Community-Based Environmental Conservation (COBEC): Kenya

COBEC’s mission is to conserve the natural resource heritage through conservation education, preservation of habitat and management of wildlife

This project takes place in Kenya (Marereni seascape) and is focused around efforts to get plastic off the beach and out of the water while turning it into useful products that benefit local residents. So far the project has been successful in recycling more than 2 tons of plastic waste, provided benefits for more than 300 residents, and reduced the number of turtles impacted by plastic waste. SEE Turtles has funded COBEC to expand their outreach, conduct monthly cleanups, and purchase equipment to allow them to recycle more of the waste that has been collected.

Plastic has always been a threat to the environment but its most negative impact comes when it enters the ocean and kills hundreds of thousands of sea animals. It is estimated that 8 million tons of plastic enter the oceans each year. Wi;th these efforts many locals have benefitted both directly and indirectly in terms of money coming from recycled artifacts.

Project Updates:

August 2022

Tying together sea turtle monitoring, education and plastic waste collection, COBEC has focused their efforts on the beaches and communities along the Marereni Seascape of Kenya. With little known about the local sea turtle population, COBEC began by training 10 community members with a passion for sea turtle conservation. Residents were taught how to effectively monitor the sea turtle nesting beaches and to collect data needed to inform management for the proper conservation. The team has identified 27 nests this season with 14 nests successful hatchings for a total of 1,478 hatchlings. Three species have been identified nesting on their beach: green sea turtles, hawksbills and olive ridleys.

Every month they hold a beach cleanup with local communities in their attempts to keep the nesting beaches free of trash and aide in habitat restoration. They have collected 1.2 tons of plastic waste and procured a plastic bottle shredder to shred and convert this plastic into small goods like key holders. They have also filled 1,000 plastic bottles with sand to make building materials.