Nature Champions: The Dawida Biodiversity Conservation Group (DaBiCo)

Local environmental groups play a key role in protecting Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBAs) when they become a site support group (SSG).

The Dawida Biodiversity Conservation Group (DaBiCo), formed in 2011, is the SSG for the Taita Hills forest IBA. The group aims to promote community awareness on environmental conservation and alternative livelihoods. It is constituted of five sub-groups operating adjacent to indigenous forest patches, namely: TANACOP (Ngangao forest), Ndumbinyi Plan Unit (Vuria forest), Sufi Self Help Group (Fururu forest), Chawia Environmental Committee (Chawia forest) and Wuchichi Self Help Group (Iyale/Wesu forest). DaBiCo activities include beekeeping, basketry, leatherwork, ecotourism, commercial tree seedlings and fish farming.

DaBiCo manages an eco-resource centre at Ngangao forest. The eco-resource centre supports ecotourism activities and markets nature-based community products. Three tents have been pitched within its compound to provide accommodation for visitors. The group also conducts common bird monitoring in the four forest fragments of Taita Hills and provides data for IBA monitoring.

Visting the Taita Hills? Contact DaBiCo at dabicodawida@yahoo.com

or Nathaniel Mwaumba nathmkombolah@yahoo.com

Mobile: 0719 885265