NAIROBI, Kenya, July 27 – I&M Foundation has partnered with Furaha & Baraka Farms (FBF) to expand mangrove restoration in Kwale County, supporting efforts to rehabilitate degraded coastal ecosystems while creating jobs and income opportunities for local communities.
The initiative builds on an ongoing restoration programme implemented by Furaha & Baraka Farms in partnership with the Mwatsumbo Community Forest Association (CFA) and the Kenya Forest Service (KFS). The project combines conservation with community participation by employing residents in mangrove planting and restoration activities.
Between June and December 2025, the programme planted 678,500 mangrove seedlings across about 70 hectares in the Mwache Block, Kwale County. A field assessment conducted in May 2026 found that about 624,503 seedlings had survived, representing a 92 percent survival rate. A further one million seedlings were planted between January and July 2026.
Under the new partnership, I&M Foundation will support the planting of an additional 1.563 million mangrove seedlings before the end of 2026, significantly increasing the scale of the restoration programme.
Mangrove forests play a key role in protecting coastlines from erosion, supporting fisheries and marine biodiversity, and storing large amounts of carbon, making them an important tool in climate change mitigation and adaptation.
I&M Foundation Head Dorine Nalo said the partnership reflects the foundation’s focus on supporting community-led environmental projects that deliver both ecological and economic benefits.
“We believe that lasting impact is achieved by investing in locally led solutions that address real community needs. Through this partnership with Furaha & Baraka Farms, we are supporting a project that delivers measurable environmental impact, strengthens climate resilience and creates sustainable livelihoods for local communities,” she said.
Furaha & Baraka Farms Founder and Executive Director Daniel Mwero said the project demonstrates how ecosystem restoration can support both environmental conservation and local economic development.
“Healthy ecosystems and thriving communities go hand in hand. By investing in both people and nature, we are creating measurable environmental impact while strengthening community resilience and sustainable economic growth,” Mwero said.
The partners say the project is designed as a model that brings together local communities, conservation organisations, government agencies and private sector funding to restore Kenya’s coastal ecosystems while supporting long-term livelihoods.
