Sustainable Tourism as a Tool for Marine Restoration and Conservation: The Case of the Malindi Watamu- Arabuko Sokoke Biosphere Reserve, Kenya

Sustainable tourism is recognized for contributing to community development and biodiversity conservation globally. Promoting sustainable tourism is at the core of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves as an international tool for sustainable development, especially in marine and coastal ecosystems. This study assesses the potential of tourism activities for marine conservation through the case of the Malindi Watamu –Arabuko Sokoke Biosphere Reserve, coastal Kenya. This Biosphere Reserve includes coral reefs, rocky sea beds, sandy sea bed habitats, and mangrove forests. The site hosts a rich biodiversity including 6 taxa of endemic butterflies, 354 fish species from 56 families, 113 species of coral in 45 genera, 4 species of marine turtles, 9 species of mangroves and 71 species of aquatic birds. The study employed a mixed method approach combining a pre-analysis of local and international issues, review of key management plans, reconnaissance survey, and round tables and focused group discussions with key informants in environment and wildlife sectors, policy makers, civil society actors, and local communities. The study identified key challenges facing the ecosystem as climate change, rapid population increases, land degradation, waste management and low visibility of the Biosphere Reserve. The study indicates that the active participation of  local communities in the Biosphere Reserve through tourism activities has sustained the ecological integrity and functioning of the Biosphere Reserve over time in line with UNESCO statutory documents including: the Seville Strategy (1995), the Madrid Plan of Action (2008) and MAB Strategy (2016-2025) as well as Convention on Biological Diversity,  and Global Biodiversity Framework in conserving biodiversity, restoring and enhancing ecosystem services, and fostering the sustainable use of natural resources. A major output of this study is an ecotourism strategy for 2025-2030.

Key words: Biosphere Reserve, Climate change, Local communities, Marine and coastal ecosystems, Sustainable tourism.