Vanga Blue Forest
We’re thrilled to have officially launched our new mangrove conservation project – Vanga Blue Forests!
Building on the success of the world’s first mangrove carbon offsetting project, Vanga is taking Mikoko Pamoja and scaling its success to a forest four times the size. That means more carbon locked in, more nature conserved and more community investment. This pioneering project sits on the Kenyan and Tanzanian border, and is a result of and testament to the success of Mikoko Pamoja. The project has received initial seed funding from the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, and we are seeking further support to help us scale this work over the next five years.
Carbon credits from this project will first be available in late 2020, and until then we have much work to do in working with the local community, developing the science and ensuring that this new mangrove site is protected for future generations to come!
Check-out the project page to find out more and support Vanga by donating below.
Thank you for all your support!
ACES team
Mikoko Pamoja Impacts
Mangroves and People
Our pioneering Mikoko Pamoja mangrove conservation project in Southern Kenya mitigates climate change, alleviates poverty and conserves critically endangered mangrove ecosystems.
Mikoko Pamoja won the UNDP Equator Prize in 2017, a testament to the hard work and dedication of our local teams and the beneficial villages over the past 5 years.
Through this award, our combined efforts were recognised by the Leonard DiCaprio Foundation, who have since granted us $50,000 in seed funding to scale this project to the Vanga mangrove coastal zone.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Funders & Clients
Recent Community Projects
Village Water
During a community Bazara, locals decided to prioritise the extension of community water projects in both local villages involved in Mikoko Pamoja.
Permaculture
A youth group decided to spend revenue earned through Mikoko Pamoja on creating a permaculture project to create a source of sustainable food within Makongeni Village.
Woodstoves
A recent trial purchased several wood stoves to reduce the amount of wood needed for cooking, and in turn reduce the amount of mangroves trees used in this process.
Football Teams
The community project leaders decided that they would invest in creating football teams in each village and provide physical education for all children through funds earned by Mikoko Pamoja.
Roofing
Both communities recently decided to buy new roofing for their primary schools to support kids and teachers in creating a welcoming and enjoyable local learning environment.
Surveillance Tower
The community recently built a watch tower to improve monitoring of the mangrove reserve and enforce its protection.
Partners
Our Team
Robyn Shilland
Mark Huxham
Anita Ogilvie
Lucas Ruzo
Martin Skov
Guided by Research
Working with locals
The success of our work is intimately tied to the people who lead on its delivery on the ground. People who live in towns around restoration sites, and researchers stationed in outposts dedicated to monitoring and evaluating progress over time. Explore some of our recent research in the menus to the right.
Climate Change
Our climate has changed significantly over the past century, driven by our insatiable appetite for economic development. This has meant that our weather systems have become more unpredictable, and that the climate as a whole is getting warmer. Explore some of our research to find out how protecting mangrove forests can help mitigate the impacts of these changes.
Mangroves & Seagrasses
Our work to conserve mangroves and seagrasses will form an increasingly important component of nature based solutions to mitigating climate change. Explore some of our latest research into how protecting these life support systems can benefit us all.
Facilitation in Mangrove Ecosystems
Impacts of Mangrove Density on Surface Sediment Accretion.
Rapid losses of surface elevation following tree girdling and cutting in tropical mangroves.
The effects of salinity on growth and survival of mangrove seedlings changes with age.
Evaluating, Predicting and Mapping Belowground Carbon Stores in Kenyan Mangroves.
Shrimp aquaculture as a vehicle for Climate Compatible Development in Sri Lanka.
The impacts of shrimp farming on land-use and carbon storage around Puttalam Lagoon, Sri Lanka.
Species mixing boosts the below-ground productivity of mangrove roots.
Effects of species richness, identity and environmental variables on growth in planted mangroves