Nurturing nature: A Kenyan community’s mangrove restoration journey

Our environment will only continue to offer its harvest with faithful stewardship. We cannot continue saying we love the land and then destroy it. This has been one of my guiding principles regarding restoration and working with my local community. 

I’m Steve Misati, a conservationist and the 2024 Ocean Restoration Steward. I spearhead Youth Pawa, a mangrove eco-restoration project in my hometown, Mombasa, Kenya.

To me, restoration is like healing a sick patient. It’s about nurturing something back to life and giving it a second chance. When it comes to the ocean, mangroves are vital organs that require our care and intervention. They are the lungs of our planet.

Youth Pawa’s mangrove eco-restoration project is deeply rooted in this understanding. We began as a simple mangrove planting initiative with friends. Now, we’ve evolved into adopting a more comprehensive approach that addresses the interconnectedness between the community and our environment. 

Beekeeping to boost mangrove health

One of Youth Pawa’s installed beehives in the Mkupe ecosystem during our beekeeping pilot phase. Photo by Steve Misati.

During the past few weeks, we have come to realize how nature can be shaped by the human imagination. An example of this is the beekeeping initiative within the mangroves we are conserving and protecting. The gentle hum of bees echoes the liveliness of the ecosystem. This brings out the resilience of nature and the potential for human–wildlife coexistence. 

As the bee population thrives, so too does the mangrove ecosystem. Producing honey and pollinating flowers are a few of the many ways bees contribute to the health of our local ecosystems.

And oh yes! On some occasions, we have seen butterflies coming back into the ecosystem. Their vibrant colors among the green leaves have brought hope that a new dawn for our ecosystem is near. Isn’t this a clear indicator of a thriving ecosystem?

Some butterflies are seen in the Mkupe ecosystem. Photo by Steve Misati.

Community at the core

The heart of our project lies in the community. I believe a project should have the community at its core to be successful. As Margaret J. Wheatley said, “There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.”

As a community coming together to work for the common good and make our planet a better and healthier place, what could be a greater creed?

Steve Misati leads a community workshop on the importance of mangrove conservation. Photo by ZF Photography

Empowering our community has been instrumental in our success. We have talked, laughed, engaged, advised, uplifted and supported each other from the onset of our project. Together, we’ve strengthened each other’s resilience.

Today, we see a community that is not just dependent on the mangroves but actively and intentionally involved in their conservation. Their happy smiles, giggles and stories of transformation mean a lot to me and my team. It also proves that the project is deeply rooted in the community.

Envisioning a brighter future

Our journey is far from over. I envision a future where restored mangroves thrive, our ocean is blue and teeming with life and we live on a planet more green with life.

At Youth Pawa, we aspire to create a model that can be replicated in other coastal communities, inspiring hope and action for ocean conservation.

A section of a previously degraded area full of grounded mangrove seedlings at the Mkupe ecosystem. Photo by Steve Misati.

Furthermore, the United Nations Environment Programme’s aphorism, “a healthy mangrove ecosystem can mean the difference between life and death during a disaster,” not only embraces the whole picture of the coastal security antique but is an urgent reminder and truth that people need to understand. 

We cannot have a healthy and safe community here on the coast if we cannot take care of these ecosystems. It is our duty and responsibility to see our mangrove environment thrive again.