Kenya Mangroves Restoration

Planting preparations begin by ensuring that sufficient planting materials are available and ready. In most cases, a full day is dedicated to this activity.

Not all mangrove species are planted using propagules; some, such as Avicennia marina, are often raised as seedlings before transplanting. Here, a community planter carefully plants young mangrove seedlings, helping restore degraded area, one tree at a time!

These community-raised mangrove seedlings are healthy, strong, and ready for transplanting. Every seedling planted is a step toward restoring degraded coastlines, protecting coastal communities, providing habitat for marine life, and building resilience against climate change.

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.