Mikoko Pamoja
Mikoko Pamoja is an award winning mangrove conservation and regeneration project in Gazi Bay on the south coast of Kenya. It is the world’s original ‘Blue Carbon’ project, tapping into the power of mangrove forests which draw down over 10x more carbon than terrestrial forests.
Mikoko Pamoja is a pioneering mangrove conservation and village development project in Gazi Bay, on the south coast of Kenya.
Mangrove forests sequester vast amounts of carbon compared with land forests, yet they are being cut down rapidly. They also play a crucial role in marine ecosystems, serving as breeding habitats for fish and protecting coastlines by acting as a natural barrier between land and sea.
Mikoko Pamoja means “Mangroves Together” – and that is exactly what is happening. Instead of cutting down mangroves, the villagers are protecting these “Blue Forests”.
These Blue Forest projects are some of the first of their kind and are a model for bringing mangrove restoration and sustainable village development together.
Land area
117 ha
Project Status
Active
Participants
1081 households
Founding Partner & year
Association for Coastal Ecosystem Services (ACES), 2010
Certified Under
Plan Vivo Climate
T CO2 total verified carbon removal
22,169
Project Type
Afforestation, reforestation, avoided deforestation
Key Species
Mangroves and Seagrass
What Makes This Project Special
The United Nations Equator Prize
Mikoko Pamoja holds the United Nations Equator Prize, recognised “as an outstanding example of a local, nature based solution to climate and sustainable development.” Jamison Ervin, UNDP
Over 4000 trees per hectare
Mangrove forests contain over 4000 trees per hectare meaning the project is protecting about 0.5 million trees.
CO2 Drawdown
Mangrove forest carbon sequestration is at least 7 tonnes CO2 per hectare per year.
Drinking water points
Over 75% of villagers benefit from the projects clean water points. Water is also provided to over 1000 students in 2 local schools.
First Blue Carbon Project
It is the world’s original ‘Blue Carbon’ project, tapping into the power of mangrove forests which draw down over 10x more carbon than terrestrial forests.
Project Challenges
- Deforestation & Mud Carbon
Mangrove forests are carbon-dense ecosystems with most of the carbon stored in mud soils. However, these forests are being lost at an alarming rate, with deforestation in Kenya occurring at 1% annually. The destruction of mangrove forests releases the carbon stored in their soils, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.
- Vital Natural Resources
Mangrove ecosystems provide vital resources for coastal villages. They offer a sustainable source of fuelwood in areas where around 95% of people rely on wood for cooking. They also serve as key breeding habitats for fish, forming the heart of local fisheries, which provide the primary source of protein for coastal populations.
- Coastal Protection
They act as formidable natural sea defences, reducing coastal erosion, storm surges and saltwater incursion on farmland. In Kenya, many areas where mangroves have been lost are experiencing shoreline retreat of around one metre per year.
Project Documentation
For a transparent overview of the project’s progress and impact, the latest annual report
is available for download.
Full technical documentation, including the Verification Statement and Project Design Document (PDD), is available to all partners through the dedicated Client Hub.
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