A PROPOSED MARINE TRANSBOUNDARY CONSERVATION AREA BETWEEN KENYA AND TANZANIA Joint Technical Paper Prepared By The Marine Parks and Reserves Unit, United Republic of Tanzania, and the Kenya Wildlife Service, Republic of Kenya With technical and financial support from The Nairobi Convention Table of Contents Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................. 3 1. Introduction and Background to the Process .................................................................................. 5 2. Socio-ecological Context of the Area ............................................................................................. 10 2.1. Description of the Coastal and Marine Ecosystem ................................................................. 10 2.1.1. Climate and oceanography ............................................................................................. 10 2.1.1. Habitats .......................................................................................................................... 12 2.1.2. Species ............................................................................................................................ 18 2.2. Socio-economics and livelihoods ........................................................................................... 23 2.2.1. General overview ........................................................................................................... 24 2.2.2. Economic Sectors ............................................................................................................ 25 3. Legal, institutional and management context ................................................................................ 36 3.1. Regional and international agreements and policies ............................................................ 36 3.2. National legislation and institutions ....................................................................................... 38 3.3. Current management systems for marine protected areas ................................................... 45 4. Justification for TBCA ..................................................................................................................... 49 4.1. Ecological significance and benefits of joint management of extended area ........................ 49 4.1.1. Contiguous and connected habitats .............................................................................. 50 4.1.2. Regional significance ...................................................................................................... 50 4.2. Socio-political benefits ........................................................................................................... 52 4.2.1. International cooperation ............................................................................................... 52 4.2.2. Peace Parks ..................................................................................................................... 53 4.2.1. Connecting communities and cultures across artificial borders .................................... 53 4.2.2. Joint tourism initiatives .................................................................................................. 55 4.2.3. Cross border learning ..................................................................................................... 55 5. Threats ............................................................................................................................................ 55 6. Proposed way forward .................................................................................................................... 59 6.1. Existing opportunities and potential options for joint management ..................................... 59 6.1.1. Previous cross-border discussions between Kenya and Tanzania in the proposed TBCA ........................................................................................................................................ 60 6.1.2. Lessons learned from other cross-border initiatives ...................................................... 60 6.2. Possible TBCA institutional, legal and management arrangements....................................... 61 7. Delineation of TBCA ........................................................................................................................ 62 8. Practical roadmap ........................................................................................................................... 64 Technical Paper - Proposed TBCA on the coast between Kenya and Tanzania Page | 2 9. References ...................................................................................................................................... 65 Appendices ............................................................................................................................................ 70 Appendix 1. Information and research needs ...................................................................................... 70 Appendix 2. Infrastructural and other requirements ........................................................................... 71 Executive Summary This technical document is the result of a process initiated several years ago to investigate the options for developing a coastal and marine Trans-Boundary Conservation Area (TBCA) between the Republic of Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania. The two main agencies promoting this initiative are the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and the Tanzania Marine Parks and Reserves Unit (MPRU). The aim of the TBCA between Kenya and Tanzania is to mainstream ecosystem management objectives and priorities into productive sector practices and policies. The concept seeks to strengthen capacity for restoring ecosystem health and conserving biodiversity at the local, national and trans-boundary level in the two countries. The proposed initiative seeks to pilot ecosystem-oriented approaches into spatial planning, water management, agriculture, forest, fisheries and protected area management. The proposed site extends from the northern boundary of the Diani-Chale Marine National Reserve in Kenya to the southern boundary of Mkinga District in Tanzania, just north of the Tanga Coelacanth Marine Park. The area of interest harbours highly significant marine and coastal biodiversity. Due to its rich biodiversity and contribution to the socio-economics of coastal communities, the area has been recognized by several international agencies such as the World Wide Fund for nature (WWF) and the Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD) as an area of significance deserving special conservation attention. The purpose of this technical paper is to provide a situation analysis of all issues relevant to the establishment of the proposed TBCA, and to provide a series of suggested options that may be followed in the future by those that will be responsible for the establishment of the TBCA. The analysis of habitats, species, socio-economic, legal and institutional issues is used to show that the establishment of a TBCA is justified and holds significant benefits for conservation and the well- being of the inhabitants of the area, while at the same time enhancing collaboration between the two countries. In terms of the environment it is apparent that the area consists of contiguous and connected habitats that are important at a regional level. The socio-political benefits of establishing a TBCA include improved management of natural resources through international cooperation, connecting people and cultures across borders, joint tourism initiatives, and cross-border learning opportunities. The analysis identifies several threats (in addition to those posed by climate change) to the area that can be mitigated through the establishment of a TBCA. These include declining fisheries, destruction of marine and coastal habitats, deforestation, coastal flooding and salt water intrusion, sedimentation, pollution and the alteration of freshwater flows, terrorism and insecurity, and political apathy towards conservation issues. Other transboundary initiatives globally and within Africa have been reviewed and a tentative institutional structure to operationalize the TBCA is presented. It is envisaged that a Marine Transboundary Steering Committee (MTBSC) would be established to steer the process of establishing and managing the TBCA (which would be the second such marine TBCA in Africa, after Page | 3 Technical Paper - Proposed TBCA on the coast between Kenya and Tanzania the Ponta do Ouro – Kosi Bay marine TFCA between Mozambique and South Africa). Being an international matter, it is proposed that this Committee is established at Ministerial level by the responsible Ministries in each country. The MTBSC could operate under the auspices of either the Nairobi Convention or the East African Community. The Steering Committee would not consist of a permanent staff or administration but would operate and be hosted within the respective Ministerial systems, perhaps with a rotating Chair from each of the countries. The proposed MTBSC would be constituted by representatives of all the major interest groups and stakeholders within the TBCA (ie. from both Kenya and Tanzania). For example, local and district/county authorities, MPRU and KWS, the private sector, BMU and CCA representatives, immigration, forestry services, etc . It is envisaged that the existing gazetted parks and