Our core activity is mangrove restoration, with most planting events held in Mkupe Conservancy. By buying seedlings from the communities living around the ecosystem, we ensure they benefit directly from our efforts and gain a sustainable income. Volunteers - including community members, youth, and other supporters - plant these seedlings in degraded mangrove areas, restoring ecosystems while tackling the root causes of deforestation.
As a women-led organization, we place particular focus on engaging and empowering young girls, building the next generation of environmental leaders.
Mangrove forests are nature-based CO2 removers. One hectare of young mangrove forest can capture and sequester about 23.1 tons of CO2 per year1 - around ten times more than tropical rain forests2.
This incredible capacity comes from their ability to slow water currents, causing carbon-rich sediments to settle and become trapped in underwater soils where decomposition is limited. As a result, the stored carbon remains locked away for centuries.
Restoring and protecting mangroves is therefore one of the most effective climate change mitigation measures.
2 Tropical rain forest carbon capture: 0.66 t C·ha-1·yr-1 ≈ 2.42 t CO2·ha-1·yr-1, Hubau et al., 2020
Over 1,500 species depend on mangroves for their survival, of which about 15% are threatened with extinction3. With their unique function linking land and sea ecosystems, they are crucial for both marine species such as fish, turtles, whales, dolphins, porpoises and terrestrial life including birds, frogs, turtles, lizards, snakes, bats, monkeys. In addition, many species, including many plants and mudskippers are endemic in the mangrove ecosystem.
Mangroves are natural defences against storms, waves, and shoreline erosion. A 500m wide strip of mangrove forest dissipates at least 75% of the incoming wave energy4. This protective function is becoming increasingly critical as climate change intensifies storms.
By acting as nurseries for fish, crabs, and shrimp, mangroves directly support coastal economies. One hectare of mangrove forest generates up to USD 5,000 per year5 from shrimp and fish harvests.
Mangroves are crucial for food systems, serving as breeding grounds for fish, crabs, shrimps, that coastal communities depend on for daily nutrition. By supporting fisheries, mangroves help combat hunger and malnutrition while strengthening food security in coastal communities.
Mangroves Planted
Volunteers Involved
Mangrove Events
