Groups embrace mangrove restoration after getting funding

Sections of restored mangrove areas in Kipini, Tana River County. [Caroline Chebet, Standard]

Residents of Sita village near the Mida Creek in Dabaso ward, Kilifi County, have intensified the restoration of the mangrove forest after securing funds from the World Bank through the government.

The Sita Umoja Creek Self-Help group received Sh4.9 million and set up a mangrove tree nursery that has yielded at least 78,000 seedlings in six months.

The group chairperson Maxon Nzomo said that the seedlings were now ready for planting in the creek to restore the ecosystem as well as absorb carbon emissions.

The funds are part of the five-year Sh10 billion funding that is being implemented by the Government in conjunction with the Kilifi County government under the Kenya Marine Fisheries and Social Economic Development (KEMSFED) programme which has seen at least Sh1.5 billion worth of grants released to 621 groups in the Coast region.

Nzomo explained that the local community majorly comprises fishermen and fishing as their main economic activity but with the restoration programme and with the support of the Kilifi County and national government, they were now diversifying while at the same time taking care of the ecosystem.

"We have been doing this work for 14 years now through support from nature-based organisations who supported us with funding and training but the KEMSFED program is the largest funding we have received," he said.

Mr Justin Kitsao, chairman of the Kilifi County Beach Operators and a member of the Kirepwe Self-help group, said they were now ready for the carbon credit benefits.

"We are working with the government so that we all benefit as a network of stakeholders and where we have reached, we need to benefit from the carbon credit financially," he said.

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said the level of destruction of forests through logging has gone down thanks to the environmental restoration programmes by local communities.

"The mangrove tree should not be cut down just because it is an old tree but it should be left to rot away since that is the only way for the creek to self-restore itself," said Arabuko Sokoke Forest Senior Warden Salim Makomba.

Watamu Marine Park deputy warden Ramadhan Mwatsefu said that communities were now diversifying and that new environment-friendly economic ventures within the creek had reduced destruction.

"At the national level the project has released Sh1.5 billion and the money has gone to 621 groups in the five counties and these are proposals that have come from those groups," said Mr Patrick Kiara, the national project coordinator for KEMSFED.

Dabaso MCA Emmanuel Changawa said that many groups in his area which dominantly covers the creek have benefitted from the KEMSFED programme.

"Many groups have come up after seeing the benefits other groups are getting from mangrove restoration and I will help them get the support they need so that we completely eradicate mangrove logging," he said.

The Kilifi County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture, Livestock and Blue Economy Mr Chula Mwagona said that up to date, 135 groups have benefitted from Sh300 million in Kilifi County alone since the programme started.