Photos: KYBN
The good news come now again from Africa, where we have recently supported the Kenyan Youth Biodiversity Network (KYBN) with a donation of 2 spotting scopes with tripods and some accessories. The KYBN is a youth-led organization with a mission to halt the further loss of terrestrial and marine biodiversity in Kenya. They aim to achieve this through youth empowerment, knowledge sharing, and meaningful participation in policy processes. The organization has over 3,000 active members and focuses on four main projects: Ecosystem Restoration, Marine Action, Policy Advocacy, and Conservation Awareness.
The KYBN has made significant achievements since its founding in 2017. They have planted over 100,000 trees in various parts of Kenya, restoring degraded landscapes and contributing to ecosystem conservation. They have also raised awareness about marine plastic pollution, documented threats to ocean ecosystems, and empowered youth to combat these challenges. Additionally, their policy advocacy work has successfully mobilized young people to participate in shaping biodiversity policies at national and international levels, amplifying youth voices in conservation decision-making.
The donated scopes will be used to support KYBN’s citizen science project, led by early career environmental professionals. The project employs a peer-learner model, pairing professionals with junior members interested in learning conservation through nature photography, birdwatching, and mini-documentary production. Their current focus is developing a comprehensive bird species checklist for Rimpa Wildlife Sanctuary near Nairobi National Park to inform ecosystem management strategies. They aim to expand to other sanctuaries and green spaces, benefiting over 2000 individuals and nurturing the next generation of conservation leaders.
We were delighted to receive the photos of some recent activities of the KYBN where the donated scopes were used. One of such events was a biodiversity festival to commemorate the International day for Biological Diversity at a remote beach called Nyumba Sita along the south coast, in Kenya’s Kwale County. KYBN offered a birdwatching expedition to teach students from the Ukunda Vocational Institute the importance of conserving coastal forests as habitats for important birds such as the African Fish-Eagle. Later, on the World Migratory Bird Day, the KYBN organized a birdwatching expedition at Karura forest, home of about 200 bird species, with the aim to highlight the need to conserve migratory birds and their habitat. In the words of Kevin Lunzalu, one of the leaders of the KYBN, the “scopes from Binoculars4charity were utilized to make this important event successful”. For more information about KYBN, you can visit their Facebook and Twitter profiles.
We wish the KYBN all the best with all their activities in Kenya and thank the donors of the equipment that allow us to support another amazing project.