The project will mainly focus on extending nature conservation areas and training locals. She has also contributed to the anthologies; The Bundle of Joy and Other Stories from Africa (Africa Book Club, 2014) and A Garden of Black Joy: Global Poetry from the Edges of Liberation and Living (Black Table Arts, 2020). Please sign up for email updates on your favorite topics. With 79 million mangroves already replanted, it is the world’s largest mangrove reforestation project. Eden Reforestation Projects is working with local communities and villagers to restore, replant and protect these precious forest systems. The mangrove rehabilitation is aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change on coastal area communities, U Toe Aung. Sustaining the mangrove ecosystem is integral to the lifestyle of local communities along the Kenyan coast. The mangroves also have a role to play in mitigating climate change, as their roots trap carbon dioxide. Since that day, our employee volunteers from Ericsson Malaysia have planted 3,400 mangroves in the area. Lamu Old Town, which is of historical value, has an architecture that relies on mangroves. Your email address will not be published. Eden Reforestation projects reduces extreme poverty and restores healthy forests by employing local villagers to plant millions of trees every year. Reforestation is not exclusive to settlements along the coast. By the same token, local communities may not be too enthusiastic about nature conservation if they do not have the finances or business skills to cater to their livelihoods. By engaging in tourism activities such as tour guiding or food services, the community generates income and reduces the need to exploit mangrove forests. The Community Based Mangrove Reforestation and Management is a small scale project with new approach and has some achievements. A new Mangrove project in Mozambique. Three key efforts are: Planting mangroves in degraded areas is essential in rehabilitating areas that have been over-harvested. Over 10 years ago, however, the Philippine government placed the mangroves under protection, prompting the reforestation of the decimated mangrove belts. The project covers a period of 10 years. Read our latest press release to find out more about our Connected Mangroves in Malaysia. Continued deforestation of mangrove areas disturbs habitats and damages biodiversity, a key effect of this being the decline in fishery yields. Like what you’re reading? The new trees will stock 0.5 million tonnes of TeqCO 2 over the project’s life span of 20 years. One of the most prominent is VCS project # 2088, an 4,500 ha large degraded mangrove lands area that will be completed by the end of 2021. Please look around, and if you have any questions, please contact WIF at: No.70, Yaw Min Gyi Street, The group plants four thousand seedlings (about one acre) every year at the degraded sites and at the same time maintains the existing forest. Those which were planted in 2009 have been steadily growing, and a small ecosystem has started to inhabit the mangrove forests. The Kenya National Mangrove Ecosystem Management Plan (2017 – 2027) gives three root causes of mangrove exploitation, namely: poverty and economic development, ignorance and weak governance. “In Tanintharyi, there has not been much mangrove deforestation, but the quality (of the trees) has declined,” he said. A healthy mangrove ecosystem is a must for communities living along the coast, now and in the days to come. Tree nurseries were established and mangrove … For example over-harvesting of wood for timber production – mangrove is a cheap, strong and durable building material. Additional threats include conversion of mangrove areas to other land uses, pollution, rising infrastructure and development leading to human encroachment and increasing demand for mangrove resources. How can IoT technologies be used to mitigate climate change, restore livelihoods and combat dwindling bird populations? Alternative fuel wood and timber resources can be incorporated, for example through agro forestry projects. The plan is to sell three thousand tonnes of CO2 per year for a period of twenty years. Eden Reforestation Projects recently set up a new mangrove planting project in Mozambique. They also serve as nurseries and habitat for fish and other sea creatures, which often are an important source of food and/or livelihood to the communities near mangrove forests. These coastal birds, found only in East Asia, have been classified as an endangered species since 2000. REM Mangrove Reforestation Technology has radically transformed the ability to mitigate ecological degradation, promote sustainable development, build green infrastructure and increase biodiversity as-well-as resilience of the coastal ecology. Wetlands International (WI) is one of the key champions of EMR, running projects across Asia and Africa. They also create awareness by educating coastal communities on the importance of mangrove conservation. For the longest time, mangrove resources have been used primarily for wood harvesting, barely taking into account the important role they play in biodiversity and shoreline protection. Philippine mangrove ecosystems remain largely deforested, with a reforestation rate remaining at an alarmingly low level. In Gazi village, a settlement that borders a mangrove forest by the Indian ocean, the villagers come together to plant mangrove seedlings for three days during the rainy season. It also makes for high quality charcoal and good firewood because it smolders well. However, in early 2019, the community of Sasmuan in Pampanga was greeted by the sight of three of these endangered species flying over the river. By July 2012, 255,000 mangrove seedlings had been raised and planted – and another 600,000 are set to follow. Mangrove Reforestation Project What is a mangrove forest and why are they so important? In the long term, the enterprise is expected to assist in reversing over-exploitation of mangroves by reducing dependence on wood harvesting and investing in community development. Mangrove restoration is the regeneration of mangrove forest ecosystems in areas where they have previously existed. This makes it urgent to balance the food chain, and mangrove restoration is a necessary first step in the process. This presents a stark difference to past practices when they could not check on water or weather conditions and simply took their chances. Anthropogenic influences are rapidly changing coastlines damaging Mangrove and Coral Reef Ecosystems with catastrophic consequences. Mangrove Reforestation Programs Planting mangroves in degraded areas is essential in rehabilitating areas that have been over-harvested. Members of the group, aged between 18 and 35 years, plant mangroves along the creek to restore depleted areas. Those practices had quickly turned productive land into desert, which led to an increase in poverty for the local communities. Like in most coastal villages, fish trade is a main economic activity here and mangroves play a key role in promoting fish production. Though progress is being made to use the forests in a sustainable way, there is room for more by adding many other eco-friendly, income generating initiatives and reforestation projects. Ecotourism promotes responsible, nature-conscious travel that conserves the local environment and improves future opportunities for the community. This project was launched to support the recovery of the mangrove forests. Conservation projects will likely be successful when decision making takes local input into consideration. The mangrove reforestation project was the brainchild of Allen Quimpo, the mayor of Kalibo at the time, who negotiated with the DENR for the mangrove plantation. Rainforest Rescue has been supporting this project for many years. Since 2004, at Lake Pulicat, reforestation has been successfully carried out by GNF and CReNIEO. 0. trees planted. The threats to mangroves in Kenya are many, and most of them human-induced. Gazi and Makongeni villages have in place a carbon offset project, the first of its kind in the world to successfully trade mangrove carbon credits. sustainability • ethics • climate • waste • renewables • ecology • poverty • equality. The project promoted the restoration and sustainable management of mangrove forests to protect vulnerable communities from the physical and economic impacts of disasters. These partnerships are supported by the local community, government agencies and nongovernmental organizations, and they work to encourage participation of all stakeholders with the community being at the forefront. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), The Ultimate Guide To Finding The Best Indoor Plants…, Fashion & Fabric: From Sustainable to Harmful, Black Lives Matter, Environmental Racism and Climate…, When Women Take the Lead to Fight Deforestation, Covid-19 and Climate Change: Lessons to Learn,…. She lives in Nairobi, Kenya. Degraded Mangrove Lands reforestation (Bomie, Magyizin) Similar to the degraded mangrove land the Thor Heyerdahl Park was established on, there are several other areas in the same neighborhood that can be reforested in similar VCS projects. The program began in October 2018 with the Katembe and Madjuva planting sites near Maputo, and to date Eden has planted over 550 thousand mangroves … Entire mangrove estuaries are gone, leaving the bare earth to wash away into the sea. Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation, the frozen food chain’s charity arm, has donated $165,000 to the Eden Reforestation Projects. Eden are world leaders in responsible reforestation, having already planted 265 million trees and created 2.6 million work days for local communities. Income from this trade will enable development projects for example, supplying clean water in the villages and renovating classrooms. The Connected Mangroves are also featured in GSMA’s Case for Change initiative. Eden Reforestation Projects Summary Mangroves are one of the most effective and economic methods of offsetting carbon emissions. The loss of mangrove forests worldwide is slowing, except in Asia, where there’s been a massive increase in deforestation over the past 30 years. The mangroves are extremely important for the reproduction of fish, shrimps, reptiles, sea turtles and birds. Reforestation, community-led partnerships and ecotourism are three of many efforts that coastal communities may undertake to conserve mangrove forests while benefiting through associated development initiatives. In 2015, German organic retailer Alnatura joined the project. This trail-blazing project run by Eden Reforestation Projects has reforestation and poverty alleviation at its heart. The carbon offset project is an initiative of Mikoko Pamoja (Mangroves Together) a community group, and the sale of carbon credits is used to fund mangrove conservation alongside development programs within the villages. Thanks to IoT technologies and the engagement from local communities, universities, NGOs and research institutes, the site has since transformed from a barren field that was overrun with trash from the Bernam river during high tide – to a lush, solid wall of green mangrove trees, with different types and sizes of crabs darting around the roots of the plants. The reason was that the tiny two-feet tall plants had now become six or seven feet tall, and the thick foliage completely obscured the way to the panel. The recreation unit features a boardwalk among the trees, and a restaurant that offers a Swahili cuisine experience to tourists. Worldview received VCS certification # 1764 by the end of 2018, and is now expanding to other projects. The local fishermen, who can face up to twenty typhoons each year, have gained benefits to their livelihood, as they can now monitor the water conditions before they set out to catch fish. It was an exciting moment for my fellow volunteers and I – truly a testament to how we have the capability to transform our environment for the better by working with one another and with nature. Your funds support the non-profit Eden Reforestation Projects as they continue to reforest the island. May Livere has been published in One Magazine, The Kalahari Review, Active Muse and The African Writer. Urban areas such as Tudor Creek in Mombasa have lost nearly 80% of the vegetation cover through harvesting of fuel wood. The wealth of developing countries is normally tied to natural resources like forests and land that can easily be used for commercial development or agriculture. Funding community-led mangrove forest monitoring, restoration, and reforestation projects around the world. Recent times too, have seen information become increasingly accessible, raising awareness on the need for local communities to sustain their mangrove forests. This over-exploitation risks some mangrove species becoming extinct. Philippine mangroves chart (2.17 MB) The project budget is about 576.000 € for 5 years of which 500.000 is subsidized by the MDDI and the rest financed from own funds of Friendship Luxembourg. With the second largest population in Africa, Ethiopia has been hit by famine many times due to drought and a depletion of natural resources. The mangrove reforestation and management provided the villagers with enabling services for increasing their resilience to climate change impacts. Earlier this year, I went to visit Kampung Dato Hormat in Malaysia. This area, in particular the Bangkung Malapad islet mangrove forest, is the site of the Connected Mangroves reforestation project between Ericsson, Smart Communications, and the local government unit of Pampanga. Previous mangrove restoration projects have proved unsustainable over the long term due to a focus on planting “in the wrong place, the wrong species, the wrong density.” There are tangible benefits in keeping mangrove forests as a resource, without harvesting wood, and in so doing generate income from tourism and associated employment opportunities. This calculates to an average of 12.3kg per year per tree. Additionally, this project is unique due to the exceptional level of social mobilization it … Introduction: Mangrove Restoration in Kenya. Allocating forests to communities with knowledge in mangrove management allows them to be active in the process of conservation. Initiated in 2017, the project offers the local community a platform to check on water, soil and humidity conditions, and remotely monitor any intrusion on the site. It’s a reforestation project which leverages connected technologies such as solar-powered sensors and real-time camera footage to collect critical data and present it to local communities on a digital dashboard. Building of Resilient Communities through the Integration of Income Generating Projects and Rehabilitation of the watershed Areas Affected by Typhoon Haiyan. Since the installation of the sensors, the community’s tourism officer and site manager, Sonjai Salenga, note that they have recorded an increase in the number of migratory birds returning to winter in the area, as well as an increase in the fish catch and better security on the site. Since environmental impacts are an ongoing threat, to successfully … A mangrove forest is home to a myriad of species, making it an ideal tourist attraction. Brain Youth Group, a community-based organization in Mombasa, has a purpose to conserve the mangrove forest along Tudor Creek. Primarily we make donations, help build a "Bamboo Wall" to protect seedlings against waves, and plant trees. The last time we saw black-faced spoonbills in the Pampanga river in the Philippines was more than 100 years ago. Different kinds of birds for instance, shelter in the dense branches and provide a bird watching opportunity for tourists. Lamu holds 60% of Kenya’s mangroves. Extensive logging of the trees in the past three or so decades has been a major contributor to the current situation in which a healthy mangrove ecosystem in Kenya is in danger. A thriving mangrove forest means a better livelihood for the community; conservation shifts the narrative from exploitation to restoration. The communities are accomplishing this through several conservation efforts. Sustainable Community Development Program. Mangrove forests act as natural shields against the elements for coastal communities, such as those in the Philippines and Malaysia. Mikoko Pamoja manages a mangrove ecotourism enterprise in Gazi Bay. Learn more about IoT environmental monitoring and how it is helping to revitalize deforestation of the mangrove forests. ZSL's team of mangrove researchers have published the following manuals: 1. We began this reforestation project with the intention to see just how far we could go in mangrove restoration efforts by harnessing the power of mobile technology. Participation of these communities in the recovery and management of mangroves is vital for the survival of the ecosystem. At the Ericsson Blog, we provide insight to make complex ideas on technology, innovation and business simple. These have in large part contributed to the present deforestation and degradation of mangrove forests. Mangrove Reforestation Project in Capalonga, Camarines Norte; Nueva Vizcaya Reforestation Project . In Kenya, over 70% cover loss (since 1985) has been recorded in peri-urban areas like Mombasa, and this has mainly been due to over-harvesting.