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Yogurt Cups Power a Reforestation Drive

Gradient Ocean

Cindy Walbridge

May 3, 2022

Kenya

Categories:

Africa, Marine, Natural Environment, Sustainability, Economy

Mombasa is a well-known and trendy coastal resort destination on the Indian Ocean in Kenya. Tourism is a mainstay of the Kenyan economy, and the beautiful beaches attract people worldwide. The fishing industry is a vital part of the national economy too. Both industries rely on the coastal region and the marine environment, and both need a clean, natural environment to thrive.


"Tourists hate dirty environments, and marine species cannot survive in polluted waters," said Hesbon Mwarabu, a longtime fisherman. Mombassa generates an estimated 19,000 tonnes of waste each month, and 10% of it is plastic. According to the Mombasa county environment chief officer Ilhan Abbas, this garbage finds its way into the marine ecosystem, including plastics (and microplastics), paper, food waste, and discarded consumer goods, such as electronics and appliances.


About 12 years ago, a volunteer group called The Big Ship started collecting trash on the beach and in the mangroves to get the plastic out of the water and beaches. They had no office and just met at one man's house. They have been successful in cleaning up the beaches. Ilhan Abbas states, "The Big Ship project has in a big way helped us reduce by 60% the number of plastics that find [their] way into the main dumping site."


Another highly successful project has been to replant the mangroves. The mangroves are trees that grow along the coastal region and thrive in saltwater. Mangrove forests are a vital nursery for young fish and other sea animals. Dense branches of roots provide protection from predators, buffer turbulent water and trap food washed in on the tide. Mangroves are an incubator for the fishing industry, but, unfortunately, people cut down much of the mangrove forests to build houses. The government prohibited that practice a few years ago, but mangroves are slow to regenerate.


Enter the Big Ship volunteers. Yogurt is a popular snack to eat in its many forms. In partnership with the Kenyan Marine Fisheries Institute and Kenyan Forest service, they used over 200,000 discarded yogurt cups to plant mangrove seedlings before transplanting them to a permanent home. The mangroves grown this way have a 95% survival rate. In the first two months of 2022, the group picked up an additional 5000 yogurt cups.


This partnership is a beautiful example of groups working together in problem-solving, supporting industries critical to the economy, protecting natural habitats, and cleaning up beaches. Buoyed by their success, the Big Ship group has more ideas to help the beaches and mangroves of Mombasa.


Making a difference in your community always starts with finding a need and then pairing it with an opportunity. Almost every hometown can benefit from having more natural plants, such as trees and wildflowers. Choose plants that support local wildlife, animals, insects, and fish. Repurpose recycled items such as cups and cans and start a planting project. This effort is an excellent project for schools and churches to introduce children to growing plants, volunteerism, sustainability, and understanding of our connection to the greater whole of our planet. And it's an excellent way for parents to spend quality time with their children. Let's grow together!


To learn more about Big Ship, please visit them at the 2nd link listed below.

Picture credit - Jackson Ambole/Al Jazeera

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Catalog #:

0422.107.01.050322

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