The Global Mangrove Alliance’s Kenya National Chapter (GMA-Kenya) was set up to provide a foundation for cooperation and develop a collaborative approach for mangrove protection and restoration in Kenya. The GMA’s overall aim is to halt loss, restore half of the world’s restorable mangroves, and double protection, while sustaining biodiversity, adapting to and mitigating climate change, ensuring food security, and promoting human well-being. To address these goals, the GMA-Kenya conducted an in-depth mangrove restoration training using MAP’s ‘Community-Based Ecological Mangrove Restoration’ (CBEMR) approach for local community members, academics, businesses, NGOs, and government staff. The training included a nine-day theoretical and field workshop for 75 participants from government agencies, NGOs, CSOs, and members of Kenya GMA Chapter. 

Throughout the CBEMR training, participants engaged in a combination of theory-based sessions and practical fieldwork designed to strengthen their skills in ecological mangrove restoration. The activities included detailed biophysical site assessments where trainees measured salinity, pH, soil characteristics, and hydrological patterns while observing natural regeneration, species zoning, and stressors affecting mangrove ecosystems. Field visits to Kizingitini, Faza, and Mtangawanda enabled participants to apply CBEMR principles directly on degraded sites, understand causes of past restoration failures, and identify opportunities for hydrological improvement, fencing, and strategic natural regeneration.

In addition to ecological evaluations, the training incorporated social research techniques that emphasized the role of community history, land use, local leadership, and livelihood pressures in the success of restoration initiatives. Participants collaborated with local community groups—particularly women’s associations—to gather insights, assess challenges such as livestock grazing and limited alternative livelihoods, and co-design restoration plans that align with both ecological needs and community priorities. Mapping tools like Global Mangrove Watch and the Mangrove Restoration Tracker Tool were introduced to support long-term planning, monitoring, and reporting of restoration outcomes.