Kenyan Community Earns Significant Money Selling Carbon Credits by Protecting Mangroves

For fishing communities on Kenya's southern coast, felling mangrove trees to make boats has long been a part of life.

But traditional attitudes toward the mangroves are shifting, as communities become aware of a new benefit from keeping the trees standing: cash payments for carbon storage.

Local people who are protecting and replanting mangroves are now selling 3,000 tonnes of carbon credits a year to international buyers, for about $5-$6 a tonne. The money goes into financing more forest protection and restoration, and to community-chosen projects.

"We have rehabilitated Gazi and Makongeni primary schools, bought textbooks for the pupils and provided piped water to the residents in both villages," said Ali Salim, chairman of Mikoko Pamoja (Mangroves Together), the community organisation working to protect local mangroves and reap the benefits.

http://news.trust.org/item/20160927120410-sr9t5/

Bachellier Christian

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