gpa_east_africa_case.. - GRID Africa GeoPortal - UNEP

Clean sandy beaches are another tourist attraction. Unfortunately due to sewage problemsand those associated with coastal erosion, coupled with an unstable coastline, some beacheshave lost value as tourist attractions.Mangrove forests also play an important role in tourism attraction. Bird life is rich and varied inmost mangrove forests. This has attracted the development of boardwalks in mangrove forestsfor tourists to come and watch the birds. Unfortunately, the mangrove forests are being clearedto give way to physical development of tourist infrastructure facilities, thus destroying the basison which the tourism depend on. In 1988 for example an oil spill of 2 000 000 liters of fuel oilfrom a punctured storage facility destroyed 5 hactres of mangrove forest in Kipevu on the edgeof the Kilindini Creek. Such a loss of a valuable ecosystems has a direct link to loss in theaesthetic value of the environment and therefore not attractive to tourism activities therebycontributing to a loss in tourism earnings.Adjacent Coastal Land Uses Affected. The main adjacent land use affected by sewage inMombasa is recreational. The Kibarani area where sewage is dumped has been identified asa very suitable area for developing recreational facilities. Because of the conditionsassociated with the site, this has never been attempted. Also, due to the presence of garbageat the Mackinon Market, many businessmen of high quality have been relocated. Potentiallyhigh value properties for residential housing have been lost due to sewage in the Bamburiarea.Final Draft Report – Cost Benefit Case StudiesGPA Strategic Action Plan on Sewage, October, 200077