Kenya’s Mangrove Restoration Projects Boost Communities and Climate Resilience
Kenya’s large-scale mangrove restoration initiative is proving that sustainability can deliver measurable environmental, social, and economic benefits.
The project, funded by Husqvarna Group in partnership with veritree and Earthlungs, has planted over 300,000 mangrove trees along the Kenyan coastline, revitalising degraded ecosystems while empowering local communities.
Mangroves are vital for stabilising coastlines, supporting marine biodiversity, and storing carbon at rates up to four times higher than most tropical forests. Rapid urbanisation and land conversion had left many Kenyan mangrove areas severely degraded.
The initiative restores these ecosystems using community-grown seedlings, with each tree tracked via veritree’s monitoring platform to ensure transparency and measurable impact.
“Every tree we plant is verified, monitored and linked to tangible benefits,” said Derrick Emsley, CEO of veritree. “Our goal is regeneration, not just reforestation, creating ecosystems that will thrive for generations.”
Local communities are central to the project. Women’s groups and youth cooperatives are involved in nurturing seedlings and planting saplings along damaged shorelines, gaining income and environmental skills. Flora Awiro, COO of Earthlungs, noted that empowering communities ensures conservation becomes a sustainable part of daily life.
The initiative also strengthens local economies. Healthy mangroves support fisheries, protect coastal infrastructure from erosion and storms, and encourage eco-tourism. Husqvarna’s Vice President of Sustainability Affairs, Jonas Willaredt, explained: “Healthy ecosystems are the foundation of healthy economies. Investing in mangroves supports livelihoods, food security, and climate resilience. Sustainability works best when local people see the benefits.”
This project marks Husqvarna’s first large-scale restoration initiative in Africa and contributes to the company’s global commitment to plant one million trees. Progress is publicly tracked through veritree’s transparency platform at impact.veritree.com/husqvarna.
The Kenyan mangrove restoration initiative demonstrates how coordinated action between companies, communities, and environmental organisations can achieve sustainable development that benefits both people and the planet.
For more information on Husqvarna’s sustainability initiatives, visit Husqvarna Group Sustainability.
