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Background

The Mangroves Together project - better known in Swahili as “Mikoko Pamoja” - was formally established in 2012 following over two decades of research and community engagement in Gazi Bay, led by Dr. James Kairo and Professor Mark Huxham. This was in response to increasing mangrove deforestation, sedimentation caused by eroded sand from degraded mangrove areas, increased vulnerability to erosion, sea level rise and reduced fish stocks negatively affecting local communities who are heavily dependent on fishing. Between 2012 and 2017, through active engagement of the Gazi and Makongeni communities, Mikoko Pamoja planted over 10,000 mangrove trees, supplied by a mangrove nursery established to cultivate wild seedlings collected from other areas of the Bay. To support its activities, Mikoko Pamoja secured accreditation from Plan Vivo Foundation to sell carbon credits in the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) through the support of the Association for Coastal Ecosystem Services (ACES). A management structure was set up to oversee the Mikoko Pamoja project, made up of the Mikoko Pamoja Community Organisation (MPCO), the Mikoko Pamoja Steering Group (MPSG) and a project coordinator, with MPCO and MPSG rendering support on voluntary basis.

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Approach

The Mikoko Pamoja Community Organisation (MPCO) was registered as acommunity-based organisation with the government to co-ordinate community engagement and routine project activities, and oversee benefit sharing. It is made up of 13 elected volunteers (seven men and six women) from the Gazi and Makongeni communities, who are compensated from the carbon funds only for monitoring activities. A steering group (MPSG) of partnering institutions like Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI, (with a research station on site), Kenya Forest Service (KFS), World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), Earthwatch Institute, Edinburgh Napier University, and Bangor University was constituted to provide free technical support. Technical work is coordinated by a paid project coordinator in the MPCO office. To address underlying drivers of mangrove deforestation and reduce illegal mangrove harvesting, the project encourages the cultivation of fast-growing Casuarina plantations to serve as alternative wood sources, and has introduced alternative livelihood activities (e.g. bee keeping and aquaculture). It has also erected clearly demarcated boundaries around its protected reserve, and set up community policing and surveillance. Mikoko Pamoja now sells carbon credits through the issuance of Plan Vivo Certificates (PVCs), generating approximately US$12,000 per year. This is used for community wages, restoration and the development of local communities in terms of education, provision of clean water supply and mangrove reforestation.

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Environmental Impact

The project prevents further mangrove deforestation through conservation (over 117 hectares under conservation) and the planting of new mangrove seedlings, which has greatly improved mangrove density in the community protected areas. A total of over 10,000 mangrove seedlings have been planted including the restoration of approximately 800 meters of degraded land. Approximately 4,000 seedlings are planted annually, with replanting of local species like apple mangrove trees leading to reduced erosion and improved biodiversity. From 2013-2017, 12,000t CO₂ emissions was avoided, and the project has issued 9,880 PVCs to date.

Success Factors

Broad scale community engagement (including women and youth) in diverse activities such as meetings, mangrove restoration activities, events, capacity building seminars and environmental monitoring is a key factor for Mikoko Pamoja’s success. Equally, inclusive community project implementation - especially regarding the use of incomes from carbon credit sales, ensuring transparent and equitable benefit distribution - is central to success of the project. The accreditation of Mikoko Pamoja by Plan Vivo Foundation to sell carbon credits through PVCs in Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM), facilitated by Association for Coastal Ecosystem Services (ACES) is also instrumental to its success.

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Evidence

The project has led to over 200 direct and indirect employment opportunities for the local villagers, and the carbon credit income has allowed for a full-time project manager and two full-time guards to be employed to prevent illegal deforestation. In 2017, Mikoko Pamoja received the Equator Prize Award for advancing nature-based solutions for sustainable development, and in 2023 the project was awarded the UN Person of the Year Award on behalf of the people behind it for exceptional leadership, unwavering commitment to community-based conservation and restoration of mangrove ecosystems.

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