- The Environment Trust of Kenya has embarked on an ambitious programme that will see it plant as many as 10,000 mangrove and indigenous trees.
- 'Go Green Mombasa' project also tries to sensitise urban dwellers to do urban farming so as to increase food security.
Image: BRIAN OTIENO
Mombasa has lost about 30 per cent of its mangrove forest cover since 2010, affecting food security due to its domino effects.
The Environment Trust of Kenya on Wednesday said this is because of human activities.
"People are now cutting them down for use at home for charcoal and wood. They are the easiest target because they are right there by the water,” Rahab Nderu, a trustee, said on phone Wednesday.
To mitigate this, Nderu said, the trust embarked on an ambitious programme that will see it plant as many as 10,000 mangrove and indigenous trees in Mombasa over three months.
Through the 'Go Green Mombasa' initiative, a Food and Agriculture Organisation-funded project, the trust has so far planted at least 6,000 trees in Mwakirunge and Jomvu.
‘Go Green Mombasa’ tries to achieve urban greening, where the aim is to increase forest cover, protect indigenous tree species and adding fruit trees back into the community.
“Because they are lost. If you have noticed, we have cut a lot of fruit trees for various reasons,” Nderu said.
The project also tries to sensitise urban dwellers to do urban farming so as to increase food security.
“We are trying to do capacity workshops and demonstrations farms for people in the urban and peri-urban areas like Mwakirunge,” Nderu said.
The board trustee said in urban areas like Mombasa, creativity is needed to do farming because there is no land.
For instance, Mombasa residents can do farming in their gardens and rooftops using conical farming methods, like sack farming.
“This will help the small-scale farmers achieve food security because they can at least get some food for their families.”
Nderu further said with re-afforestation, through the initiative, they will slowly but gradually get the mangrove forest cover back.
According to the Kenya Forestry Service, mangrove forests provide essential ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration, habitat for biodiversity, shoreline protection, and are key to climate change mitigation.
“They also provide a lifeline for the coastal people, whose culture and livelihoods are dependent on mangroves,” reads part of the last year’s KFS newsletter.
There are nine mangrove species in Kenya with Rhizophora mucronata (Mkoko) and Ceriops tagal (Mkandaa) being the most dominant species.
Mangroves were declared government reserve forests in 1932.
The total mangrove area in Kenya is 61.271 hectares.
Lamu county has the highest coverage of 37.350ha, followed by Kilifi at 8.536ha, Kwale 8.354ha, Mombasa 3.771ha and Tana River 3.260 ha.
Nderu said Mombasa, with its tourism potential, has to increase its mangrove forest cover, arguing that one of the many benefits of mangroves is its ability to attract tourists.
She said there are a lot of benefits that will accrue from the re-afforestation.
“We planted a lot of the red mangroves species which is good for wood. However, the species is also good for some animal species like specific birds and bees which are attracted to them,” Nderu said.
“If you go to Kibarani right now, you won’t see birds, butterflies or bees because the red mangroves there were cut a long time ago.”
She said since some bees are usually attracted to mangroves, they provide an opportunity for young people to make money through bee-keeping.
Honey from mangrove bees is one of the best in terms of quality honey and that is why it is in high demand, especially in Nairobi, she said.
'Go Green Mombasa' has two arms: urban forestry and urban farming.
“With the urban forestry we are trying to increase the forest cover in Mombasa around all indigenous trees. And we can’t do that without considering our unique tree which is mangrove,” Nderu said.
KFS said the role of mangrove forests in the Blue Economy can be very significant if well conserved and protected.
“In contrast to the commercial utilisation of mangroves through wood harvesting, nature-based enterprises offer alternative income streams," this is according to the KFS.
"[The income streams are for] communities that promote conservation and protection of mangroves for example bee keeping.”
The agency said a number of apiaries have been established within or near mangrove forests by the local community groups.
“The honey from mangrove forest has a unique distinctive taste with a high demand from customers. The honey has a lower glycaemic index and high medicinal value,” KFS said in its 2021 newsletter.
(edited by Amol Awuor)
Image: BRIAN OTIENO