Stop Kenya's 2nd Port from Devastating SeaTurtles & Dugong!
- by: Erin Gubelman
- recipient: Government of Kenya
Speak out against the irresponsible and reckless plans of the government of Kenya to build an unnecessary second national port in the ecologically sensitive Lamu Archipelago! Mangrove forests are the first line of defense against sea level rise associated with global warming. To build this port, the relatively pristine mangrove forests in the Lamu region would require extensive felling just at a time when mangroves are critical for long term coast line stabilization. Construction of the second port is estimated to extend over 1,000 acres in this relatively pristine area of the Kenyan coast and includes plans for an oil refinery and terminal, international airport and railway track to Southern Sudan. The tremendous devastation to the people and wildlife under such plans can scarcely be imagined. In 1980, the coastal area just north of Lamu was designated a U.N. Biosphere Reserve in recognition of its international conservation importance. Part of the proposed port site sits at the edge of this biosphere reserve. The environmental impact alone, not to mention the effects on local subsistence fishermen and local farmers, would completely negate the intention of designation of this site to preserve in perpetuity the outstanding biodiversity, natural resources and ecology of the area through management that incorporates the full participation of local people. Construction would also impact two national reserves to the north of the proposed port site. Locals have never been consulted nor environmental impact assessments conducted. Some six thousand families are likely to be displaced by the project. The bay where construction would be focused is known to support corals, sea grass beds and lush stands of mangroves. Several species of sea turtles use these areas regularly in the winter as feeding grounds and many species of reef fish and crustaceans feed here. The importance of this region to a critically endangered species, the dugong (Dugong dugon), is of paramount concern; these creatures rely on shallow sea grass beds exclusively for their survival. The region chosen as the port site has long been known as the last enclave of the dugong in Kenya. Dredging and cutting of the magnitude proposed would have a catastrophic impact on this animal, one of the nation's most threatened species, and virtually ensure local extinction. At a pivotal moment in history when the world faces the threat of climate change, destruction of such an important marine environment for purposes associated with extracting, processing, and transporting more fossil fuels and other goods seems to fly in the face of international protocols aimed at reducing carbon emissions. Tell the Government of Kenya that this site, recognized as a site of international importance, is off limits to development.
Dear Prime Minister,
We the undersigned write to speak out against the reckless plans to build a second national port in Lamu. As you know, mangrove forests are the first line of defense against sea level rise associated with global warming. Their value in carbon storage alone is very significant and mangroves are threatened along the entire East African coastline. To build this port, the mangrove forests in the Manda Bay area from Mkanda Channel to Dodori Creek would require extensive felling. East Africa has consistently lost mangrove cover over the past quarter century and increased rates of degradation would seriously imperil this fragile ecosystem and reduce its capacity to mitigate climate change effects.
Cited estimates for the construction of the second port cover 1,000 acres in the region of Manda Bay in Lamu District, including plans for an oil refinery and terminal, international airport and railway track to Southern Sudan. The tremendous destruction to the natural environment from such developments can only be guessed at without public record of Environmental Impact Assessment. In 1980, 60,000 hectares off the coast north of Lamu was designated a Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO%u2019s Man and the Biosphere Project in recognition of the international conservation importance of the north-eastern coastal region. The Dodori Creek mouth, proposed to be developed, sits at the edge of this biosphere reserve at coordinates 2%uFFFD03%u2019 S and 41%uFFFD00%u2019 E. The environmental impact alone, not to mention the effects on local fishermen and farmers, would negate the intention of designation of this site to preserve the biodiversity, natural resources and ecology of the area through management that incorporates local people. Construction would also impact two national reserves to the north of the proposed port site: Kiunga Marine and Dodori National Reserve.
Local people have never been consulted yet local farmers in the proposed location for this port were visited in January of 2009 by an official delegation and told that some of the 6,000 families likely to be displaced by the project will be compensated for land if the Port Authority decides to proceed with its plans. In 1997, under public pressure, the World Bank halted a plan to relocate 600 families in the center of a critical habitat for a threatened primate species in the Tana Delta because moving people for plants and animals was wrong, but the government can evict 6000 families in Lamu and others in the Tana River for economic reasons?
At a pivotal moment in history when the world faces the threat of climate change, degradation of such an important marine environment in Lamu for purposes associated with extracting, processing, and transporting more fossil fuels and other goods seems to fly in the face of international protocols aimed at reducing carbon emissions. It also suggests that Kenya has no compunction in violating international designations such as the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve boundary established in 1980 which would be negated by such large scale industrial activities along its edge. Please reconsider both the site for the 2nd port and, potentially, the necessity of building a 2nd port at all pending environmental impact assessment.
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
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