Kenya Blue Forests

Mikoko Pamoja and Vanga Blue Forest are companion projects that are protecting and restoring the mangrove forests on Kenya’s southern coast. By conserving these valuable blue carbon ecosystems and creating livelihood opportunities, the projects are fostering marine health and improving the resilience of coastal communities.

Between 1985 and 2010, about 20% of Kenya’s mangroves were lost. In some peri-urban areas along Kenya’s coast the rate of deforestation was upwards of 70%. This is largely due to over-harvesting since mangrove wood is a cheap and durable building material. Additionally, many families rely on open fires for energy and use mangrove wood as fuel. As the local population continues to rapidly grow, the pressure on Kenya’s remaining mangroves will only intensify. 

Studies show that, pound for pound, mangrove forests sequester four times more carbon than rainforests. That’s why they are referred to as ‘blue carbon’ ecosystems. Most of this carbon is stored in the soil, but when the mangroves are destroyed it is released into the atmosphere. It is estimated that mangroves account for up to 10% of global deforestation emissions, even though they make up less than 1% of the world’s forests. 

Mangroves are an essential part of marine ecosystems and provide a variety of benefits in addition to storing carbon. The mangroves that grow along Kenya’s coastline serve as important breeding and nursery grounds for fish and other marine species. They also act as a natural buffer between land and sea – filtering pollutants from coastal water, defending communities against storms, and preventing coastal erosion.  

The loss of mangrove habitats has led to declining fish stocks, which are a vital source of income and food for Kenya’s coastal communities. In the coastal village of Vanga, fishing accounts for an overwhelming 80% of the local economy. Furthermore, without the protection of mangroves, Kenya’s coastal areas will be at greater risk of erosion, flooding, and other hazards brought on by climate change.

Mikoko Pamoja and Vanga Blue Forest are community-based projects that are conserving and restoring mangroves along Kenya’s southern coast. The Mikoko Pamoja project was founded in 2013 in Gazi Bay, and following its success, it’s sister project, Vanga Blue Forest, was launched in 2019 in Vanga Bay. 

The projects are protecting more that 1,400 acres of mangrove forest by educating locals on their importance, engaging community members in forest monitoring, and strengthening the enforcement of existing regulations. The projects will further discourage the over-harvesting of mangroves by promoting the use of clean energy stoves and establishing community woodlots where locals can source alternative wood products for their construction and fuel needs. 

Along with conserving existing forests, local communities are restoring degraded mangrove sites through reforestation. Every year during the rainy season, villagers come together to plant over 2,000 mangrove seedlings in over-harvested areas and along eroding beaches. 

The reforested mangroves will support coastal biodiversity and enhance the health of connected ecosystems, such as seagrass beds and coral reefs. Their sturdy roots and stems will help stabilize shorelines and prevent sedimentation, leading to better water quality. The newly planted and conserved mangroves will also absorb carbon and store it in their soil and biomass. 

Along with supporting conservation, the projects improve the well-being of the 14,000 people that live in the local villages. Funds generated from carbon offset purchases are channeled into community development initiatives including supplying clean water and renovating classrooms. The projects are also building the capacity of communities to pursue alternative income-generating opportunities such as ecotourism and beekeeping. Because these economic activities depend on healthy mangroves, they provide a financial incentive to continue with conservation efforts.