Poverty, increasing population pressure, and lack of education and awareness, commonly result in over-fishing and illegal/destructive habits along the Kenyan coast. The increasing destruction of these natural resources ultimately impacts negatively on the lives of the coastal communities, resulting in a cycle of poverty and environmental abuse.

COBEC works towards developing alternative income generating opportunities with the ultimate long term goal being to reduce pressure on natural resources to sustainable levels. With the introduction of income generating activities, the community will have direct sources of livelihood thus help reduce the level of poverty. COBEC has helped initiate income generating activities to the community such as beekeeping and ecotourism development. COBEC has conducted several capacity building workshops on organizational development to conservation groups around Mida creek and Marereni areas in Magarini Sub-county.