Kenya: Kenya Forest Service hosted the International Day for the Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems on Friday. The event was organized at the Mkupe kwa Mekwekwe in Matuga Sub-county, Kwale County.
The day was established by UNESCO in the year 2015 with the aim to underscore the importance of mangroves. The day also highlights their unique, special, and vulnerable nature.
The governor of the county, Fatuma Achani presided over the event which was also attended by the KFS Board Chairman Titus Korir.
The Kenya Forest Service officers and other leaders joined the local community in planting over 10,000 seedlings.
The event was also commmorated in Mombasa, Kilifi, Tana River and Lamu counties. The communities led by KFS county officers observed the day by rehabilitating degraded areas and raising awareness on the need to conserve these critically important ecosystems.
The Governor of the Kwale County delivered a brief address at the event. She thanked KFS for the leadership in mangrove conservation initiatives in the county. She also lauded development partners and community organizations for working together with the local communities.
The governor highlighted that they had established empowerment projects in the communities. According to the Governor, they had gone a long way in improving livelihoods and reducing the destruction of mangrove forests.
Meanwhile, KFS Chairman Korir said that mangroves were pivotal for the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals and particularly SDG14. The SDG 14 calls for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas, and marine resources.
He also noted that mangrove ecosystems are at the intersection of the green and blue economies. Accordingly, these ecosystems are offering invaluable services that bridge terrestrial and marine environments.
Further, Korir said that KFS had put in place policies and guidelines including the National Mangrove Ecosystem Management Plan and the National Mangrove Ecosystem Restoration Guidelines. The aim of the project to provide a comprehensive framework for the conservation, rehabilitation, and sustainable use of mangrove ecosystems.
At the same time, they want to address key challenges such as deforestation, pollution, and the impacts of climate change.
The Chairman added that the guidelines will also provide a standardized approach to ecological restoration and ensuring that all stakeholders are aligned in their efforts.
The event also marked the launch of the Mangrove Monitoring Portal. This innovative platform will centralize key information on Kenya’s mangrove forests, providing essential data and insights for better management, conservation, monitoring and protection of these essential ecosystems in Kenya.