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The month of Ramadhan has arrived, bringing a holy hush that settles in the villages of Mwandamu, Majoreni, Bodo, and Funzi Island. This is also a period when the first rains begin—a sign of blessings. For the Muslim communities in these coastal villages, the month is dedicated to fasting, prayer, and deep reflection. It is also a perfect time to revive the mangroves.
Fishing is more than just a livelihood; it is a tradition passed down like treasured family heirlooms. For generations, the ocean has provided, and the people have taken. But time proves that even the vast sea has its limits. Overreliance on fishing has led to dwindling catches, pushing some to desperate measures—cutting down the mangrove forests that cradle their way of life. The trees are felled for firewood, construction, and, perhaps most heartbreakingly, to find "chambo"—the fat worms nestled within the mangrove roots used as bait.
Each cut sends ripples through the ecosystem, eroding the coastline, leaving fish without breeding grounds, and exposing villages to the wrath of the waves. The balance that once existed between the people and the ocean is faltering.
With this realization, these communities find allies in organizations dedicated to mangrove restoration. Introducing carbon trading adds a fresh incentive—mangroves aren't just protectors of the sea; they are valuable assets. Innovative projects such as eco-credit encourage communities to nurture the marine environment by offering loans to those who participate in conservation efforts.
While the four villages engage in mangrove-related conservation activities, their efforts are witnessed through thriving mangrove nurseries, which some organizations buy and plant, offering employment and a new appreciation for the trees that once seemed expendable.
Not all challenges can be washed away with the tide. In Mwandamu and Funzi Island, whispers of resistance still linger. Some still venture out cutting down trees for "chambo," clinging to old ways of fishing. In Bodo, intruders search for wild honey, cutting deep into the trees, taking what they want, and leaving the trees to perish.
Yet, change is not impossible. Collaboration between Community Forest Associations (CFAs) and Beach Management Units (BMUs) can help create awareness and knowledge-sharing platforms such as barazas, where community members can learn the importance of the mangroves for their livelihoods and the future. Projects such as the Shimoni-vanga sea-scape apiculture scale-up implemented by COMRED provide a beacon of hope. Bees thrive in the mangroves, offering honey as an alternative income source. Once seen as mere resources to be harvested, the trees become guardians of new wealth.
"Trees are living symbols of peace and hope. A tree has roots in the soil yet reaches the sky. It tells us that in order to aspire, we need to be grounded..." - Wangari Maathai
So, grounded in hope and tradition, the people of Mwandamu, Majoreni, Bodo, and Funzi Island continue their conservation efforts —for themselves and future generations.
