I&M Foundation has led a major mangrove restoration project at the Kenyan Coast that has seen more than 678,500 mangrove seedlings planted in an initiative to boost climate resilience and support local livelihoods.
The initiative, which was conducted in two phases between October and December 2025, focused on the Mwatsumbo Forest Ecosystem in Kwale County.
The first phase saw over 500,000 mangrove tree seedlings planted, guided by ecological conditions to improve survival rates and maximise long-term carbon sequestration.
According to I&M Foundation, the project was community-led, which combined environmental recovery efforts with local job creation and integrated digital monitoring systems.
“Led by our Mombasa team, the [mangrove restoration] initiative brought together hundreds of youth and women each day, united by one goal: to restore our coastline and protect our shared future. This was more than reforestation, it was a movement of hope, resilience and renewal,” posted I&M Foundation on itsFacebook page.
Key objectives and impact of the project;
- I&M Foundation aims to build climate resilience through mangrove restoration to act as key blue carbon sinks and natural buffers against coastal storms.
- Offer jobs and sustainable income streams to coastal communities, especially women and the youth. All mangrove seedlings were sourced from local, community-managed nurseries, which provided direct income to residents. In addition, during the planting periods, between 120 and 400 people were engaged daily, with youth and women’s groups forming a significant part of the workforce.
- Rehabilitate degraded habitats to support marine life and enhance the catch for local fisherfolk.
The I&M Foundation, through its Environment Conservation Programme, restored 60 hectares of degraded mangrove forest within the Mwatsumbo Forest Ecosystem, in partnership with Furaha and Baraka Farmsand the Mwatsumbo Community Forest Association.
“Our model of working through strategic, on-the-ground partnerships allows us to amplify our impact and ensure that our initiatives are truly community-led,” says I&M Foundation, Chairperson, Eric Kimani.
Use of technology
The I&M Foundation integrated technology in the initiative by ensuring that mangrove seedling planting activities were tracked using a geo-referenced digital monitoring system developed by Furaha and Baraka Farms. The platform captured GPS data, species distribution, seedling counts and photographic evidence in real time, ensuring transparent reporting, survival assessments and future verification.
The data is expected to support carbon accounting initiatives as interest grows in nature-based climate solutions.
In December 2025, over 100,000 mangrove seedlings were planted in an initiative that engaged between 100 and 250 community members daily.
The mangrove project could be a model of how community engagement, technology, and long-term environmental goals can converge for effective conservation efforts.
The I&M Foundation that was established in 2020, has been channelling 2% of I&M Bank Kenya’s annual profit before tax into initiatives focused on environmental conservation, education, economic empowerment, and enabling giving.