Mangrove Restoration at Sabaki Estuary Kilifi

The Sabaki Estuary is situated at a distance of approximately 10 kilometers from the popular tourist destination, Malindi. It marks the end of Athi Galana, one of the longest rivers in Kenya, which flows for over 490 kilometers before emptying its waters into the Indian Ocean. The estuary is located near the Marafa Junction, leading to the famous Hell’s Kitchen. Its location is significant due to the diverse range of flora and fauna found in the area, which can only thrive in the unique blend of fresh and salty waters.

**Father and daughter enjoy watching the quiet waters of River SABAKI**.

Despite its unique biodiversity, the region faces several challenges, mainly due to rapid deforestation. Unfortunately, the local community is not aware of the benefits of having mangroves. They perceive mangroves as ordinary trees, unaware that they support the estuary and its biodiversity. This lack of understanding is leading to rapid deforestation and poses a threat to over 240 birds, the hippopotamus and various fish species.

In the past decade, the mangrove has decreased by over 30% due to the cutting of trees by the local community. As they lack other means to make a living, they resort to selling mangroves as wood and posts. Mangrove wood is popular due to its durability, making it useful for fencing and building houses. However, this high demand is causing a significant threat to the remaining mangroves as it takes a long time for them to grow and regenerate. This is a pressing issue that needs immediate attention.

During our visit to Sabaki Estuary in February 2023, just a day before World Wetlands Day, we had a conversation with a local fisherman who used to catch fish in River Sabaki. It was disheartening to learn that the number of fish he caught five years ago had drastically reduced, making it difficult for him to earn a livelihood and support his family. As a result, he resorted to selling the mangroves and setting traps to catch the hippopotamuses that were destroying crops in the area. The farmers were unable to grow crops as the hippopotamuses, who previously had enough food in the mangroves, were now coming out and destroying their crops. This made the situation even more severe as the farmers couldn’t earn enough money to sustain their families. Therefore, they were forced to kill the hippopotamuses and sell the mangroves to make ends meet.

***An area that once was covered by mangroves***

We appreciate the efforts of organizations like Sabaki River Conservation Friends, Gedeng Camp, Maono Space in conserving natural resources, specifically through mangrove restoration. However, it’s crucial to accelerate the restoration process to help restore the fauna and aura of the region to its original state. We as onemilliontrees4kilifi and other like-minded organisations are happy to join the restoration process and hope we’re taking the necessary steps to benefit the community through mangrove restoration. To further support this cause, we consider providing alternative ways for the community to make a living instead of resorting to cutting down and selling mangroves.

We are excited to announce that we have started planting 100,000 mangroves in at the Sabaki Estuary this year, to restore the green nature of Sabaki Estuary. We have noticed a significant reduction of mangroves on one side of the river, and we aim to bring balance to the ecosystem by planting on both sides. Our efforts are in collaboration with other organizations from MaonoSpace, and we hope to engage the community and schools in this initiative.

In addition, we are exploring partnerships with organizations that can donate beehives to 2000 farmers in the area. This will provide an alternative way of making a living for the farmers, and discourage them from cutting down the remaining mangroves. We believe that the restoration of mangroves will not only benefit the ecosystem but also increase the number of fish caught during fishing, providing more opportunities for the community to earn money.

We are also advocating for the importance of mangroves as carbon sinks, highlighting that one mangrove can take in 13 kilograms of carbon per year. We are educating the community on the vital role of mangroves as breeding grounds for fish, and the benefits of conserving and restoring them. To ensure that our efforts are successful, we are planning to have more scouts who will monitor the area and protect the mangroves from being cut down. We are committed to restoring the mangroves and preserving the ecosystem for future generations.

By planting 100,000 mangroves before the year ends, we can absorb 13 tons of carbon annually in the future. Additionally, the residents can increase the number of beehives by 40%, allowing them to produce more honey for the markets. Furthermore, planting mangroves will prevent the red siltation that is occurring on the riverbanks, protecting the mainland from ocean winds. Finally, planting mangroves will reduce the wild human conflict between hippopotamuses and community members by providing enough grazing space for the hippos, preventing them from destroying crops.

Sabaki Estuary is a remarkable bird-watching destination that boasts a variety of birds, including Flamingos and the greater Sandalink Sutigal, which have been migrating to other regions. By planting 100,000 mangroves at the Sabaki Estuary, we can restore the habitat and encourage these birds to return. This will not only create a climate-resilient community but also attract more tourists to the Sabaki River, resulting in increased revenue from bird watching. Let’s work together to make the Sabaki Estuary the vibrant place it once was.

One Million Trees for Kilifi’s Sustainable Revolution

In the picturesque coastal region of Kenya lies Kilifi County, a landscape grappling with the challenges of climate change and environmental degradation. The unique blend of vast land and minimal rainfall has created hurdles for local farmers and livestock keepers, hindering year-round agricultural activities. Kilifi, designated as an arid and semi-arid area, is gradually transforming into a fully arid region due to human activities, intensifying the environmental crisis. This transformation has significantly impacted the community’s ability to maintain a balanced diet, particularly affecting school-going children. In response to these challenges, the visionary project “One Million Trees 4 Kilifi” was born, aiming to not only combat under nutrition but also promote sustainable environmental

The Genesis of the Initiative

The genesis of this transformative initiative can be traced to the heartfelt realization that school children in Kilifi were facing dire nutritional challenges. Visiting over 100 schools in the region, the project’s visionary discovered that a significant number of children were going to bed on empty stomachs or relying on meager sustenance like porridge and cassava. Despite the availability of water in most schools and expansive land that could support fruit trees, the nutritional needs of the community remained unmet. This stark reality became the driving force behind the project’s

The Vision: One Million Fruit Trees for 400 Schools

The project’s ambitious vision crystallized into the goal of planting one million fruit trees across 400 schools in Kilifi County. The idea was not just about addressing under nutrition but also fostering sustainable environmental practices. The connection between climate change and the adverse impact on nutrition became increasingly apparent, with Kilifi County grappling with one of the highest rates of under nutrition in Kenya. The adverse effects of climate change, marked by unpredictable rainfall over the last four years, had further exacerbated the issue, leading to reduced household different food production—a key indicator of nutrition security. The initiative to plant fruit trees not only addresses nutritional deficiencies but also aligns with sustainable environmental practices, offering a multifaceted solution to the challenges facing the community.

**Students pose with Passion fruit seedlings.**

Mobilizing the Community

Addressing the complex challenges facing Kilifi County required a united front, involving every stakeholder from grassroots figures to government officials. Recognizing this, the project prioritized collaboration with local leaders, starting from the grassroots with figures like “Mzee wa Nyuma Kumi” and extending up to the County government. Community Barazas, crucial community engagement platforms, played a pivotal role in disseminating information about the project and outlining the mutual benefits of the initiative.

Engaging with local leaders was not just about gaining support but also about creating a holistic approach to community development. The collaboration extended to key figures such as Honorable Dama Masha from the Ministry of Youth Affairs, providing technical assistance, and Honorable Omar, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) of Environment, whose involvement was vital for mobilization efforts and resource allocation.

**With the Deputy Governor and other Officials**

Overcoming Startup Challenges

Being a startup in the realm of environmental initiatives posed its own set of challenges. Authorities often viewed new projects with skepticism, perceiving them as transient endeavors that would fizzle out over time. The journey to gain recognition and support required six months of persistent efforts. Demonstrating the tangible impact and sustainability of the initiative became crucial in convincing authorities of its distinctiveness. A significant turning point was the completion of Buntwani Park in Malindi, a project that showcased the commitment of the initiative by ensuring the park’s functionality with a borehole and running water to support the planted trees.

Watch tree planting at Buntwani Park Malindi

Community Mobilization and Achievements

To substantiate their commitment to environmental sustainability, the project engaged in extensive community mobilization efforts. The initiative’s office at Maono Space became a central hub where more than 30 community leaders convened to collaboratively address local challenges. Partnerships with community groups like Thelesi Trust, Vision Magnet Theater, Green Hallo, Kilifi Youth Assembly and Pamoja Girls strengthened the outreach efforts. The online campaign, PandaRafiki challenge, initiated by Onemilliontrees in collaboration with Thelesi Trust, reached over 10,000 members, emphasizing the need for sustained care of planted trees.

Collaboration with Pamoja Girls, a group dedicated to empowering and enlightening the girl child, extended beyond individual initiatives. As Pamoja Girls visited various schools, the project simultaneously planted trees within those school premises. This comprehensive approach underlined the commitment to holistic community development, addressing environmental sustainability alongside social and educational initiatives.

The journey of “One Million Trees 4 Kilifi” encapsulates the transformative power of grassroots activism, collaboration, and community engagement in addressing pressing environmental and societal issues. From the inception of a visionary idea to the realization of impactful initiatives, the project stands as an inspiration for aspiring environmentalists. It emphasizes the importance of strategic collaboration, community engagement, and perseverance in driving meaningful change. As the project continues to cultivate change in Kilifi and beyond, it serves as a beacon of hope for a more sustainable and resilient future.

Partnerships and Stakeholder Engagement

Recognizing that environmental projects have multifaceted impacts on various sectors, the project prioritized partnerships with stakeholders across health, environment, education, and youth and women’s well-being. Dialogues with Chiefs of 35 different areas in Kilifi County played a significant role in identifying schools that lacked tree cover, highlighting areas that needed immediate attention. The engagement extended to community Barazas, where the project shared its vision with the local community, fostering a sense of shared responsibility in combating climate change and addressing malnutrition.

The Intergenerational Climate Change Dialogue

Acknowledging the gap in climate change summits that often lack grassroots representation, the project spearheaded the Intergenerational Climate Change Dialogue in November 2023. This transformative initiative brought together individuals from diverse age groups, field experts, and members of local villages for a full-day dialogue. The goal was to exchange ideas on the immediate impacts of climate change and identify best practices. By actively involving elders, women, youth, indigenous persons, and experts, the project fostered a comprehensive and inclusive discussion leading to practical solutions. This dialogue became a platform to bridge the gap between high-level environmental discussions and the lived experiences of communities, ensuring solutions were deeply rooted in the needs and perspectives of those directly affected.

**Experts and grass-root people dialogue**

Success Stories as Models for Climate Meetings

The success stories of the project have become models for wider adoption in climate meetings. By initiating inclusive dialogues and promoting community-driven initiatives, the project showcases the importance of incorporating grassroots environmentalists and change-makers from areas directly affected by climate change. The Intergenerational Climate Change Dialogue serves as an exemplar for how real climate meetings can better incorporate diverse voices, ensuring that solutions are not only expert-driven but also resonate with the experiences of communities on the front lines of climate impacts.

Promoting Sustainability in Schools and Green City Initiatives

The project’s impact extends beyond the immediate region, offering examples of successful community-driven environmental projects that could serve as models for wider adoption. Initiatives such as promoting sustainability in schools by planting fruit trees within their premises represent a dual-purpose strategy. This not only serves as a climate change mitigation strategy but also addresses the nutritional needs of school-going children, providing them with a balanced diet. The vision of each school dedicating one acre to fruit plantations, supplying raw materials for fruit juice processing plants in every county, offers a ripple effect that extends beyond environmental benefits, fostering local economies and promoting healthier lifestyles among the youth.

**Community preparing for re-greening the Town**

Furthermore, the Green City Initiative, exemplified by projects like Buntwani Park in Malindi, signifies a commitment to integrating nature into urban landscapes. By planting 300 trees, the initiative creates green spaces for town dwellers, offering a pleasant area to sit and countering the heat from the nearby ocean. The initiative strives to enhance the overall well-being of city residents, providing cleaner air, shade for pedestrians, and contributing to carbon dioxide sequestration.

Grassroots Activism and Formalized Climate Initiatives

Balancing grassroots activism with engagement in larger, more formalized climate initiatives requires a strategic and collaborative approach. The essence lies in the aspiration to contribute positively to the community, driven by a clear vision, well-defined goals, and a journey toward realization. Navigating this balance involves envisioning a verdant county adorned with green spaces across 400 schools, each nurturing an abundance of fruits to sustain all learners. The project recognizes the indispensable role of grassroots individuals in materializing this dream while also securing the necessary resources to equip the community with tools, knowledge, and means to embark on this transformative endeavor.

Serving as a liaison between the community and significant organizations, the project functions as a bridge, facilitating connections that empower the community. Engaging with these organizations involves articulating the community’s needs and proposing environmentally sustainable initiatives that align with their goals. This collaborative effort ensures that the community is not only connected with requisite resources but also armed with the knowledge to execute impactful environmental initiatives.

By Ephic Tossi

Happy new year.

Sowing Resilience: Planting One Million Fruit Trees for Kilifi’s Future

Kilifi County, situated along the Kenyan coastline, grapples with several challenges, including malnutrition among school children and unpredictable rainfall patterns that hinder agriculture and livestock keeping. The issue of malnutrition stems from limited access to nutritious fruits in the diets of school-going children in Kilifi. Additionally, rampant deforestation has significantly affected the region’s agricultural sector and water resources, leading to irregular rainfall patterns.

According to the World Forest Watch, Kilifi had 173kha of tree cover in 2010, covering 14% of its land area. However, by 2022, it lost 590 ha of tree cover, equivalent to 180 kt of CO2 emissions. This alarming trend indicates that none of the 400 schools in Kilifi county have a tree cover exceeding 10%.

Reports from the National Center for Biotechnology Information highlight Kilifi County’s high rates of undernutrition, with one in five under-5 children being underweight. The increasing unpredictability of rainfall over the past four years has further impacted household milk production, a key indicator of nutrition security.

Media publications emphasize the rising levels of malnutrition in Kilifi, with approximately 70% of households facing food insecurity. The potential consequences include starvation and long-term effects such as slower brain development and weakened immunity in surviving children.

These challenges deeply affect Kilifi County, which boasts over 400 primary and secondary schools. To address these issues, Onemilliontrees4kilifi has initiated a project to plant one million trees in these schools. Schools in the Kilifi region offer vast land, water supply, and a young generation eager to engage in tree planting activities. By educating students, the project simultaneously reaches the surrounding communities, impacting approximately 350 families for each school with a population of 400 learners.

The innovative solution involves planting grafted fruit trees, including Mango, Passion, Oranges, and Pixies. These fruit trees not only provide a sustainable source of nutrition but also contribute to the region’s environmental resilience by enhancing local tree.

Shomani Girls Principal, preparing a place to plant a passion fruit.

Planting 2500 fruit trees on four acres of land in each of the 400 schools will significantly contribute to the county’s fruit production. Excess fruits will be utilized in the construction of a juice processing plant in Magarini, creating employment and establishing a market for the surplus fruits.

The benefits of this initiative extend to improved nutrition for school children, restoration of Kilifi County’s lost weather patterns, increased awareness of tree planting and environmental conservation, and enhanced local climate resilience through a substantial increase in tree cover.

By planting one million fruit trees in Kilifi County, we can address a myriad of problems afflicting the region. Join us in making this noble idea a reality.

Kenya Welcomes the Tree Planting Holiday.

A “Tree Holiday Planting Day” is a special occasion set aside for the purpose of planting trees, often organized as a community or environmental initiative. These events are typically scheduled during specific times of the year when tree planting is most favorable, such as the rainy season. The primary objective of these events is to contribute to environmental improvement, combat deforestation, enhance urban green spaces, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.

In this context, we would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the President of Kenya for establishing November 13th as Kenya’s inaugural Tree Planting Holiday. We anticipate that November 13th will become a widely celebrated tree planting holiday in Kenya and across Africa, much like Arbor Day in the United States. Arbor Day is a holiday that has been traditionally dedicated to planting and nurturing trees, with its roots tracing back to 19th-century America. Over time, it has expanded its influence to numerous countries around the world, with each adapting the date to align with their local climate and tree-planting needs. We are enthusiastic about embracing our own tree planting holiday on November 13, 2023.

Friends of Onemilliontrees4kilifi in Action

Why tree planting holiday?

According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) 2020 statistics, Kenya’s forest cover is a mere 7.2%, which equates to approximately 3,467,000 hectares, a stark contrast to the global forest cover of 31%. Additionally, data from the Global Forest Watch reveals an alarming trend: Kenya lost 6.29 thousand hectares of natural forest in 2022, resulting in the emission of 3.29 million tons of CO₂. Such extensive deforestation has exposed Kenya to the adverse effects of climate change, leading to:

Disturbances in rainfall patterns, leading to more frequent and severe droughts in various regions, which disrupt agriculture, water supply, and food security.

Escalating temperatures, with Kenya experiencing a temperature increase of 1.9°C, surpassing pre-industrial levels.

Scarcity of water due to shifting precipitation patterns and increased evaporation, affecting both domestic water supply and agricultural irrigation.

Significant declines in crop and livestock yields, contributing to food shortages and surging food prices.

Ongoing deforestation and land degradation, which result in soil erosion, diminished agricultural productivity, and a loss of biodiversity.

These ramifications are intrinsically linked to the persistent decline in the country’s forest cover. To effectively combat the climate change crisis, it is imperative to restore and expand Kenya’s forest cover. The introduction of a Tree Planting Holiday by the President presents a promising avenue for addressing these pressing issues.

Benefits of Tree Planting Holiday:

The tree planting holiday promises to offer a myriad of advantages:

Environmental Benefits:

Carbon sequestration, as trees absorb carbon dioxide, mitigating climate change by reducing greenhouse gas levels.

Enhanced air quality, with trees releasing oxygen and filtering pollutants, resulting in cleaner and healthier air.

Erosion control through the stabilization of soil by tree roots, preventing erosion.
Support for biodiversity by providing habitat and sustenance for a wide array of wildlife species.

Watershed protection by preserving water quality and safeguarding watersheds.

Community Benefits:

Cultivating community engagement, uniting people in pursuit of a common environmental cause.

Creating educational opportunities and raising awareness about the significance of trees and the environment.

Elevating the aesthetic appeal of urban and rural areas, making communities more visually pleasing and habitable.

Economic Benefits:

Augmenting economic value by elevating property values and fostering local economies through activities such as eco-tourism and sustainable timber production.

Encouraging a long-term, sustainable approach to land use.

Food Security:
Planting fruit and nut trees on tree planting holidays can serve as a source of fresh, locally grown produce, thereby contributing to enhanced food security.

Way forward.

For the successful realization of this initiative, several strategic measures should be considered, encompassing rainwater harvesting, collaborative efforts between local governments and community organizations, subsidizing tree seedlings, and prioritizing the planting of fruit trees to bolster food security. The Tree Planting Holiday represents a laudable step toward environmental conservation and a sustainable future. It embraces a comprehensive approach to addressing climate change, fostering community involvement, and enhancing the well-being of both current and future generations. Let us remain steadfast in our commitment to going green, thinking green, and taking green action. Congratulations Mr. President for talking this bold step.