Enhancing Musambwa Island Community capacity in community eco-tourism

Musambwa Islands are three small rock islands in Lake Victoria. The islands have 45 species of birds and the biggest breeding colony of the Grey Headed gulls in Africa. The main threats of the islands are the illegal harvesting of the eggs of the Grey Headed gulls, the negative attitudes of local community towards biodiversity and birds, unsustainable harvesting of vegetation, over fishing and the unsustainable fishing methods. The goal of this project is to strengthen the local communities’ capacity to work for the conservation of the island’s biodiversity and ensure sustainable natural resource management. Furthermore promote community based and managed ecotourism as an alternative source of community livelihood at the islands. Project activities are: carrying out training and workshops for communities about management and protection of the islands biodiversity; construction of energy efficient technology to reduce fuel wood usage; control the influx and deposition of the non biodegradable materials; developing and distribute promotion materials; take touroperators on a fam tour and sensitize communities about ecological sanitation facilities