Huge infrastructural projects taking place near the Indian Ocean in Mombasa and ocean pollution are degrading the mangrove trees, posing a huge threat to the only forest cover in the region.
It is for this reason that KenTrade under its environmental sustainability Social Corporate Responsibility (CSR) programme adopted a one acre site to plant new mangrove trees at Mkupe area, near the site the Dongo Kundu bypass bridge is being constructed.
The Agency planted more than 1000 mangrove trees yesterday and promised to work with Mombasa Kilindini Community Forest Association (MOKICFA) a community based organisation, to plant 4000 trees in the one acre piece of land.
Mombasa has about 3,000 ha of Peri-urban mangrove forests found within Tudor and Mwache creek. However, in the past 20 years mangrove forest cover has declined drastically and is today estimated to stand at about 1, 232 ha.
The mangrove forest faces considerable pressure including encroachment, clear cutting, pollution through oil spills and raw sewerage disposal finding its way in the ocean.
Taking advantage of the recent policy and legislative changes that allow collaboration between the government of Kenya and communities to manage forests, MOKICFA, created in 2012, has taken a lead position in Mombasa.
With support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Small Grant Program (SGP) implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), MOKICFA is currently engaging with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and other partners to provide sustainable use of the Mombasa County mangrove forest.
“Since we started this association, we have planted over 2 million trees. In the next 15 months, we intend to plant over 223,000 mangrove trees to restore the destruction brought about by the ongoing road construction of Dongu Kunde project,” Mr John Nyamweya, the association’s treasurer said.
This initiative is supported by the Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA) in collaboration with KFS, which is offering technical support.
Destruction of the forest, which according to Nyamweya, suffered more during the construction of the nearby Mombasa Railway Terminal, has affected the fishing community since mangrove provides breeding ground for marine life that cannot be sustained in high seas due to high current.
There is a strong link between the environment and trade, and therefore, there is need by the industry players in maritime residing in the coastal town of Mombasa to support the mangrove tree initiative, Amos Wangora, the Chief Executive Officer of KenTrade appealed.
“It does not cost us a lot of money since the seedlings are selling at a very affordable price. The exercise we have carried out today may look small but it will have far reaching benefits to the future generations,” Wangora said after the tree planting exercise.
According to Nyamweya, agencies that have supported this initiative in the past includes Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA), Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and Kenya National Shipping Line (KNSL).
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