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.

On the 17th of September, ranger teams across Africa will compete in the annual 21 km Wildlife Ranger Challenge to raise funds for their front-line conservation work. Oceans Without Borders Marine Ranger teams will be participating again. Wherever you are in the world, you can join them by donating, or taking part. Register to walk or run 5 km, 10 km or 21 km, and create your own fundraising wave. All donations are not only doubled by the Scheinberg Relief Fund, but also support other teams, so in supporting OWB, you’re supporting all. Support now.

Community & Conservation rangers, the title given by Oceans Without Borders to their 3-island teams of marine rangers, directly references their many responsibilities. These men and women, all drawn from local island and coastal communities in Zanzibar (Mnemba Island) and Mozambique (Benguerra and Vamizi Islands), play key roles as both conservation ambassadors and educators within their communities, and provide essential support for OWB’s diverse set of land-and-sea conservation and research projects. Image includes OWB Mnemba Island Project Manager, Nancy Iraba, a promising young marine scientist, with the three-man C & C team. Read more here.

The Oceans Without Borders team are thrilled to invite you to become Community and Conservation ranger for 12 days from 1st – 12th December 2022. The community and conservation ranger team are the backbone of the OWB programme and enable all of the critical marine conservation and education work on the ground, as well as supporting the core tasks of marketing and fundraising, which are essential elements of any marine conservation initiative. Shadowing the teams will give a complete insight into the work and impact of the OWB programme, and they hope to learn from the volunteers too, who no doubt have skills and expertise that can support awareness raising of their programmes! The two week volunteer package spans both Mnemba Island, Zanzibar and Benguerra Island, Bazaruto Archipelago, Mozambique (5 nights on each) staying in andBeyond accommodation. The opportunity is available for 4 people on a twin room basis (2 people sharing / 2 rooms available) and must be snapped up now! Rooms are being held for this opportunity for 2 weeks only – and availability is first come first serve. For more information please get in touch.

Great news for Zanzibar. Thanks to everyone that voted, Oceans Without Borders’ Mnemba Island reef restoration project received the highest number of votes and was awarded EUR 30 000 of EOCA (European Outdoor Conservation Association) funding. This programme aims to expand the initial coral reef nursery, work with coastal communities to protect and restore the Mnemba Island reef, and construct an additional community-owned artificial reef site. The project will have far-reaching benefits across research, conservation education, and the Blue Economy of Zanzibar. Learn more here.

Last year Oceans Without Borders initiated a Coral Reef Restoration project, in response to the immense degradation observed on the Mnemba House Reef – one of Zanzibars’ most precious – and visited – coral reef systems. The CORAL FOR THE CLIMATE! CORAL REEF ECOSYSTEM EXPANSION, ZANZIBAR project has been shortlisted by the European Outdoor Conservation Association to receive 30,000 EUROS in grant funding. Funding will enable more new coral to be grown within their established coral reef nursery. The establishment of a community-owned artificial reef site to reduce pressure on the current reef system and increase biodiversity in the northern Zanzibar region, as well as coral focused educational resources to be developed and workshops to be held with local fishers, boatmen and community children. Please VOTE HERE (closing 4th May).

Coral reef restoration promises a lifeline for these critically important ecosystems that host more than 25% of all Marine life. A decline in live coral cover also poses a significant threat to local livelihoods, food security, commercial and subsistence fisheries, tourism, and other industries within the Blue Economy. But there’s a new project happening on Mnemba Island, Zanzibar. Join our OWB Community team, as they tend their underwater coral nursery that is a beacon of hope. Watch now…

They’re back! Turtle nesting activity has begun on Mnemba Island – one of only two protected nesting sites in Zanzibar for the endangered green sea turtle, and a major focus for Oceans Without Borders. Turtle monitors on the island meticulously record specific data. Each adult turtle that comes ashore to lay her eggs is carefully tagged so movements and the number of eggs laid is recorded. Adding to a remarkable 20 years of unbroken data collection. Read more here.