A sensitisation program aimed at educating young conservationists has started in Malindi.
The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has begun educational tours for young conservationists within the Malindi Marine national park and reserve to sensitize them on the importance of maintaining a clean environment.
The children who have been participating in the monthly clean-ups organized by the Progress Welfare Association of Malindi (PWAM) aimed at Making Malindi green and blue had never been in the Ocean despite the fact that they were being told dumping plastics and other wastes was a threat to marine life.
More than 30 children benefitted from the educational trip by boat and managed to see the beauty of a clean ocean in the protected area which had plenty of fish visible under the bottom glass boat.
Senior Sergeant Abu Bocha from the KWS Malindi Marine Park who led the children in the tour which lasted over two hours said it was important for the young generation to learn about environmental conservation to help in keeping the environment clean.
Speaking after the tour he said by conserving the existing marine life it will help the future generation to be able to come and see the treasures of the Ocean.
He said many countries wish to be having such marine parks and do not have but Malindi was lucky to have such a beautiful marine park with lots of sea species.
“It is important for us to be in the forefront in conservation, so as not to destroy our environment, if the environment is good the community stands to benefit from the different fish species, “he said.
Bocha said they normally do clean-ups frequently because any form of waste that gets to the Ocean such as plastics destroy corals and threatens the lives of sea turtles.
The senior sergeant said it was important to prevent the plastic wastes from getting into the Indian Ocean that’s why they always clean up the beaches.
Emanuel Kombe St Matesha Junior Academy Myeye one of the young conservationists who benefited from the free educational tour said he was happy to learn about marine environmental conservation.
“It is my first time to come here and am very happy for the ride which we have been taken through I have seen some types of fish which I have never seen, I have also learnt more and it is great to be one of those who have come and see the environment in the ocean,” he said.
To him, he learnt that it is dangerous to throw plastics carelessly as they were a threat to marine life and shall also affect tourism and deny the country revenue from foreign exchange.
Sister Bentina Havaya said she brought children so as to know the importance of conserving the environment.
Havaya said during their tour they found different kinds of fish species that seem to be innocent and require to be protected
“Children have really enjoyed I can see they are very happy and are ready to conserve the environment both on the mainland and in the ocean,” she said.
Pastor Kariuki Gitiba a member of PWAM thanked the KWS for offering the children a boat ride as it would go a long way in enlightening them about the conservation of the environment.
“These are children that have been involved in the Nyumba 10 clean-up initiative a cleanup that we have been doing once every month and it is important for us to pass on the message to this young generation that a clean environment is also good for them,” he said.
Zahra Mukura a grade two student said she was happy to have gone to the marine park where she saw fish and learnt more about conserving the environment.
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