Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park and Reserve
Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park and Reserve is an important Marine Mammal Area located in the shallow waters of the Southern Kenyan coast adjacent to the border with Tanzania within the Shimoni-Vanga seascape. The park is comprised of the Kisite Marine Park, the largest no-take area in Kenya (28 km²), and the adjacent Mpunguti Marine Reserve, where artisanal fishing is allowed (11 km²). The park was awarded gold level Blue Park Award in 2021 for achieving the highest science-based standards for marine life protection and management by Marine Conservation Institute.
Kisite was established to protect the scenic islands and special habitats for a wide range of marine species and breeding migratory birds. Key values include three small coral islands, each with considerable areas of fringing reefs. Kisite Island features an exposed sand bar and the surrounding pellucid waters offer an ideal site for snorkelling. The islands of Mpunguti are known to support an important population of coconut crabs (Birgus latro, Vulnerable under IUCN Red List criteria), nesting sites for African fish eagles, and its surrounding waters are frequently visited by Indo-Pacific bottlenose (Tursiops aduncus, Near Threatened under criteria A4cd) and Indian Ocean humpback dolphin (Sousa plumbea, Endangered under criteria A2cd+3cd+4cd), migrating humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) as well as Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata, Critically Endangered under criteria A2bd) and Green turtle (Chelonia mydas, Endangered under criteria A2bd) that feed on sea grass and algae.
Tech4Nature Phase 2
Tech4Nature Kenya was born to enhance the use of technology in the adaptive management of Kisite Marine Park. This initiative focuses on improving management effectiveness and monitoring to meet the Green List standard through innovative data collection and analysis systems. It is a collaborative effort co-created by IUCN, HUAWEI, Kenya Wildlife Service and the Wildlife Research and Training Institute.
The proposed technology solution for Kisite-Mpunguti will entail tech-based species monitoring system. In-situ monitoring of coral reef health will be aided using underwater cameras installed in selected locations complimenting the ongoing ecological monitoring programme. A data centre will be established, for space-air-ground integrated monitoring and supervision platforms at the site through using digital technologies such as 4G/5G, networks, and visualisation. These tech solutions will support applications solutions such as species management, ecological protection, resource management, scientific research monitoring, science education, recreation, community development, and integrated management.
IUCN has partnered with Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association in carrying out Integrated Management Effectiveness Tool (IMET) assessment for marine protected areas in the region including the target site. Lessons learnt and recommendations from this exercise will inform some aspects of the proposed activities which are geared towards improving management of the protected area. There is a longstanding partnership with Kenya Wildlife Service and locally managed marine areas aimed at improving governance of protected areas, including through the ongoing Locally Empowered Area Protection (LEAP) programme.
The target site has been shortlisted as a candidate for Green Listing and prior engagement with park management has set basis for further collaboration. The present intervention provides an opportunity for pairing technology, research and nature conservation by working alongside Huawei, who bring technology solutions to ecological monitoring and utilising research by Wildlife Research and Training Institute to inform these solutions.
