The mangroves they are tropical marine forests with enormous potential. They protect coastlines from erosion and storm surges; they provide food and shelter for a wide variety of wildlife, as well as nursery habitats for fish and shellfish valuable for commercial use.
In addition, they are great allies in the fight against climate change. The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) calculates that mangroves around the world retain up to 22.8 million tons of carbon in their roots, trunks and soil each year.
Despite providing invaluable services to people and the planet, mangroves are in a critical situation. Along with the effects of climate change, such as rising sea levels and temperatures, mangroves are being depleted because their wood is valuable and appreciated by coastal communities as it is the main source of building material, fuel and even medicines. Rampant coastal urbanization and unsustainable farming and aquaculture practices round out the long list of dangers to these marine forests.
The UN and Kenya
However, there is still hope for the mangroves. Innovative collaborations can sometimes lead to sustainable solutions. Over the last three years, UN agencies, the Kenyan government and other partners have worked together to launch several community-based conservation projects. Their goal is to help fight poverty and provide climate and biodiversity benefits, while helping to build the economic resilience of Kenyan coastal communities.
Together with the United Nations Environment Programme, the Kenya Forest Service, the Kenya Fisheries and Marine Research Institute and their partners, they recently launched the project Vanga Blue Forests in the coastal bay of Vanga, in Kwale County (south of Mombasa), a revolutionary initiative to exchange carbon credits for the conservation and restoration of mangroves.
In nearby Gazi Bay, there is a sister project of Vanga Blue. Launched two years ago, this pioneering initiative, known as Mikoko Pamoja (“Mangroves Together”), raised money by selling carbon credits to people and organizations who want to reduce their carbon footprint, through the Scottish charity ACES. This project supports the planting and conservation of mangroves. Payments for “mangrove carbon” are used for the benefit of the local community.
Mwanarusi Mwafrika, coordinator of Vanga Blue Forests, told UN News that “some animal species such as dugongs (marine mammals that are equally endangered cousins of manatees) that had started to disappear are now making a comeback. In addition, fishermen reported higher catches. This is due to the environmental conservation efforts we employ with the locals.”
UN/Thelma Mwadzaya
Plastic pollution in Vanga, a coastal town in Kenya.
Blue forests, green growth
The project Vanga Blue Forests focuses on the conservation of trees, since the inhabitants of the area have already planted the seedlings. Some 9,000 inhabitants will benefit from the villages of Vanga, Jimbo and Kiwegu. The villages form “VAJIKI”, a community forestry association that oversees 460 hectares of forest land. Jimbo Village has created a nursery with 30,000 viable mangrove seedlings.
Harith Mohamed, secretary of the community association, believes conservation is the way forward.
“If the balance is disturbed [entre] mangroves and terrestrial forests, there will be consequences,” he explained, “the terrestrial forests are above, and the mangroves are underwater. So it is important to conserve these forests to avoid flooding, because if the sea level rises, the farms will no longer be able to be exploited.”
The project Vanga Blue Forests It also supports sustainable community development processes that address education, health, and water and sanitation needs. In the short time since its launch, some five hectares of mangroves have been restored, and it is expected that more will continue to be restored.
Also, Vanga Blue has launched vital projects that will improve the lives and livelihoods of thousands of people in local fishing communities; such as the rehabilitation of a nursery and the renovation of a hospital with new equipment. Local sanitation initiatives have also been launched.
Cities, people and oceans
Like the oceans, mangroves are huge carbon sinks. Compared to other terrestrial trees and forests, a single mangrove forest has a ten times greater capacity to absorb carbon emissions. Protecting and enhancing these forests removes and keeps carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
They also promote resilience to climate change, according to Florian Lux of the project Go Bluea third blue growth initiative taking place along the southern coast of Kenya, being implemented by UNEP and UN Habitat and sponsored by the European Union.
“I am pleased that the project GoBlue have a mangrove restoration component. The protection and sustainable use of mangroves offers many possibilities to conserve the environment and benefit local people. Carbon sequestration provides adaptability to communities throughout the oceans,” she noted.
The project Go Blue, a joint initiative to drive a sustainable blue economy in the six counties of Kenya’s coastal region, focuses on helping cities and towns cope with the effects of climate change. Among other things, the program wants take advantage of important coastal and marine resources to employ more than 3,000 young people and women.
Goodluck Mbaga, environmentalist and conservationist from Kilifi County, reiterates the importance of keeping the oceans healthy.
“It is necessary to opt for conservation, especially of the marine environment. The oceans have great potential as an alternative means of subsistence. There is more to harvest from the ocean than from land-based activities in life,” he said, echoing the request of the UNEP that instead of depleting or polluting these resources, we must develop ways to harness and protect them.
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