Mangrove Conservation and Blue Carbon Initiatives in Coastal Kenya

The world’s first voluntary blue carbon credit projects, Mikoko Pamoja and Vanga Blue Forest, originated from remote coastal communities in Kenya. These projects sell carbon credits from mangrove conservation that are then re-invested into local development projects including flood-resistant roads, schools, and procuring medical supplies. The Reach Alliance identified several keys to success: meaningful community collaboration, aligning incentives, principled leadership, long-term planning and a clear governance framework. Additionally, The Reach Alliance developed a framework for replicating and scaling these strategies across other settings and is advising several NGOs and government agencies developing their own blue carbon projects.