Kenya Mangroves Restoration

Planters have been trained to constantly check quality and maturity of propagules as they are key to higher survival and greater resilience against threats such as storms and grazing crabs during early stages of establishment.

Women are always at the forefront of conservation—raising seedlings, planting trees, and nurturing them to grow.
From the nursery to the field, their dedication is helping restore landscapes and build a greener future, one tree at a time.

Enrichment planting of mangroves in degraded areas previously impacted by human activities

No bridge, no problem! Getting to the planting site is an adventure of its own! Within the mangrove ecosystem are tidal streams that planters must cross on their way to the planting areas. Propagules in buckets—carried by hand and balanced on the head!

Propagules are the primary planting material for mangrove species such as Ceriops tagal. Before planting, community planters carefully collect, sort, and count the propagules to ensure accurate records and proper tracking of the planting materials.

Avicennia marina seedlings ready for distribution within the planting site. This species has a relatively fast growth rate and high survival potential, particularly when seedlings are first raised and established in a nursery before being transplanted to the restoration site.

Planters carefully plant mangrove seedlings as part of efforts to restore degraded coastal areas and revive the mangrove ecosystem

The project promotes gender inclusion and participation across different age groups, with elderly planters also actively and enthusiastically participating in the planting activities.

Selected propagules are counted before planting to ensure accurate planting records, properly track each planter’s contribution, and ensure that all planters are fairly compensated for their work.

Mature propagules are key to achieving high survival rates, so careful selection and sorting before transplanting is essential.

Planting mangroves during the rainy season is considered a best practice because it significantly improves seedling establishment, survival, and long-term growth.

Propagules are the primary planting material for species such as Ceriops tagal. They should be collected during the appropriate season and only when fully mature. An experienced planter should verify their maturity before planting to maximize survival and growth.

To prepare for full-scale restoration, Tree-Nation staff collaborated with the local community to carry out trial planting at the new site. The exercise helped evaluate site conditions, validate planting techniques, and build community readiness for implementation.