The Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has committed to planting 80,000 mangroves along the River Mwachema at Tiwi in Kwale County to restore degraded areas due to sand harvesting.
KPA harvested sea sand at Tiwi during the construction of the Sh40 billion new Kipevu Oil Terminal under the Second Phase of the Mombasa Port Development Project.
The Authority faced accusations of dredging and sea sand harvesting, destroying the marine ecosystem.
Speaking during the National Tree Planting Day at Tiwi, KPA Managing Director Capt. William Ruto said that through cooperation with Beach Management Units (BMUs) and Forest Adjacent Communities, they will plant and take care of trees.
KPA and the Tiwi community planted 10,000 trees in degraded mangrove areas to mark National Tree Planting Day.
The Authority also sponsored tree planting activities along the Tudor Creek in Mombasa.
“Mangrove is a very special tree; it is not planted like other trees; it doesn’t require deep holes; mangroves are planted near the oceans and rivers.
We decided to come to Tiwi because we have a special preference for Tiwi. When we do construction at the port, we usually harvest sand in Tiwi, thus the need to preserve the environment,” said Capt. Ruto.
In line with the presidential directive, he added that KPA, leveraging on its over 6,000 employees, will accelerate tree planting.
“In the first phase, we are planting 10,000 trees; we are also planting in Tudor Creek and Jomvu.
We have been planting trees, and we always care about the environment. We are going green as KPA, and that is why we want to conserve the environment,” said Capt. Ruto.
He noted that they will put in place strategies to ensure the trees grow to maturity through partnerships with BMUs and the community.
“It should not be that we have planted 10,000 trees, then next year they only remain 3000. We want to ensure all 10,000 trees grow. Our goal is to plant 80,000 trees as requested by the community,” he said.
KPA Chairman Benjamin Tayari hailed the presidential directive on tree planting, saying the country is reeling from the adverse effects of the prolonged drought and the trees will mitigate against the adverse effects of climate change.
“The mangroves will protect the environment, and fish will be plentiful. Mangroves help to bring rain and carbon sequestration,” said Tayari.
Tiwi residents lauded KPA’s move to hold the event in their area and for supporting various BMUs in the restoration of the mangrove forests.
Ali Mwatsese, BMU Chairman, says they decided to engage in mangrove restoration because they are spawning grounds for fish, and the fisher folks also protect the forests from illegal logging.
“We did research with the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Institute (KMFRI) and found that we need 80,000 mangrove trees to restore degraded areas,” revealed Mwatsese.
According to the Nature Conservancy, mangroves’ complex roots filter nitrates, phosphates, and other pollutants from the water, improving the quality of the water flowing from rivers into the ocean.
By Sadik Hassan
