What Does Mangrove Conservation Look Like in Kenya?
- The Nature Conservancy
- Nov 13
- 2 min read
Collaborative Mangrove Conservation Actions Gain Momentum in Kenya
Kenya Forest Service has just approved a new 10-Year mangrove management Plan for Lamu County and Kenya’s Kiunga Marine National Reserve, a UNESCO Man and Biosphere (MAB) Reserve! This is a key step for sustainable management of 64,500 ha of mangroves in the region.
These wins reflect top-down and bottom-up approaches to drive mangrove conservation and restoration goals, contributing to climate mitigation and ocean health.
Harvesting operations will be restricted to the designated utilization zone (10,766 ha) as prescribed in the national mangrove ecosystem management plan (2017-2027), excluding the proposed blue carbon project areas, conservation, protection, and development zones. The National Mangrove Ecosystem Restoration Guidelines have also been approved, streamlining mangrove restoration activities in Kenya.
These wins strengthen the management of the 27,000 Ha Marine Protected Area (MPA) which includes about 300 Ha of mangrove forest co-managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Kenya Forest Service. The MPA is a UNESCO Man and Biosphere (MAB) Reserve, an Important Bird Area and biodiversity hotspot. The inclusive, collaborative approach used in developing the Plan is being replicated for other MPAs.
This reflects top-down and bottom-up approaches to drive mangrove conservation and restoration goals, contributing to climate mitigation and Ocean health. They are complimented by other wins this year, including:
Signing the GMA National Kenya Chapter MoU.
Inclusion of Blue Carbon Ecosystems into Kenya’s NDCs.
Development of the Kenya Mangrove Ecosystem Management Plan.
The establishment of six Mangrove Community Forest Association in Lamu and Tana River Counties.
Check out the guidelines below to explore the best practice approaches streamlining mangrove restoration activities in Kenya.
Acknowledgements to partners including, including TNC, GMA-Kenya Chapter, KFS, CFAs, KMFRI, KEFRI, UNEP, County Governments of Tana River and Lamu, NRT and others.
