It’s all in a day’s work for OWB Mnemba Island Community & Conservation ranger team. Their ‘ECHO’ programme of environmental education lessons to school learners, using locally relevant content, is key to our ‘Future Leaders’ focus point. In this image, Hija Khamis Uledi is teaching a group of learners from Mbuyamaji Primary School, Zanzibar. This is something very close to his heart. As Hija explains, “Young people wanting to be marine rangers must have a love for marine environments.” And understanding the importance of this environment is the first step. Read more HERE.

Will you join OWB for this year’s Wildlife Ranger Challenge (WRC) race on 16 September? Our teams of OWB Community & Conservation marine rangers from Vamizi, Benguerra and Mnemba Islands are set to take on the challenge again in this annual fundraising event by rangers for rangers across Africa. Your participation can make all the difference to their efforts. Run or walk the 21 km, or the shorter 10 km as an individual or group fundraiser, and any funds you raise will be doubled by the WRC funding partners. Contact us to find out more.

Cyclone Freddy made landfall in Mozambique in both February and March. Fortunately there was limited building damage on Benguerra Island, and minimal beach erosion impact. The regular surveys, conducted by our island Community & Conservation (C&C) rangers, not only create a baseline of local erosion patterning, but also monitor a beach’s natural resilience to dynamic forces like changing weather and climatic conditions. In this picture, (Left) Leo Gungulo, OWB field ranger and support manager, with Gilda and Afonso, Benguerra Island C&C rangers. Learn more here

In December 2022, East Africa’s dugong population, of which 90% occur in Mozambique’s Bazaruto Seascape, were re-classified by the IUCN as Critically Endangered in response to a significant body of research collated by African Parks and other respected Mozambique and South African researchers. This will not only raise the awareness of this unique sub-population, but also stimulate further protection measures. OWB aims to support the expanded monitoring of dugong behaviour and habitat use through collaborative acoustic monitoring and the development of visual surveys by a Benguerra Island team of Community & Conservation field monitors.

On 31 December, the first hydrophone (underwater microphone) in Mozambique’s Bazaruto Archipelago National Park was deployed by OWB’s Leo Gungulo. Sound is critical to marine research. A healthy coral reef, teeming in marine life, will have a ‘busy’ sound picture. The presence of key species, like migratory humpback whales, who use sound to navigate, communicate and capture prey, can be identified. And the sound signature of specific species like the critically endangered dugong can be established. This developing, collaborative project on Benguerra Island holds the promise of invaluable research data to guide conservation and protection measures. Click here to read more.

A festive banquet of coral from the Oceans Without Borders Mnemba Island coral nursery. As 2022 rounds up, the team are celebrating a year of conservation and community achievements which would simply not have been possible without your support! And with their Community & Conservation rangers in full action across three island sites, it’s appropriate that the closing thought comes from Leo Gungulo, OWB Field Manager Support Ranger, Mozambique: “Conservation is not about 1,2 or 3 of us – it’s about all of us. The more we can teach people about it, the better. Community involvement is key.”

05 June 2022 marks a milestone for the Oceans Without Borders Mnemba Island team of Community & Conservation rangers. This is when they transplanted the first coral colonies grown in their flourishing coral nursery onto degraded sections of the local house reef. As part of this restorative phase, they are also testing and monitoring the effectiveness of coral clips used to secure the introduced corals. To ensure biodiversity and genetic integrity, clusters of 4 – 5 pieces will be transplanted together onto different reef sections. The goal is to out-plant 100 corals a week. Read more here.

Meet Bakari Jaha (back row, top left), Africa Foundation‘s Community & Conservation Officer in Zanzibar. With his hard-earned PADI qualification as a scuba diver now in place, Bakari will extend his key community engagement on Unguja Island to include even more aspects of marine conservation and shared-value opportunities for island communities. He will now also be found underwater assisting the Oceans Without Borders Mnemba Island team of Community & Conservation rangers to nurture and develop their flourishing coral nursery, reef restoration, and artificial reef project in collaboration with local communities and other stakeholders. Click here to learn more.

This September, history was made. At the inaugural 2022 African Conservation Awards, Leo Gungulo was runner-up (tied) in the Best Game Ranger category in an unprecedented recognition of marine rangers. Leo’s deep commitment to his role as OWB field ranger and support manager for the seascapes of Benguerra and Vamizi Islands in Mozambique, paved the way for this recognition. These awards – founded in 2011 as the Rhino Conservation Awards in association with the Game Rangers Association of Africa – laud the effort and commitment of Africa’s men and women who play a leading role in conservation. Read more here.

Fish-catch surveys are key to developing sustainable small-scale fisheries, conserving precious marine resources, and protecting food security for local communities. The collaborative monitoring of fish catches within Mozambique’s Bazaruto Archipelago National Park is a primary responsibility of the OWB team of Community & Conservation marine rangers on Benguerra Island. As members of the local community, the rangers actively share knowledge on best fishing practices with local fishers, and play a crucial role as conservation ambassadors. Find out how you can support them in this year’s Wildlife Ranger Challenge here.