The County Government of Lamu has committed to working with stakeholders to improve mangrove forest conservation and restoration as a natural climate solution.
In a consultative meeting held at the County Headquarters, Lamu Governor Issa Timamy emphasized fostering innovative partnerships that would lead to sustainable solutions towards protecting the degraded carbon-rich ecosystems.
Timamy who doubles as the Council of Governors’ Blue Economy Committee Chair, further said mainstreaming the blue carbon conservation and associated habitats into coastal development programs, would greatly assist towards achieving climate benefits as well as improving livelihoods in the coastal counties.
“Mangroves are powerful carbon sinks with an ability to suck up carbon dioxide. As stakeholders, there is an urgent need to protect this precious vegetation from human-induced threats that are a threat to the marine ecosystem”, he said.
With Lamu accounting for more than half of Kenya’s mangrove forests, the stakeholders agreed to embark on the restoration of the degraded areas as well as implement a sustainable plan for mangrove harvesting without affecting the critical role they play in biodiversity and shoreline protection.
