By Mapenzi Kitsao
Mombasa: [25/09/23]: The Interact Club from Oshwal Academy-Mombasa and the Stand-up Shout Out Club from the Technical University of Mombasa took part in a mangrove forest restoration activity at Mkupe-Miritini, Mombasa County on Saturday.
The initiative involved community members and other organizations such as Logos Hope, Blue Radio, Bike is Best, and the Mombasa County Government.
The Mkupe mangrove ecosystem has faced degradation as a result of the construction of the Mkupe Bridge, which is set to connect Miritini with the Dongo Kundu Special Economic Zone highway.
Mr. Hassan Bakari, the Patron of The Interact Club, emphasized the importance of Mangrove planting in their commitment to marine environment conservation. He stated, "We are delighted to be part of today's Mangrove planting initiative because it aligns perfectly with our club's goals and mission."
Mr. Bakari also stressed the significance of involving young people in environmental conservation, noting that the future depends on their stewardship. "In addition to our other volunteer activities, we educate young people about responsibility and taking care of our society," he explained.
Najma Askar, the Interact Club President from Oshwal Academy, shared that their club is dedicated to addressing the pressing issues facing aquatic life. Among these, climate change and carbon dioxide emissions are primary concerns that threaten marine ecosystems. Planting mangroves is one of their solutions to combat these issues. Najma also highlighted the lack of environmental conservation knowledge among many school students and stressed the importance of setting examples to inspire them to value their environment.
"I believe that the major problems facing aquatic wildlife are carbon dioxide emissions and the resulting global warming in Mombasa, which makes planting mangroves essential to mitigate these challenges," she emphasized.
The benefits of this activity extended beyond environmental conservation. Hayan Askar confirmed that it created lasting memories and brought participants closer together. He encouraged other schools in Mombasa to engage in similar activities, not only for the betterment of their environment but also for educational purposes.
"It was a delightful experience planting mangroves with my peers. I highly recommend this to other schools in Mombasa to help care for our environment and contribute to the development of our country, as well as for educational enrichment," he shared enthusiastically.
Josiah Mbugua from the Stand Up - Shout Out Club explained that their participation in Mangrove planting was a way of giving back to nature, especially considering the significant loss of mangroves during ongoing road construction.
"It's crucial to replant mangroves that were cut down during road construction. This is our way of returning what we've taken from nature," Mbugua stated. He also expressed his joy in the adventure and socialization that accompanied the activity.
The mangrove planting event in Mkupe-Miritini served as a reminder of the importance of environmental conservation and the active role that young individuals and community members can play in protecting our fragile ecosystems.
