Beyond the reef: assessing ecosystem services arising from coral reef restoration to improve livelihoods in Shimoni, Kenya

Coral reefs are key marine ecosystems. They provide ecosystem services and goods which support the wellbeing and livelihoods of coastal communities. The reefs are increasingly faced with threats resulting to reef degradation that limits their ecological functionality and provision of services. Artificial reef restoration has been adopted around the world to restore and accelerate the recovery of degraded reef ecosystems. However, reef restoration efforts have mostly focused on ecological aspects with minimal focus on socio-economic aspects thus making it difficult to assess the societal impact. This study aims to assess the societal impact of coral reef restoration in Shimoni, southern coast of Kenya.