While Kenya has the largest economy in east Africa, 36% of its population still live below the international poverty line. This project generates economic opportunities for the communities in the Mida Creek area.

SeaTrees’ project partner in Mida Creek, COBEC, sources the mangrove seedlings and propagules that are used to reforest Mida Creek directly from community-owned and managed nurseries.

Before this project, the local community faced diminishing fish resources as a result of mangrove degradation in Mida Creek.

Community members are able to provide meals to their families with wages earned through nursery management. Over time, Mida Creek fish and other seafood resources will build back as the mangrove forests mature.

While some medical care in certain hospitals in Kenya is provided at no cost to patients, there are still several medical expenses that are not affordable for those living at or near the poverty line.

By planting mangrove trees with COBEC, community members have reported using income earned to purchase medications for their households.

While school fees for Kenyan public schools were abolished in 2003, families still face costs for uniforms, school supplies, and more.

The Mida Creek community members are now able to use money earned through selling mangrove seedlings to pay for children’s school fees.

Women’s involvement in this project has proven to be critical for its success.

Over 50% of the community members who conduct the tree planting and manage the nurseries where saplings are sourced are women.

The degradation of mangrove trees has threatened both economic and food sources for the Mida Creek community. The local community relies heavily on fishing and ecotourism supported by Mida Creek.

Through this project, community members are able to obtain living-wage employment through the nurseries created for tree planting and develop ecotourism micro-enterprises with the wages earned through nursery management.

Climate change is a global issue that threatens all societies. SeaTrees’ partner in Mida Creek, COBEC, is mobilizing the Mida Creek community to raise awareness for the project and educating community members on the benefits of mangrove ecosystem conservation.

COBEC hosts community training sessions on the monitoring of mangrove growth and survival to ensure the long-term success of the restoration work.

Mida Creek serves as important breeding grounds for many species of fish including Jacks, Snappers, Groupers, Rabbit Fish, Parrotfish, Emperors, and Barracuda. The area is also home to a variety of aquatic flora including 11 seagrass, 33 seaweed, and 9 mangrove species.

Both seagrass and mangrove trees serve to trap sediments, benefiting local coral reefs and providing an important habitat for many marine species.

Mida Creek is a recognized International Bird Area and together with Arabuko-Sokoke Forest forms a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

The area is home to 65 species of aquatic birds, an important passage and wintering area for Palearctic migrant waders, and a critical feeding and development area for Green sea turtles.