are willing to voluntarily participate in these forest resource protection efforts.

Public participation in the protection of natural resources is an effective way to address local resource destruction. It makes people feel that they are an important part of the solution and enables them to play a greater leadership role in the protection of forest resources. This can fundamentally change their previous mindset and lead them towards sustainable development, thereby promoting harmonious coexistence between humans and nature.

Engage them and transform them from perpetrators of illegal activities such as timber theft, deforestation for farming, and overharvesting that destroy forest resources into the primary managers of the Natural Forest Conservation Program (NFCP) collective forests. This will drive local economic development and ensure the effective protection of forest resources.

Evaluating and Disseminating Outcomes for Continuous Improvement and Sustainability

Another key component of the Agroecology Leadership Academy was the regular evaluation of its outcomes. Participants were frequently surveyed about their experiences with the Academy, its content, and their personal progress. This feedback was utilized not only to adapt the Academy's programme flexibly to meet the demands of the participants - an aspect previously identified as a success factor in other building blocks – but also to evaluate the entire programme more effectively and derive lessons learned for potential future academies. After the Academy concluded, these findings were compiled and discussed in an internal workshop involving the implementing organisations. The lessons learned, along with other relevant materials, are shared on various platforms, particularly Agroecology TPP, to assist organisations in planning and implementing similar projects. Additionally, the project was presented in a public webinar upon completion. During this webinar, Academy participants had the opportunity to showcase their transformation initiatives, providing a valuable chance to expand their networks and enhance the sustainability of the Academy.

  • The regular collection of feedback from participants not only allowed for real-time adaptations of the Academy programme but also served as the foundation for the internal evaluation workshop held after the Academy’s conclusion. The feedback addressed a wide range of aspects related to the Academy, including content, formats, logistics, learning experiences, and more, in order to achieve a more comprehensive evaluation at the end.
  • It is important to note that the webinar following the Academy provided a platform not only for the implementing organisations to present the Academy itself, but also, and importantly, for the Academy participants to present the initiatives they had developed. This fostered engagement beyond the Academy’s boundaries and enabled participants to forge new connections that could be beneficial for furthering their initiatives.
  • While some surveys yielded helpful insights, others unfortunately had low response rates. It is therefore advisable to use brief surveys with no more than 10 questions at the beginning of the Academy and after each international learning event.
  • The planning of follow-up activities should include considerations for how this Academy could be adopted by other institutions, follow-ups on the country transformation initiatives, and strategies for further embedding the Academy in the countries involved. It is recommended to develop a clear action plan aimed at maximising the sustainability of the Academy approximately nine months before its conclusion.
Uso de cámaras remotas con carnada

De manera específica, una metodología del Protocolo para la recopilación de información y el ejercicio de monitoreo consiste en la instalación de estaciones en acero inoxidable con cámaras que registran una locación particular durante un tiempo determinado. Junto a la cámara se ubica un contenedor de PVC con carnada para atraer a especies carnívoras, pero sin ofrecerles alimento. 

  • Sin duda, un factor elemental es el recurso económico para la instalación de los equipos. El Protocolo sugiere algunas alternativas en caso de no contar con la financiación necesaria para esta técnica de monitoreo, como la ampliación del área de monitoreo de transectos de peces de arrecife. 

     

  • Al no implicar impactos sobre los hábitos alimenticios de las especies o sobre los ecosistemas en general, se reducen los sesgos y se garantiza que la técnica no es destructiva ni invasiva. 
  • La instalación de cámaras con carnada se ha posicionado como una metodología efectiva y estandarizada, que no atenta contra la integridad de las especies y que se desarrolla de manera independiente a las prácticas de pesca. Esto quiere decir que no implica un impacto ecológico. 
  • A diferencia de otras técnicas como los censos visuales, el monitoreo a través de cámaras genera observaciones más confiables y objetivas, y cubre mayores áreas en términos de profundidad y tiempo de observación. 
  • Es recomendable instalar varias estaciones de manera estratégica, con el fin de cubrir por completo áreas extensas de monitoreo. 
  • De acuerdo con investigaciones, esta técnica está siendo cada vez más utilizada para monitorear especies pelágicas y depredadoras, lo que ha posibilitado comparaciones a nivel global. 

Un aspecto importante para continuar incentivando el uso de esta técnica es la correcta disposición de las carnadas una vez que estas ya han sido utilizadas. 

An immersive experience of “being a researcher for a week”.

Scientific tourism constitutes the primary activity of the initiative. Over several days, visitors from various regions of the country and the world engage in scientific research  focused on data collection for whale shark conservation. A variety of activities are designed to encourage dialogue, reflection, and learning about the experiences of the day,  aiming to raise awareness and inspire attendees to share knowledge within their communities.

A crucial factor in the success of the initiative is the alliance with the local tourism agency, Bahía Solano Me Llama, in terms of logistical organization, activity planning, visitor registration, and other associated activities.

In addition, establishing connections with the local community, particularly those engaged in artisanal fishing, has enabled the expansion of the initiative's scope and the dissemination of sustainable fishing practices, responsible consumption, and responsible tourism.

Adopting a simplified scientific perspective is advantageous for effectively communicating with non-scientific audiences, making academic language more accessible. This approach enables knowledge exchange and promotes understanding of the project as an opportunity for conservation. It is also essential to transform the dissemination of knowledge into an enjoyable, simple, and engaging activity.

Talks include didactic material and use photographs and videos to enhance participation and immersion . These sessions are structured to foster questions, exchange and dialogue, thereby eliminating the conventional instructor-student dynamic. Following the sightings and research sessions, participants share their field observations to enhance collective knowledge. It is important to acknowledge the involvement of fishermen and local community members in the educational process. They act as educators and disseminators of traditional knowledge, particularly regarding best practices and responsible fishing. Consequently, they assume the role of "conservationist leaders".

Operational planning and implementation

Once the committee is officially recognized and its members’ capabilities are clear, it needs to start the creation of a development plan. This development plan includes a clear vision for the future, outlines the course of action and envised outcomes. All committee members should be involved in the creation of this joint picture of the future of their waterbodies and the planned management practices to reach this joint picture.

Such a target could be combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU) in the waterbody the committee is managing. Therefore, the management committee assesses the initial status of the waterbody and fishing activities, develops patrol plans, and organises awareness-raising events to inform the community of new regulations. 

When necessary, the management can request assistance from relevant authorities, like commune chiefs, fisheries administrations or provincial departments of agriculture and fisheries. In addition, the supported committee can collect fishing data, document all their patrolling and record or report any IUU fishing incidents that occur within its area. They achieve this by either using paper forms or digitally with tablets or cellphones when trained accordingly.

Next, the committee must learn how to turn its development plan into a monthly action plan. This can be done following the same process as was used to establish their development plan, just for the course of one month at a time. With the help of external assistance, they can determine what they can do over the next thirty days. 

Finally, a simple monitoring and evaluation system needs to be set up. Generally, this involves monitoring the progress of the tasks listed in their action plan. This includes recording any deviations from the plan, documenting any modifications made, and keeping track of the expenses associated with each activity. The committee should meet at the end of each month to review the previous month’s work and schedule the next one. 

A regular review process helps ensure that the committee stays on track and can adjust its strategies as necessary.

Regular monitoring of progress and reviews of the committees’ tasks and objectives was a huge success factor of the already implemented committees in Cambodia.