There has been widespread concern over the diminishing mangrove forests along Kenya's coastline, with many environmental activists urging key stakeholders to take immediate action to address this critical issue, which poses a serious threat to the entire coastal ecosystem.
As a strong advocate for ecosystem restoration, the Ecosystem Restoration Alliance of Kenya (KERA) has is crafting a community-centric and multi-faceted plan aimed at restoring the once-thriving coastal mangrove forests at the coastal regional. We are currently collaborating with local communities along the Kenyan coast to co- create a large-scale mangrove conservation and restoration initiative focused on storing blue carbon, supporting the local livelihoods and well-being, regulating water quality, and protecting the coast.
Historical Destruction of Mangrove forests
Kenya has lost half of its mangrove forests in the past 50 y ears to a combination of factors, including overexploitation by locals with limited livelihood options. Historically, mangroves were cleared for timber, charcoal production, and to make way for urban development and agriculture. In Kilifi, unsustainable logging practices and expansion of salt farms led to a sharp decline in mangrove coverage. Mombasa, a major coastal city, also experienced heavy mangrove loss due to construction and industrialization, as well as the demand for firewood.
Lamu, known for its traditional dhow building and rich marine ecosystems, has also witnessed the gradual depletion of its mangrove forests, particularly due to over-exploitation and deforestation for fuel and building materials.
Impacts of Disappearance of Mangrove Forests
The disappearance of mangrove forests has significant ecological, social, and economic impacts:
Loss of Biodiversity: Mangrove forests provide a unique habitat for various species, including fish, crabs and birds. The loss of mangroves disrupts these ecosystems, leading to a decline in biodiversity.
Coastal Erosion: Mangroves act as natural barriers against coastal erosion by stabilizing the soil with their extensive root systems. Without them, coastlines are more vulnerable to erosion, leading to the loss of land and increased vulnerability to storms.
Carbon Sequestration: Mangroves are highly effective in sequestering carbon dioxide, helping mitigate climate change. Their disappearance reduces the amount of carbon captured, contributing to increased global warming.
Decline in Fisheries: Many marine species rely on mangrove forests as breeding and nursery grounds. The loss of these areas results in a decline in fish populations, negatively impacting local fisheries and livelihoods
Increased Vulnerability to Natural Disasters: Without mangroves, coastal areas are less protected from the impacts of hurricanes, typhoons, and tsunamis, which can cause greater damage to infrastructure and communities.
Economic Loss: Communities that depend on mangrove ecosystems for resources like timber, charcoal, and fish suffer financially when these forests are destroyed. Additionally, the loss of coastal protection can harm tourism and agricultural sectors.
Expert’s Recommended Management Interventions
A recent report by the Kenya Forestry Research Institute on the death of mangrove forest in Kenya; the causes and management interventions, highlighted clearing of mangroves as the main reason for diminishing mangrove forests. Sewerage disposal, Poor agricultural land use practices in the hinterland, Oil spills, Increased salinity, Senescence, Climate change and sea- level rise and Pests and diseases are mentioned among other contributing factors.
Kenya forestry research institute further recommended Treatment of sewage, Establishment of woodlots in the hinterland, Promoting agroforestry in the hinterland, Removal of dead mangrove wood material, Replanting degraded areas, Minimizing oil spillage, Integrated pest management and surveillance and Public awareness on the conservation of mangrove forests as key management interventions.
KERA’s Mangrove Restoration Plan
The plan focuses on promoting forest restoration, reforestation, and afforestation on degraded and deforested landscapes while halting deforestation and degradation through multi-faceted strategies. It emphasizes collaboration with the private sector to create sustainable value chains, supports biodiversity conservation in forest management, and encourages respectful agroforestry and botanical gardens.
The program will resource selected local farming groups, SMEs, and community organizations with the on-the-ground, and fosters co-learning events on mangrove landscape restoration. It also promotes mangrove restoration, and collaboration on forest genetic resources.
Additionally, the initiative aims to conserve critical habitats for vulnerable species incentivize community- based forest restoration, and enhance public awareness, education, and data accessibility on forest resources, aiming to improve livelihoods and eradicate poverty.
In a nutshell, KERA’s plan will be implemented along three action pathways, namely: Co-creating responsive communities of actions focusing on community level restoration, county based restoration, and regional collaborative regional community of county implementers. The second pathway focuses on mobilizing and facilitating sufficient finance needed to actualize our mangrove restoration plan at the landscape level at scale. The third pathway focuses on knowledge sharing, co-learning and co-sharing for maximum impact.
Envisioning the Future
Restoring mangrove forests is crucial for both the environment and human communities, as they offer a wide range of benefits. KERA has made tremendous strides consulting local actors and some county governments on the best shared visioning plan to restore and conserve mangrove ecosystems across the six Coastal counties. With our bold multi-stakeholder plan afoot, these are some projected key impacts of a restored mangrove ecosystem:
Enhanced Coastal Protection: After the restoration of mangrove forests, coastlines are better shielded from storm surges, tsunamis, and coastal erosion. The dense, interwoven roots of the mangroves will stabilized the soil, preventing erosion and reducing the impact of extreme weather events, safeguarding vulnerable coastal communities.
Boosted Biodiversity: Restoration has led to a resurgence of biodiversity within the mangrove ecosystem. A variety of fish, crabs, mollusks, and birds will return to the area, utilizing the restored mangroves as breeding and feeding grounds. This biodiversity revival contributes to the overall health of local marine ecosystems.
Increased Carbon Sequestration: The restored mangrove forests are now effectively capturing and storing more carbon, significantly contributing to climate change mitigation. Their soil and plant matter continue to sequester large amounts of CO2, making them an important natural carbon sink.
Improved Water Quality: With the restoration of the mangroves, coastal water quality is expected to improve markedly. The restored root systems now trap sediments, excess nutrients, and pollutants, resulting in cleaner water that benefits coral reefs and other marine habitats nearby.
Revived Fisheries and Livelihoods: Local fish populations are expected to flourish due to the restored mangroves, which serve as key breeding and nursery areas. This boost in fish stocks has revitalized local fisheries, improving the livelihoods of communities that rely on fishing asa primary source of income and food.
Economic Growth: Sustainable tourism is expected to improve in areas with restored mangrove forests, attracting eco-tourists for activities such as birdwatching and kayaking. Additionally, the restoration will support sustainable harvesting of mangrove products like wood, honey, and medicinal plants, providing local communities with valuable economic opportunities.
Strengthened Climate Resilience: Coastal communities are now better equipped to handle the impacts of climate change. The restored mangroves will provide a natural barrier against rising sea levels and more frequent extreme weather events, helping communities to adapt and thrive in the face of changing environmental conditions.
Preserved Cultural and Social Practices: With the restoration of the mangrove forests, traditional livelihoods and cultural practices tied to the mangrove ecosystems have been preserved. Communities have become more engaged in environmental conservation efforts, fostering social cohesion and a sense of ownership over local natural resources.
Collaborative Efforts
Achieving healthy and resilient mangrove ecosystems at the coastal region requires stakeholders and partners across the public, private, and civil society sectors to build synergies by working together, set bold shared restoration goals and increase financial investments for the set common goals.
Written by: Booster Wabuyabo