|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
| Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
|
KIUNGA |
|
|||
|
||||
| General Description |
Kiunga Biosphere Reserve is located on the northernmost part of Kenya’s coast, about 16 km south of the Somali border. On the coastal strip, there are sandy beaches with sand dunes and dry coastal shrubby forest. The coast consists of parallel lines of old and living reefs with one line situated 1,6-16 km offshore forming a chain of about 50 calcareous islands composed of coral and organic debris. In-between the islands and the coast, there are sheltered and calm water habitats. The biosphere reserve is important for nesting seabirds, green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and dugongs (Dugong dugon) and hosts relatively pristine mangroves. Within the marine reserve, only traditional fishing with approved methods is permitted. Human impacts on the environment derive from the collection of corals and shells, used in burning for lime. Poaching of green turtles and dugongs has also been reported. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) are collaborating to enhance the management of the Kiunga Marine Reserve since 1996. Focus is on the conservation of the outstanding biodiversity, natural resources and ecology of the area through consensus-based management with the full participation of local communities. Research and monitoring is carried out on the status of coral reefs, their threats such as fishing, shell collecting, sedimentation, and pollution in the Kenyan marine reserves. |
|||
| Major ecosystem type | Tropical coastal/marine zone including coral reefs | |||
| Major habitats & land cover types | Sub-littoral zone with microscopic marine plants; intertidal sand and mud with marine angiosperms; dwarf shrub thicket areas with salt tolerant species; mangrove swamps; coral reefs | |||
| Location | 01°75' to 02°15'S; 41°00' to 41°15'E | |||
| Area (hectares) | ||||
| Total | 60,000 | |||
| Core area(s) | ||||
| Buffer zone(s) | ||||
| Transition area(s) when given | ||||
| Altitude (metres above sea level) | 0 to +30 | |||
| Year designated | 1980 | |||
| Administrative authorities | Kiunga Marine National Reserve Kenya Wildlife Service | |||
 |
||||
| Brief description |
Ecological monitoring Status of coral reefs, and threats such as fishing, shell collecting, sedimentation, and pollution |
|||
| Specific variables... | ||||
| Abiotic | Pollution, pollutants, siltation/sedimentation. | |||
| Biodiversity | Coral reefs, ecology, methodologies. | |||
| Socio-economic | Fishery/Fisheries. | |||
| Integrated monitoring | n.a. | |||
 |
||||
| Contact address |
Kiunga Marine National Reserve Lamu District - P.O. Box 82 Kiunga Kenya |
|||
| Telephone | ||||
| Fax | ||||
|
kws@kws.org |
||||
| Web site | http://www.kws.org/ | |||
 |
||||
| Last updated: 5/11/2000 |
|
