Mangrove Ecosystem Conservation Manual : A focus on Kenya
Mikoko Project Team
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Abstract: Mangroves are defined as assemblages of salt tolerant trees and shrubs that grow in the intertidal regions of the tropical and subtropical coastlines. The word mangrove comes from the Portuguese word mangue for “tree” and the English word grove for “a stand of trees,” referring to the dominant trees and to the entire plant community. They provide a range of goods and services of immense value to the coastal communities including wood products and coastal stabilization. In addition mangroves serve as nursery grounds for fisheries, sinks for carbon dioxide and habitats for fauna including crabs, molluscs and birds. They are also known to extract a large amount of carbon dioxide (CO2 ) from the atmosphere owing to their high photosynthetic ability, and release a large part of the fixed carbon into the forest floor in the form of leaf litter. However, the global coverage of mangroves is rapidly reducing at a rate of between 1-2% per annum. Mangroves are threatened by habitat loss from coastal development activities related to population increase from the landward side as well as surface elevation adjustments from the seaward side because of sea level rise. Public awareness regarding mangroves and their conservation is on the rise in Kenya. Concerted efforts by key stakeholders led by relevant government agencies, local communities and other key actors have increased conservation of mangroves. The current policy and legislative framework emphasises participatory approach in forest management. The basis for coming up with this manual.