In the 90’s the shoreline at Majaoni village along Mtwapa Creek in Mombasa county was destroyed as communities grew and demand for building materials rose. As a result, the crabs, shrimps, fish disappeared from this shoreline.
Furry Ambari the COMENSUM – community Environment Sustainable Mari culture and friends came together to plant these forests afresh and educate their communities on why they need to protect these forests. For the last seven years, they have managed to replant six of the 18 acres of mangrove forests. Ambari says their efforts are now paying up as crabs and gastropods are recolonising the mangroves again.
I talked to Ambari who told me of what inspired them, the challenges, the milestones they are celebrating today and how rising water temperature is affecting their efforts.