MANGROVE
Mangrove SeaTrees Project in the Mida Creek Region of Kenya.
In March 2023, we launched a new project with SeaTrees to plant mangroves within the the Malindi Watamu National Marine Park and Reserve — a UNESCO Designated Biosphere Area and one of the world’s oldest Marine Protected Areas.
Mangrove forests are vital for coastal biodiversity and play a crucial role in supporting marine life. They serve as critical nursery grounds for fish and shellfish, providing habitat and food for a variety of species. Mangroves also protect local villages from storm surges and sea-level rise, acting as a natural barrier against erosion and flooding.
Furthermore, mangroves are also important in mitigating climate change. They have the potential to sequester significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in their roots, branches, and sediments, helping to offset carbon emissions and reduce greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.
It is crucial to recognize the value and importance of mangrove forests and continue to support conservation and restoration efforts to ensure their long-term survival. By taking action to protect and restore mangroves, you are contributing to the health and well-being of our planet.
OUR ACTIONS
As part of each of your POCHÉ purchase, we will plant a Mangrove tree through SeaTrees — supporting multiple environmental and social benefits, including employment creation, education, climate mitigation, and protection of coastal ecosystems and communities.
Positive impacts from each Mangrove planted:
1. Employment Creation: Each mangrove tree planted helps to create meaningful employment opportunities for over 200 people. This can contribute to local economic development and provide livelihoods for communities in coastal areas.
2. Resources for Local Education: This can help improve access to education and provide learning opportunities for communities living near the mangrove forests.
3. Protection from Storm Surges and Sea-Level Rise: Mangroves protect local villages and communities from the impacts of extreme weather events, reducing vulnerability and increasing resilience.
4. Nursery Grounds for Fish and Shellfish: providing shelter and food for marine species contributes to increased productivity of local fisheries, benefiting local communities that rely on these resources for their livelihoods.
5. Carbon Sequestration: A single mangrove tree has the potential to sequester approximately 300kg of carbon dioxide over its 25-year lifespan, contributing to efforts to offset carbon emissions and reduce environmental impacts.
WHY MANGROVE FORESTS?
Mangrove forests are indeed one of the world’s most under appreciated and underrated ecosystems. Despite covering only 0.1% of the planet’s surface, they play a crucial role in global carbon cycling. They are able to sequester carbon at rates that are two to four times higher than tropical rainforests. In fact, research has shown that 14% of all coastal carbon sequestration is attributed to mangrove forests, making them an important natural solution in mitigating climate change.
