The Global Mangrove Alliance Workshop

What a privilege to be invited to the recent Global Mangrove Alliance - Kenya Chapter workshop. The workshop was split into two parts the first was a Q1 update for project partners working on mangroves in the coastal region. Avatari was able to showcase its degraded land now mapped, with more mapping in progress in Lamu and Tana River Counties.

Some exceptional presentations were given by COBEC Projects, Coastal and Marine Resources Development (COMRED), The Nature Conservancy, IUCN, Wetlands International among others. It is clear that only through collaboration can project partners work to solve the problem of mangrove degradation in Kenya. The meeting fostered a real sense of potential for partnerships in future. Numerous partners have already established themselves in this field, meaning Avatari can look to learn from the consensus already built and further progress on a shared mission.

The second part of the workshop was to celebrate the mangrove champions. This brilliant group of young and inspiring individuals have worked to produce impactful project concepts, through which the Global Mangrove Alliance are providing grants to implement. This included topics from awareness building programmes for the youth to a black-solider fly project. With each project drawing from the champions’ unique experience and skills.

The reason Avatari was honoured with an invitation is that within the upcoming batch of new mangrove champions Avatari's very own Mangrove Ecologist Miriam Vihendaand Projects Director Rita Mulatya have been selected to be a part of the group.