Nurturing Blue Futures: Youth & Community-led Mangrove Restoration for Nature & Livelihoods in Kwale, Coastal Kenya

Driving youth contribution to the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in Kenya.

Background

The Kenyan Youth Biodiversity Network (KYBN) is a youth-led, local non-profit organization that advocates for meaningful youth inclusion in conservation, sustainable use, and decision-making processes regarding the present and future state of Kenya’s environment and natural resources.

KYBN has a strong track record in youth-led conservation of marine and terrestrial ecosystems, including mangroves, inland wetlands, terrestrial forests, and coastal ecosystems. Since its founding in 2017, KYBN has been at the forefront of on-ground restoration, environmental advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and policy influence, particularly within marine ecosystems.

The organization was established as the official Kenyan chapter of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN), the official platform for youth engagement under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It has since grown into one of Kenya’s largest youth-led conservation networks, with over 1,200 registered members and 45 grassroots organizations.

KYBN has also played a significant role in advancing youth-inclusive biodiversity policy processes, including supporting youth participation in the revision of Kenya’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) and the development of country-specific indicators highlighting youth contributions to biodiversity conservation. These efforts contributed to KYBN’s recognition within Kenya’s National Biodiversity Coordination Mechanism, which supports implementation and monitoring of national commitments under the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Youth-led Mangrove Restoration in Kwale County

Through its mangrove restoration programme at Nyumba Sita, Msambweni Location, Kwale County, along Kenya’s South Coast, KYBN has restored over 15 hectares of degraded mangrove ecosystems in partnership with local communities, youth groups, local administration, and conservation partners.

The initiative contributes to biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, green job creation, and Kenya’s commitments under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).

Specifically, KYBN’s work contributes to:

• Target 2: Restoring degraded ecosystems.
• Target 3: Supporting the conservation of 30% of global land, freshwater, and marine areas (the 30×30 goal).
• Target 8: Minimizing the impacts of climate change on biodiversity.
• Target 11: Restoring and enhancing nature’s contributions to people.
• Target 22: Ensuring meaningful participation of youth in biodiversity decision-making.
• Target 23: Promoting gender-responsive approaches to biodiversity conservation.

Connecting Conservation, Communities, and Future Generations

Grounded in the principle of intergenerational equity, KYBN is pioneering an approach that combines youth-led coastal restoration with policy advocacy. The organization bridges conservation science and inclusive decision-making to ensure that current and future generations enjoy the right to a healthy, safe, and sustainable environment.

Scaling Blue Restoration and Livelihood Opportunities

Over the next three years, KYBN aims to:

1. Expand restoration efforts around the Diani-Chale National Reserve to increase locally managed and youth-inclusive coastal ecosystems.
2. Scale mangrove-based value chains, particularly ecotourism and mangrove honey production, through capacity building, digitization, and market partnerships to create sustainable livelihood opportunities.
3. Strengthen policy advocacy and contribute to implementation of Kenya’s National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) and the Global Biodiversity Framework through restoration, conservation, climate action, data sharing, youth participation, and gender mainstreaming.

KYBN Receives the Inclusive GEF Assembly Challenge Award

In 2023, KYBN was selected as one of the global winners of the Inclusive GEF Assembly Challenge Award, among organizations from 21 countries. The award was announced during the Seventh GEF Assembly in Vancouver, Canada.

The programme recognized the importance of social inclusion in addressing environmental challenges and supported community-based initiatives involving Indigenous Peoples, youth, women, girls, and local communities as stakeholders, solution providers, and implementers.

Through this programme, KYBN received a $100,000 award to support restoration of degraded mangroves and inland wetlands in partnership with youth organizations in Somalia, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Africa.

Recognized in Kenya’s 7th National Report to the CBD

KYBN’s mangrove restoration work was featured in Kenya’s 7th National Report submitted to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), highlighting progress made by the country towards implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

At the time of reporting, KYBN had restored 10 hectares of mangroves along Kenya’s South Coast. The organization aims to demonstrate the contribution of youth-led restoration by restoring 200 hectares of mangroves by 2030.

To achieve this goal, KYBN will adopt an impact-scaling approach focused on developing sustainable mangrove value chains, including mangrove honey production, ecotourism, and tree seedling enterprises. These efforts will be complemented by grants, partnerships, and in-kind support.

Community Voices

“Growing mangroves to us has vast benefits, especially in combating manifestations of climate change. Mangroves make the air better, block coastal storms, and provide nesting grounds for fish which in turn help our communities.”

Ms. Kinanasi Jasho Kiyoga
Vice Chair, Shangani Amani Self-Help Group

KYBN National Coordinator Ms. Esther Maina emphasized the importance of youth-driven solutions to biodiversity loss while creating pathways for innovation, green jobs, and contribution to national and global conservation goals.

“KYBN remains a formidable platform for showcasing that young people are equal partners in the shared global vision of halting biodiversity loss by 2050.”

Speaking during a restoration activity held in June 2026 at Nyumba Sita, Mr. Bakari Salim, Chief of Msambweni Location, recognized the importance of youth-led restoration efforts:

“The Kenyan Youth Biodiversity Network is helping us [older generations] rectify a problem we created through rampant deforestation of the once thriving mangrove ecosystems.”

“As fisherpersons, we depend directly on the ocean for our livelihoods, and mangroves are essential breeding grounds for fish. We appreciate this partnership because it is helping sustain our livelihoods.”

Mr. Ali Nguvu
Chair, Shangani Amani Self-Help Group