Mangroves in Kenya

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 Marereni area.

Community members are able to provide meals to their families with wages earned through nursery management. 

In Kenya, although certain hospitals provide free medical care to patients, many medical expenses are still unaffordable for individuals living at or below the poverty line. However, by participating in mangrove tree planting initiatives with COBEC, community members have been able to generate income that they have used to purchase medications for their households and receive medical treatment at clinics.

While school fees for Kenyan public schools were abolished in 2003, families still face costs for uniforms, school supplies, and more. Proceeds from the project will support in paying school fees for beneficiary families, as well as provide training sessions to beneficiaries.

The success of this project has been shown to rely heavily on women's participation. More than half of the community members involved in the tree planting and management of sapling nurseries are women.

The project will create jobs/income for the community groups that will establish nurseries. Over 600 people will be employed planting on a regular basis which will assist people in renovating their houses among other things mentioned above. The project will provide short-term employment opportunities during the project period. Additionally, individuals will have the opportunity to invest in long-term enterprises with the amount they earn from the project. 

The threat of climate change is a worldwide concern that impacts all societies. To address this issue, SeaTrees has partnered with COBEC to raise awareness of the project and educate community members on the advantages of conserving mangrove ecosystems. COBEC conducts training sessions for the Marereni community on monitoring mangrove growth and survival to guarantee the long-term success of the restoration efforts.

The project area serves as important breeding grounds for many species of fish and is home to threatened species of turtles. Both seagrass and mangrove trees serve to trap sediments, benefiting local coral reefs and providing an important habitat for many marine species.

The project area is made up of fringing, estuarine, and creek mangrove ecosystems. These habitats are important feeding and breeding grounds and is home to baboons, monkeys, as well as an important passage and feeding area for flamingos.