Marine ecologist with a background in Natural Resource Management. Research interest is on marine resource sustainability assessment including designing and development of sustainable resource harvest strategies and management of the marine resources.

She has been involved in many mangrove research activities at the Kenyan Coast, most notably development of the National Mangrove Management Plan. She has also been involved in developing Project Idea Note (PIN) and Project Design Document (PDD) for Carbon offset projects for Gazi and Vanga mangrove ecosystem.

Amina is currently a PhD candidate at Bournemouth University, UK.

Research Network: Research Gate
 
Location: KMFRI Shimoni Centre
Department: Oceanography and Hydrography
Specialization: Mangrove ecology, Community development, Cultural heritage, Climate science, Participatory forest management
Research Interests: Design and development of sustainable resource harvest strategies and management of the marine resources (with particular interest on Mangrove ecosystem)
Email: ahamza@kmfri.go.ke / amina_j2002@yahoo.com 
Qualifications: MSc. Marine and Lacustrine Science and Management 2013 (Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Belgium)BSc. Natural Resource Management 2007 (Egerton University, Kenya)
 
PUBLICATIONS:

  • Hamza, A.J.; Esteves, L.S.; Cvitanovic, M., and Kairo, J., 2020. Past and present utilization of mangrove resources in Eastern Africa and drivers of change In: Malvarez, G. and Navas, F. (eds.), Global Coastal Issues of 2020. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 95, pp. 35-44. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208
  • Kairo J.G., Hamza A.J., and Wanjiru C. 2018. Mikoko Pamoja: A Demonstrably Effective Community Based Blue Carbon Project in Kenya. In Windham-Myers L., Crooks S and Troxler T.G (eds.). A Blue Carbon Primer: The State of Coastal Wetland Carbon Science, Practice and Policy. CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group, London, pp. 341-351
  • Bosire J.O., Lang’at J.K., Kirui B., Kairo J. G., Mwihaki L. M., and Hamza A. J. 2015. Mangroves of Kenya. In: Bosire J. O., Mangora M. M., Bandeira S., Rajkaran A., Ratsimbazafy R., Appadoo C. and Kairo J. G. (eds.). Mangroves of the Western Indian Ocean: Status and Management. WIOMSA, Zanzibar Town, pp. 15-31
  • Kairo J.G., Hamza A.J., and Wanjiru C. 2018. Mikoko Pamoja: A Demonstrably Effective Community Based Blue Carbon Project in Kenya. In Windham-Myers L., Crooks S and Troxler T.G (eds.). A Blue Carbon Primer: The State of Coastal Wetland Carbon Science, Practice and Policy. CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group, London, pp. 341-351
  • Bosire J.O., Lang’at J.K., Kirui B., Kairo J. G., Mwihaki L. M., and Hamza A. J. 2015. Mangroves of Kenya. In: Bosire J. O., Man- gora M. M., Bandeira S., Rajkaran A., Ratsimbazafy R., Appadoo C. and Kairo J. G. (eds.). Mangroves of the Western Indian Ocean: Status and Management. WIOMSA, Zanzibar Town, pp. 15-31
  • Bosire J.O., Lang’at J.K., Kirui B., Kairo J. G., Mwihaki L. M., and Hamza A. J. 2015. Mangroves of Kenya. In: Bosire J. O., Man- gora M. M., Bandeira S., Rajkaran A., Ratsimbazafy R., Appadoo C. and Kairo J. G. (eds.). Mangroves of the Western Indian Ocean: Status and Management. WIOMSA, Zanzibar Town, pp. 15-31
  • Kairo, J. G., Okello, J. A., Hamza, A. J., Mrabu, E., Githaiga, M. N. (2014). Local community guide to mangrove forests rehabilitation in Kenya. KCDP Project. KMFRI, Mombasa. 
  • Kairo, J. G.; Okello, J. A.; Hamza, A. J.; Mrabu, E., Githaiga, M. N. (2014). Tool Kit for Community-based Mangrove Reforestation and Management. KCDP Project. KMFRI, Mombasa. 
  • Hamza A. J, and JG Kairo 2011. Enhancing sustainable management of mangrove resources in Kenya through participatory approach. Final Technical Report. (KEN/SGP/OP4/RAF/08/03), Nairobi Kenya.

Grants and achievements

  • 2021 – Development of Guidance on Coastal & Mangrove Indicators and Targets for Inclusion in the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework - IUCN

  • February 2020 - Competitive Research Grant: Award by Bournemouth University Global Challenge Research Funds (BU GCRF): Mangroves and livelihoods - Embracing changes for a better future.
  • May 2019 - Competitive Research Grant: Award by BU Global Challenge Research Funds (GCRF): Understanding changes in mangrove use and climate change knowledge in a coastal community in Lamu, Kenya
  • January 2019: Scholarship Award by Bournemouth University to undertake a PhD on Climate Change Impacts on Coastal and Marine Environment in East Africa
  • 2018 - Competitive Research Grant: ICRI UN Environment funding to undertake a project ‘Managing mangroves for climate change regulations and other ecosystem services in Kenya”
  • 2016 – Competitive Conservation Grant: Award by WWF- US to undertake a conservation workshop on Returning the Loss of Mangrove Forests and Other Ecosystem Services in Mombasa County, Kenya
  • 2015 - Competitive Research GrantMASMA Grant by WIOMSA to conduct Second Course on Mangrove Ecosystems for the Western Indian Ocean Region: Community Based Restoration, Adaptation, Management and Governance Approaches for Mangrove Ecosystems in the WIO region
  • 2015 – 2019 Project Coordination – Blue Forest Project - Kenya.
  • Blue forest project - Kenya funded by Global Environmental Facility (GEF) – United Nation Environmental Programme (UNEP) led to the development of a Carbon offset project in Vanga Mangrove ecosystem, South Coast Kenya. The project is part of a global GEF project on Standardized methodologies for Carbon Accounting and Ecosystem Services Valuation of Blue Forests, being implemented in Ecuador, Mozambique, Indonesia, Madagascar, Abu Dhabi and Kenya