Mangrove Conservation
Area of interest
Mangrove Reforestation
Lamu Archipelago currently holds 61% of Kenya’s mangrove forests. Mangroves are a vital part of the global environment and store double the carbon of the Earth’s terrestrial forests.
Mangroves play a crucial role in the environment by acting as a shock absorber against shifting climatic conditions, providing a key area for biodiversity, acting as a buffer between the land and the surrounding open ocean, preventing soil erosion and maintaining water quality by filtering pollutants
There are protected areas of mangrove forests throughout the archipelago, yet illegal logging persists. More awareness and education is needed surrounding the importance of mangroves. Especially as the population grows and construction increases.
To mitigate this, LEF is looking at innovative projects that look to take mangrove cutters away from cutting mangroves, to protecting mangroves instead. One of the key ways of doing this is by creating sustainable alternative livelihoods as well as encouraging more mangrove planting and nurseries.
