The Manda Projects
We are establishing the Manda Conservancy to protect and preserve the exceptional biodiversity of Manda Island, part of the Lamu Archipelago in Kenya. Spanning 17,000 acres, including approximately 5,500 acres of mangroves, Manda Island is one of the last remaining fragments of the East African Coastal Forest Ecosystem. Designated as a global biodiversity hotspot, this ecosystem is home to a remarkable array of plant species, with over 43% found nowhere else on Earth.
The Manda Conservancy will be established as a Kenyan not-for-profit to oversee conservation of this area and will support stable, viable populations of historically naturally-occurring species in their native habitats. A key focus of the Conservancy will be safeguarding these critical ecosystems from threats such as slash-and-burn agriculture, coral stone quarrying for construction, poaching, and charcoal production.
The Conservancy also has the goals of reducing or eliminating human wildlife conflict, increasing local employment opportunities, establishing facilities and infrastructure to support local and international research scientists and establishing educational and research programs that train the future science and conservation leaders of Kenya.
Through these initiatives, the Manda Conservancy will contribute to the long-term protection of Manda Island’s irreplaceable biodiversity while supporting sustainable development, empowering local communities and fostering a deeper appreciation of this unique environment.
President
Edd Brooks
STATUS: Active