By Victor Kebane Otuke
- This testimonial is part of the campaign on climate and food justice launched by the CSIPM Youth Working Group. Read more testimonials here: https://www.csm4cfs.org/youth-voices-for-climate-justice-and-the-right-to-food/
A journey to the coast of Kenya begins with saline waters that reflect the blue sky. How magnificent is the sight of the waves as they rumble upon the coral reefs? If you are keen and observant as you take a journey along the coast, you’ll notice some wonderful floating vegetation anchored by floating roots called the mangrove. These trees support a whole ecosystem. Have you ever asked yourself what effects climate change has on it? From biotic factors to abiotic factors influencing climate change.
As a youth who has spent most of his time living around the coast, my name is Victor Kebane Otuke, and I have witnessed a decline in this vegetation. Sometimes in the year, you’ll notice ships on their voyages, but a common sight is the oil spillage emanating from these ships, which endangers marine biology by interfering with the salinity of the waters. This leads to a decline in the vegetation with time. Thus, resulting in a reduced number of mangrove trees.
There are also human activities affecting the mangrove trees, as this vegetation is used by humans in their construction and making of boats, as the trees are very strong. The problem is that harvesting is not done sustainably. For example, in the cutting of normal trees, it is advised that when cutting one tree, you ensure you plant two trees. The harvesting of the trees without ensuring their growth in the future endangers the ecosystem the mangroves help maintain their salinity. They create a harbor for fish to breed perfectly.
Mangrove trees are key to sustaining food systems for the coastal people. Apparently, a decline in this vegetation has witnessed a plethora of negative impacts. The mangrove trees reduce the impact of the waves on the coast, hence protecting the seabed, which has a good composition of soil, thus preventing soil erosion by use of its crowns and roots. They also provide a natural habitat for the breeding of fish species such as the shellfish. The decline of this vegetation results in unprecedented effects, such as flooding, and thus interrupts food systems.
The destruction of mangrove trees has adversely affected the coastal people. The rising sea levels caused the decline of mangrove trees, as they may lead to the submerging of the trees. Furthermore, a change in salinity with no inlets of fresh water to flush the salts leads to the decline of mangrove vegetation. The compounding effects of this processes are that it affects the food systems of the coastal people which is summarily explained as when there is reduced number of mangrove trees they experience flooding as there no vegetation to curb storm waves, reduced number of fish because an insufficient habitat for the breeding of fish and change in the composition of soil in the coastal lands due to the high impact of waves. This is to say that food systems in the coast are dependent on the marine ecosystem in place.
Coral reefs are made from the decomposition of marine living organisms called coral polyps. The breeding of fish, a good number of fish species, is dependent on healthy coral reefs, which provide shelter, food, and reproduction of their young ones. They also protect the coastlines from storms and erosion. Unfortunately, coral reefs are threatened ultimately through biotic and abiotic factors, which primarily include climate change. The rise in ocean temperatures and ocean acidification may cause coral bleaching, thus interrupting marine biology, which in turn affects the coastal communities’ way of living due to an interruption in the marine ecosystems.
We can not shun away from addressing these challenges as the youth, while the youth take up the mantle, their efforts cannot be solely accomplished by just making mere wishes. On a global scale, our continents are surrounded by coastal waters, and these waters play an important role in supporting coastal communities. For example, fishing is a major economic activity in Japan. We need to build climate resilience systems and boost climate funding to the coastal communities to help combat the decline of mangrove vegetation and the destruction of coral reefs.
The world needs to be vigilant in mitigating anthropogenic processes that lead to climate change, thus affecting the coastal communities’ source of livelihood and their food systems at large. It is my prayer that the world will not watch the demise of this important ecosystem. To all leaders, organisations, communities, and the youth, now is the time to rally behind efforts in mitigating the disruption of marine ecosystems by engaging, supporting, and taking action towards building climate-resilient systems in realizing Goals 13 and 14 of the Sustainable Development Goals.