New strategy puts communities at heart of mangrove conservation

Kenya is shifting its mangrove conservation strategy to put coastal communities at the centre of protection efforts as illegal logging, pollution and climate change continue to threaten the country's coastal ecosystems. The move emerged during the two-day National Mangrove Stakeholder Forum in Lamu, where government officials, researchers, conservation groups, county governments, Community Forest Associations and private sector representatives reviewed the National Mangrove Ecosystem Management Plan (2017-2027) and discussed a new approach to conservation. The forum is examining why previous conservation efforts fell short, with discussions pointing to weak community involvement, fragmented governance and poor coordination among institutions. The meeting, convened by the State Department for Forestry is focusing on ways to improve governance, restore degraded forests and promote sustainable use of mangrove resources.