Kwale County is one of the six Counties found in the coastal region of Kenya. Kaya forests (commonly called Kayas) are sacred natural forests found on hilltops but also on coastal plain land of Kenya. They are residual patches of forests averaging 10-400 ha of once-extensive diverse lowland forest found in coastal eastern Africa. The historical development, existence, location and shape of the Kayas are intertwined with the belief and culture of the coastal Miji Kenda (nine houses) ethnic groups which claim descent from one ancestral area of Singwaya (Shunhwaya, and thought to be in modern-day southern Somalia).
The Kayas thus are strategic and symbolic grounds, and as the ancestors found resting places within the Kayas, so did the spiritual, social and symbolic significance of the Kayas increase to the communities. Thus, even after the Kayas were abandoned to become uninhabited forested areas, the laws governing their protection and the rituals associated with them remained intact. The norms and taboos that have persisted to the present derive their foundation from this historical development. These remnants of much more extensive forest areas contain the traces of historic fortified settlements, which serve as a focus of cultural and ritual activities continuing on the sites today. Due to their outstanding universal value, 9 sites were recognised by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites in 2008.

In addition to the spiritual importance, Kaya forests are highly recognized as having retained and still hold a lot of forest biodiversity. For example more than 50% of all Kenya rare tree species are believed to be found in the Kaya forests. At the same time, several Kayas are recognised as Important Bird Areas (IBAs) of the World. Kayas are isolated forested patches of land currently used as cultural sites by Mijikenda. Research in early 1990s, identified the Kayas as very important sites for biodiversity conservation because they hosted endemic and globally threatened species. Extraction of forest products in the Kayas was controlled by a Mijikenda council of elders through issuance of permits to locals.
This system of traditional governance worked effectively in the past and ensured minimal destruction of Kaya forest habitat, because the Mijikenda strictly obeyed their cultural traditions. However, as human population increased around these sites, the demand for resources increased and the locals started disregarding their traditions and illegally extracting forest products without seeking permission from the council of elders. In the recent time this has led to uncontrolled exploitation of forests products leading to decline in populations of globally threatened birds and other biodiversity. This trend is still continuing and is affecting Kayas listed in the World Heritage List from Kenya such as Kaya Gandini & Kaya Mtswakara.
Disasters threaten food security through disruption of cropping, marketing and overall ecosystem structures. In recent decades, episodes of drought-induced food shortage and famine have directly led to resource stress manifested in crippling conflicts which have resulted in millions of casualties, internally displaced persons and refugees, posing dilemmas for long-term solutions.
Such conflicts related to ?complex? emergencies have been creating need for massive and prolonged relief operations and leading to heavy use of social and economic assets in mitigation, thus derailing the region?s aspiration for sustainable economic and social development.
These sites are conserved by the Duruma communities and have since time in memorial been burial sites and a place where they still seek blessings from their ancestors. In the conservation of these sites, the areas have continuously faced some challenges as a result of forest degradation from unsustainable extractions of forest resources due to inadequate alternatives for livelihoods options around the adjacent community within the forest buffer zones and high poverty levels among local people.
These 2 World Heritage sites are closely interlinked and they are all important sites for the Duruma community, they are found in one locality forming a total forest acreage of 3500 acres of Kaya forest cover. This adds up to about 20% of the total kaya forest landscape in Kwale County alone. These sites are located in Kasemeni ward of Kinango Sub County in Kwale County, a region classified as a semi-arid zone with mixed lowland vegetation of woodland forest and scrub vegetation. Soils are sandy loam to clay with Duruma rocks.
It is crucial to note that changes in vegetation cover, cultural heritage integrity and loss of economy opportunities due to the societal change in the way they perceive conservation. The project will be based in Kaya Mtswakara and Gandini whose buffer zones, paths, huts have not been maintained, and cultural heritage activities have been abandoned. Communities living around the kaya landscape are faced with high poverty levels with approximately 70% of the households living below the poverty line. These communities are largely dependent on natural resources for their livelihood, a scenario that has led to over-exploitation of natural resources in and around kaya forests. Therefore this project will help revitalize their economic activities and spur socio-economic growth this will be achieved through creation of awareness on the significance of wildlife conservation and community empowerment.