MITIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH BIODIVERSITY.

                         Photo: courtesy of NewYork Times

Long-term changes in weather patterns has proven to be a major danger to biodiversity (animals, plants, fungi and micro-organisms). It has damaged countless ecosystems around the planet, causing species extinction, more intense storms, greater temperatures, increased drought, and health hazards, among other things. Climate and biodiversity are often linked. It frequently has a negative impact because the climatic changes are caused by human activities such as industrialization, as well as natural factors such as variations in solar activity, volcanic activity, and changes in the earth's orbit, among many others, whereas biodiversity strives to ensure climate stabilization.

                               Photo: courtesy of google

Despite the prevailing circumstances, biodiversity still remains a critical aspect in maintaining climate mitigation, which in turn results in the creation of an ecofriendly environment. In the efforts to protect biodiversity, climate change can also be minimized by reducing the concentration of carbon in the atmosphere through a process known as  the carbon cycle, and later on incorporating it into living things. Through the carbon cycle, plants, in this case, acquire carbon through photosynthesis and later on pass it on to animals (human beings) in the form of carbohydrates.

     Photo: Courtesy of google

On the other hand, ecosystems such as forests (trees) contribute to climate stability by replenishing ground water supplies as a result of moisture retained in the roots and stems of the trees and recycling water vapor back into the sky, resulting in rainfall. This is frequently beneficial during times of drought.

Photo: courtesy of google

 Forests (trees) are one of the most important components in climate stability. They aid in the prevention of the following:

1. Wildfires: Planting of Mediterranean cypress trees in the Mediterranean region as they act as natural firebreaks

2. Heatwaves: Replacing air conditioning with tree planting for a cooler climate helps to reduce carbon emissions in the atmosphere.

3. Coastal flooding: Planting mangroves and coral reefs will help lessen the likelihood of seawater intruding into land.

4. Sandstorms: By preventing deforestation and planting more trees, desertification will reduce hence no room for sand storms.

Photo: courtesy of google

The world as a whole will benefit in all imaginable ways (social and economic) as ecosystems will change for the better thanks to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) efforts to adopt the economy-based adaptation strategy where biodiversity functions as a defense tool against climate change.

RELEVANCE OF KPA TO MOMBASA PORT AND HER INHABITANTS.

 

Ports act as crucial transportation nodes that help transfer goods, including the supply of raw materials, and components to enterprises in nearby towns and on international markets.

The Port of Mombasa, one of Kenya's main ports, serves as a hub for the country's economy by generating income from international trade, which includes imports and exports both to and from Kenya. The Kilindini Harbour, which makes up the bulk of the port of Mombasa, the old port, port Reitz, and port Tudor comprise the four sectors of the port. It is essential since it not only makes the country's maritime trade easier but also benefits the East African region strategically.

Additionally, though owned by the Government of Kenya,  the Port of Mombasa is managed by Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), a strategic profit-making parastatal in Kenya whose mandate is to provide, maintain, operate, and regulate all port services and facilities along the coast of Kenya.

Employees and owners of companies that provide port-related services, companies that supply goods and services, shippers of goods who use the port because it offers lower transportation costs or greater convenience, and local residents who can access a wide range of goods and services are all beneficiaries in terms of the economy from Mombasa's port.

As a result of the expansion in the variety of goods and services available in national marketplaces, Kenya, in this case, Mombasa inhabitants, have been exposed to new lifestyles and ideas through Kenya Ports of Authority's (KPA) participation in international enterprises.

Furthermore, it has made it possible for small business owners to conduct their everyday operations while navigating the port with ease.

Kenya Ports of Authority (KPA) was able to expand the six-lane concrete Kipevu road which has increased the capacity of the ports by improving in and out flow of traffic, and achieving other economic benefits, such as reduced congestion and quick gate clearance, thanks to Trade Mark East Africa, which provided a two billion shilling grant to KPA.

The people of Mombasa benefit from the port's income through nature-based tourism (cruising and sailing), being home to some of the richest marine ecosystems which attract international visitors to the country through imports and exports I.e machinery and agricultural produce.

In addition, KPA and Japan International Cooperation Agency started implementing the Dongo Kundu resettlement plan (Special Economic Zone), which aims to encourage Mombasa's private sectors to establish industries on the land they would gain from the project. This proved to be one method of generating employment, which would help to lower crime rates and raise people's standard of living.

Though not most will agree with this, education attainment is also a crucial factor of economic success because literate personnel will be occupying the job market for the effectiveness of a particular job opportunity as they would be offering skilled labor to that particular firm. KPA invests heavily in education through partnering with various school institutions (Shimo la Tewa Boys High School) for the betterment and improvement of school infrastructure to enable a conducive learning environment for the students.

It is with the ongoing development of the port and its services, that the Country’s economy will vastly be recognized globally, now, and the years to come, as KPA strongly plans on efficiently harnessing the blue economy.

DISTURBING FACTS ABOUT CAMPUS RELATIONSHIPS.

Naturally, human beings, in this case, students, believe life is better shared or lived when they are emotionally and physically connected with each other, therefore, they establish relationships ( romantic, friendship, and acquaintanceship) with their peers. When joining campus, they are often thrilled about what their next chapter in life would entail and who would get their “fair share” of everything.

Without carefully analyzing the type of people they let in their lives, they end up accommodating toxic people in the guise of friends and partners, who later on pose a threat to their mental well-being. Some of them become toxic without intending to, while others deliberately find solace in doing so, in the name of vengeance for the agony they had endured in their previous relationships.

Toxic relationships are, therefore, characterized by a set of actions that stem from the toxic thoughts and emotions of the people involved. According to a Daily Mail survey, over 60% of people are still in toxic relationships. Toxicity may not always develop as a result of both parties' conduct; occasionally, people acting in this manner are unaware of the harm their toxic trait causes to others.

Some students often get into relationships with the intent to obtain emotional support to cope with schoolwork pressure, while others do so for financial, sexual, frequently referred to as "Friends With Benefits (FWB)," pressure group, fame, replacement, and tasting purposes. The saddest thing is that victims of toxic relationships either deliberately disregard red flags or just do not know how to distinguish the difference between a healthy and an unhealthy relationship.

As a result, the toxic social environment becomes a health hazard to students, leading to stress, anxiety, and depression. It may also lead to isolating them from other more empowering and supportive relationships, pessimism, low self-esteem, neglect of self-care practices, insecurity, paranoia, helplessness, and even suicide.

To terminate toxic relationships, individuals must surround themselves with people who support them throughout, be intentional in their daily pursuits, work on having open communication, show true love, and hold room for others' growth, among other things.