Our Projects
Lamu County Mangrove Restoration Initiative
Project Overview
The Lamu County Mangrove Restoration Initiative represents a transformative approach to revitalizing Kenya’s largest continuous mangrove habitat while supporting the communities who depend on it. Spanning over 154,000 hectares along Kenya’s northern coast, this landscape emphasizes the vital connection between coastal mangrove systems and inland forests.
Building on successful pilot efforts since 2020 that have already restored 1,120+ hectares, we’re expanding our work to create a comprehensive model that addresses both ecosystem degradation and community needs. This initiative uniquely integrates mangrove restoration, inland coastal forest protection, and sustainable livelihood development across multiple ecological zones.
What makes this project distinctive is its recognition of the 700+ year relationship between local communities and these mangrove ecosystems, fostering partnerships that balance traditional knowledge with innovative restoration techniques to ensure both ecological health and community resilience for generations to come.
Download the Lamu County Mangrove Restoration Initiative Brochure
Learn more about this restoration project and its impact on local communities and ecosystems. Our detailed project brochure provides key information about implementation strategies, current progress, and partnership opportunities.Ecosystem
The Lamu landscape encompasses a dynamic mosaic of interconnected ecosystems with global significance. Western Indian Ocean mangroves form the heart of the project, housing 8 of Kenya’s 9 mangrove species that serve as crucial fish nurseries and carbon repositories. These remarkable forests store 3-5 times more carbon than terrestrial forests, making them climate powerhouses.
Inland, the project area includes portions of the Zanzibar-Inhambane coastal forest that support wildlife movement and biodiversity. The landscape faces interconnected challenges including unsustainable harvesting practices, agricultural expansion that has claimed 112,000 hectares of tree cover (2001-2019), and increasing climate threats such as sea level rise.
The restoration of this ecosystem is particularly critical for protecting endemic species like Euphorbia tanaensis and supporting diverse wildlife including elephants, lions, zebras, and 15 endemic bird species that rely on this unique coastal-inland habitat connection.
| Stat Label | Stat Value |
|---|---|
| Project Area | 154,000+ hectares |
| Mangrove Restoration Target | 13,620 hectares |
| Communities Engaged | 13+ villages across the landscape |
| Trees Planted | 1,120+ hectares already under restoration |
Community
For more than seven centuries, the communities of Lamu County have maintained traditional relationships with mangrove ecosystems, harvesting materials for boat building, construction, and medicine. Today, these forests remain integral to local livelihoods, with 70% of coastal household income derived from fishing in mangrove-dependent waters.
The project area encompasses over 126,200 people across 13+ villages, including communities who maintain deep cultural connections to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lamu Old Town. By partnering with established Community Forest Associations (LAMACOFA, Mkunumbi, PANDAWE), we’re fostering collaborative approaches that honor traditional knowledge while implementing sustainable practices.
Our work respects the complex land tenure systems of the region, recognizing that effective restoration must balance conservation goals with community needs for mangrove resources, particularly for traditional dhow boat construction and other cultural practices that have defined this coast for generations.
Technical Approach
Our restoration approach in Lamu County implements specialized techniques designed for this unique coastal ecosystem:
Assisted Natural Regeneration forms the foundation of our work, enhancing natural recovery processes by removing barriers to regeneration while respecting natural zonation patterns influenced by tides and salinity. Where needed, we implement strategic enrichment planting, introducing appropriate mangrove species in highly degraded areas with species selection matched to specific ecological conditions.
A key innovation is the establishment of dedicated mangrove “buffer zones” covering 3,100 hectares that safeguard habitat and coastal livelihoods against sea level rise. In inland areas, we facilitate agroforestry systems that integrate tree cultivation with agriculture to reduce pressure on natural forests while improving local food security.
Implementation follows a phased approach, expanding from existing restoration sites through community-based management systems. Our monitoring integrates carbon stock assessment, biodiversity indicators, socioeconomic metrics, and a combination of remote sensing with regular ground truthing to track progress and adapt management strategies.
Progress and Impact
Building on successful pilot work since 2020, the Lamu initiative has made significant progress in establishing the foundation for landscape-scale restoration. We’ve already facilitated the restoration of 1,120 hectares of mangrove forests through partnerships with the Kenya Forest Service and local Community Forest Associations.
These early efforts have enabled us to develop innovative propagation methods specifically adapted to local conditions, setting the stage for broader implementation. The project is currently advancing through the Vision + Design phase, with stakeholder engagement workshops and detailed planning underway to ensure community priorities guide restoration strategies.
For 2025, we’re working toward ambitious targets including bringing an additional 435 hectares under restoration, planting 4,352,500 indigenous trees, and employing 65 seasonal restoration team members from local communities. This progress represents the early stages of a 15+ year commitment to this vital landscape.
