Company retreats with impact: tree planting to coral restoration
Vipingo Ridge Conference Centre and supporting amenities are one of the hidden gems of the Kenya Coast. Stunning airconditioned spaces set in picturesque gardens, make this a popular venue for meetings, conferences, team building and retreats. These facilities, alongside a variety of private dining locations and onsite accommodation, make Vipingo Ridge one of the most desirable conference venues in Kilifi.
Often when our clients choose Vipingo Ridge for their event there are important matters of strategy or policy to discuss, but there is also an appetite to give back.
Vipingo Ridge works closely with the community and a number of local partners, and our conference (and other event) visitors have great opportunities to support the environement or local people. We are able to tailor the activation to suit the brand and objectives of the event.
Tree planting on Vipingo Ridge
Tree planting is not new for Vipingo Ridge. Almost 20 years ago the start of the work to plant seeds to create a native plant nursery and grow trees began. Today there are thousands of mature trees that have transformed the landscape, but the work does not stop. Kenya has set out an ambition plan to plant billions of trees over the next 5 years. We welcome this initative and proactively support the planting of new trees.
We recently participated in a tree planting event, where 400 native trees were planted, creating the start of an indigenous forest. You can read more about the types of trees and the activity below:
We welcome every visitor and guest to plant a tree. The fee is used to support our local gardening workforce and nursery team to grow more trees. Tree planting is an activity everyone can do, we have had tourists from across the world to the First Lady of Kenya plant a tree at Vipingo Ridge, and we of course welcome companies and corporate clients to support this investment in the future by including tree planting in their conference programme.
Supporting our Ocean
We are proud to partner with a number of local companies to make true, impactful change. Alongside our partners we have developed a number of activities that a visitor or client to Vipingo Ridge can participate in as really powerful way to directly support the local environment and the community.
Oceans Alive Trust in Kuruwitu (our local beach and location of the Vipingo Ridge Beach Club) is a dynamic non-governmental organization (NGO) committed to the preservation and rejuvenation of marine ecosystems along the Kenyan coastline. The organization operates with a mission to implement innovative solutions for coral restoration and protection while simultaneously addressing socio-economic challenges faced by coastal communities.
At Oceans Alive, the primary objective is to safeguard and rehabilitate coral reefs, vital ecosystems that support marine biodiversity and sustain coastal livelihoods. A holistic approach is employed that integrates environmental conservation with community development initiatives.
Community Programs and Initiatives
1. Coral Restoration and Protection Program:
The genesis of this initiative arose from the concerning decline in fish populations within the sea, primarily attributed to the degradation of coral reefs and sea grass due to bleaching and overexploitation. Dickson, acting as the Community Liaison Officer at Oceans Alive, recounts his transition from being a prolific fisherman, supplying ample fish to the residents of Kuruwitu, to witnessing a drastic reduction in yields. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, Dickson, alongside fellow fishermen, conceived the notion of safeguarding the lagoon area, recognized as the epicenter of numerous fish species.
Thus, the inception of the protected area known as ‘Tengefu’ ensued, chosen for its rich biodiversity and potential for fostering fish breeding. The prohibition of fishing activities within the lagoon for an extended period facilitated prolific breeding among the fish population.
In 2002, the community convened to establish the Kuruwitu Conservation and Welfare Association, now operating as a Community-Based Organization (CBO). Through concerted efforts, the association meticulously identified various landing sites necessitating protection, encompassing Bureni, Vipingo, Kuruwitu, Kinuni, Kijangwani, and Mwanamia.
The Coral Gardening program, spearheaded by Mr. Katana, since 2019, entails the rehabilitation or augmentation of degraded coral habitats.
Katana with King Charles III who participated in the Coral Activity.
Commencing inland and culminating in the ocean, the process of growing coral unfolds through several stages:
1. Construction of Artificial Coral Structures
A Coral plug is crafted using a blend of cement, sand, and water, left to dry for a duration of three days. Subsequently, an artificial coral brick is fashioned from the same materials, allowing it to dry for another three days before drilling holes for the coral plugs. After this curing period, the structures are submerged in water for 14 days, priming them for nursery deployment.
Another artificial coral structure is assembled using the same materials, undergoing a drying period of seven days. Subsequently, it is submerged in water for a month, enabling the absorption of saltwater to neutralize the cement fully.
A Coral nursery table are made using metal bars (D16), measuring 200cm in length and 65cm in width. These tables are segmented into 10 bars, each accommodating 24 corals of different genres totaling to 240 corals. The table is then placed in the water where the bricks and plugs are.
2. Finding Corals of opportunity
The next step is finding corals of opportunity which may be broken but still in good condition and of different genres. The coral genres and species are then recorded to keep track of each species on each bar.
3. Nursery Establishment
The corals are required to be planted on to the 10 bars using a special type of glue imported particularly from the Netherlands. This glue has 2 components which are to be mixed carefully outside the water. Once mixed, a chisel and hammer are used to cut the corals and its pieces stuck on the table and left for a day. The corals are left for a period of 6 months with constant cleaning and monitoring un till they are fully grown for out planting.
4. Out planting
After the 6 months, the corals are ready for out planting and can be out planted on the artificial coral structure, natural bedrock, reef stars, bottle structures using underwater drilling and nails with cable ties. After out planting, weeding and monitoring is done to ensure the corals remain in good condition.
For corals to remain healthy a standard temperature of 25°C-30° is required. A temperature of up to 40° is only favorable for up to a period of 1 month after which the coral completely dies. The main challenge of coral restoration therefore is global warming and the only solution is reducing the carbon footprint through mainstreaming of climate mitigation measures in day-to-day operations.
The Impact:
Certainly! The coral nursery now consists of 35 tables where approximately 12,000 young corals of various species are nurtured. Although it requires significant effort, as in the processes above, positive effects of these new coral sites are already being witnessed through their massive growth and the flourishing marine life around them.
Through collaboration with the local community members and partners the program has grown with over 15,000 new corals planted, out in and around the Kuruwitu Co-Managed Area.
The Coral Restoration Project has now become a learning site for many including local school children, local and international college and university students, interns and trainees, local communities and corporate clients and guests. The learning is usually on site and learners get to practically carry out some coral activities and gives them the opportunity to individually actively participate in restoring the corals and be able to see the impact their work has on the local community.
Vipingo Ridge through its partnership with Oceans Alive provides the opportunity for its guests and clients to explore a variety of hands-on CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) activities that contribute to the wellbeing of the environment and that of the local communities.
2. Climate Smart Kitchen Gardens
This project began as a result of multifaceted challenges facing the coastal communities especially children and women with 48% of child stunting, inadequate nutrition among women where 32% of women barely meet their nutritional needs, unemployment among youth, and a decline in traditional livelihoods especially fishing due to climate change.
Women are the most vulnerable due to their expecting and lactating nature and they are at risk of facing nutritional deficiencies due to food unavailability.
The reliance on fishing has become unsustainable, necessitating alternative solutions to address food security and livelihood issues. This has caused local communities to go back to other traditional livelihoods like farming but since the land in this coastal communities are not arable, there was need to introduce farming through innovative initiatives that would yield more produce and still be beneficial to the environment through minimal land and water use and soil improvement.
In response to these challenges, Oceans Alive implements a climate-smart kitchen gardening initiative with the primary objective of improving nutrition while also enhancing food security through innovative agricultural practices.
The Kitchen Gardens
The main garden types are portable sack gardens, vertical spiral gardens, vertical sack gardens, and container gardens constructed from waste cement and reused sacks. These are easy to make and are affordable for the local women since the materials are readily available through waste that would have otherwise polluted the environment. Integrated pest management technique is also used to minimize pest damage conservatively.
The project emphasizes the use of organic waste/refuse which is then treated using Bokashi (a natural breaking enzyme) to produce compost for manure, supplemented by liquid manure generated by worms.
Implementation and Impact:
- The portable sack garden has achieved a remarkable 66% adoption rate due to its ease of construction, low labor requirements, time efficiency, minimal soil usage, and space-saving nature. The sack can also last for a period of 6-8months before it can be replaced.
- The demonstration site established by Oceans Alive has played a pivotal role in disseminating knowledge and skills related to climate-smart gardening, leading to widespread adoption among women and youth in the community.
- The initiative has not only improved nutrition through incorporation of indigenous and traditional leafy greens and food security but has also empowered women by providing them with opportunities for land ownership, traditionally dominated by men since they can call their backyard gardens their own.
- Through the kitchen gardens, women have been empowered economically and this has been proven to reduce gender-based violence which may have risen as a result of conflicts in provision of food in the households. Most of the women with kitchen gardens have also become ‘Mama Mbogas’ and have been able to earn good income from it.
- The consumption of the traditional leafy greens have ben proven to improve the cognitive development of children under 5 years thus contributing to the primary goal of improving nutrition for proper development.
- 3 youth groups have been engaged in a hands-on workshop at the demo kitchen garden and were able to educate other youth and community members in their villages and tis has seen reduced idleness in youth and an increase in the number of villagers with similar kitchen garden.
The project however requires continued support and capacity building to sustain and scale up the initiative to be able to reach as many vulnerable communities as possible. This is why Vipingo Ridge, as partners promotes this activity by mainstreaming it in our guests and client’s activity packages to provide the opportunity to give back. All funds go a long way in sustaining the initiative for instance through availing starter packs for the local community and school children implementing the program. The starter packs comprise of a packet of seeds, seedlings, tools, cement bags, jembes for establishment of the gardens and tanks and gutters for water harvesting.
Education and Awareness
The kitchen garden at Oceans Alive acts serves as a demo and learning site for the community, students, interns, and guests interested in permaculture. This education has enabled local women to replicate the same in their home backyards and has significantly improved their nutritional and health status through consumption of own grown traditional vegetables and improved living standards due to income earned from sale of the surplus.
Oceans Alive on 17th March 2024 hosted a School from Rift Valley region and the students were engaged in some of the activities on the garden including weeding and watering. They were also educated on the various integrated interventions on pest management and soil improvement and the impact the entire program has on the local community and the environment. The knowledge gained through this initiative inspires behavioural change and fosters a culture of environmental stewardship.
If you are interested in arranging your next conference or corporate retreat, our experienced team are on hand to assist you and make it a truly memorable experience. Contact our Events team to start a conversation.
