Have you ever seen a beautiful African sunset? Have you ever seen people living in a simple manner?  Have you ever seen people truly only survive on what they grow, kill, or catch? Have you ever been to Africa?

Well, I have been all over southeast Africa for the past few months. I wanted to talk to you first about my travels to Mozambique. We were literally living in our tents in the bush. It was quite an experience, and unlike anything this city girl has experienced before. We walked everywhere hacking through the bushes and loving every second of it. I saw life how it should be lived, simply. The people of Mozambique taught me to slow down and enjoy life and nature around me. I couldn’t help having my eye drawn to all the fishermen. They go out early and stay late trying to catch fish that they can sell on the side of the road and hopefully earn enough money to support their family. I was highly intrigued.

With so many fishermen in the waters, casting their nets, I wondered what kind of an effect that has on the ocean floor and on the coral reefs that sit below. So I began my hunt to find out just that. I was reminded that coral reefs are one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world; they occupy less than 1% of the ocean floor, but inhabit at least 15% of all marine species. Coral reefs can provide food and livelihood opportunities to millions of people, a huge percentage of that reigning in Africa.

During the past few decades around on third of the world’s reefs have been destroyed or degraded. That is more than half of the world’s coral reefs that are threatened by human activities, with up to 80 percent at risk in the most populated areas. Over-fishing, pollution and coastal development top the list of destruction factors. This is a serious issue along the whole east coast of Africa. Illegal fishermen are trying hard to wipe out the marine life in the Indian Ocean. For the health of the oceans, the local fisherman, the deep-sea sport fisherman and all of us Planeteers who care about the environment; this is a disaster!

We cannot give up hope and ignore the destruction that many people choose to close their eyes to. We must educate ourselves on how to raise awareness on this issue and so many more. We must be the change that this world needs. I found a program that is doing just that. They want to increase education, and thereafter, a path of action. Maybe that is to volunteer, maybe it is host an awareness dinner once a week for a month with a different environmental need as the focus, or maybe it is finally start caring and talking about the problems. Start small if you must, but the point is to start.

The Nairobi Convention is a program started by the United Nations Environment Programme. They are focusing on the protection of the coastal and marine environment of the western Indian Ocean from land-based sources and activities. They are raising awareness and challenging others to join the cause. I ask you do as well, before we loose a treasured beauty. Take a look at the website and start acting today: http://www.unep.org/NairobiConvention/index.asp

For pictures, click here!