Restoring Kenya’s coastal mangroves: The work of the Munje Tunusuru Women’s Group

Each week, One Earth is proud to feature Climate Heroes from around the globe who are working to create a world where humanity and nature can thrive together.

In the quiet village of Munje, nestled in Kenya’s Kwale County, a powerful movement began during one of the most uncertain times in recent history, the COVID-19 pandemic. As the world slowed, fifteen women came together, united by purpose and rooted in place. They formed the Munje Tunusuru Women’s Group, committed to rehabilitating their local mangrove forest, an ecosystem critical to the health, livelihood, and climate resilience of their coastal community.

These women were not scientists or government officials. They were mothers, farmers, fishers, and daughters, yet they saw what others had overlooked: that their degraded mangrove forests held the key to both environmental protection and community survival.

Why mangroves matter for people and the planet

The Munje mangroves are part of the expansive Vanga-Funzi system, which covers over 7,600 hectares of coastal forest. These ecosystems do more than meet the eye: they stabilize shorelines, protect homes from storm surges, support fisheries, and store large amounts of carbon. According to Kenya’s national mangrove management plan, nearly half of this system needs restoration.

Years of unsustainable activity, including illegal harvesting, bridge construction, charcoal burning, and prolonged drought, left the mangroves of Munje scarred. But the Tunusuru women were undeterred. They established nurseries, selected priority planting sites, and launched a massive effort to grow back what was lost. To date, they have cultivated over one million mangrove seedlings in nurseries, with more than half already planted at restoration sites. 

Local leadership backed by global partnerships

While the group’s hands were in the soil, their voices remained largely unheard, until new partnerships changed that. A collaboration between CORDIO East Africa, Design for Good, and Launch Digital provided the Munje Tunusuru Women’s Group with the tools to amplify their story. Together, they developed a mobile-friendly website optimized for low-bandwidth areas and search engines alike, showcasing the group’s mission, milestones, and aspirations.

This digital leap allowed the women to connect with potential donors, conservationists, and media outlets worldwide. The site is more than a platform, it is a vital channel, raising the group’s visibility and expanding their impact beyond the coastline.

“The Munje Tunusuru Women's Group shows how a community working together can become a force of change, and in this case save an ecosystem. It was a great privilege to help bring attention to the mangroves in an effort to create a world where humanity and nature can thrive together.” —Cecilia Brenner, Managing Director, Design for Good.

From seedlings to sustainable futures

The women’s vision extends far beyond replanting. Their work is holistic, weaving in complementary livelihoods like beekeeping, basket weaving, and organic farming. They are exploring ecotourism opportunities on nearby Funzi Island, where guests can participate in mangrove restoration and cultural exchange. These activities generate income, deepen public engagement, and strengthen the community’s connection to their land and waters.

With support from both governmental and non-governmental institutions, including technical training and feasibility studies, the group is restoring the landscape and laying the foundation for a thriving local economy based on conservation.

Faith, culture, and the power of trees

At a community tree-planting event, the spiritual significance of the group’s work was echoed by local leaders. “Whenever you plant a tree,” said Village Administrator Mr. Kisira Hamadi, “an angel is kept there who intercedes for you asking for forgiveness until that tree dies. Mangrove trees stay for up to 50 years. Those are years of forgiveness.”

The women’s actions, revered as Sadaqah Jaariyah, or “a continuing charity,” are not just about ecology; they’re acts of service to humanity and future generations.

Mangrove restoration as a path to climate resilience

This work aligns with Mangrove Restoration—one of the 76 climate solutions in One Earth’s Solutions Framework under the pillar of Nature Conservation—which focuses on reviving or rehabilitating coastal mangrove ecosystems. These forests are among the most efficient natural systems for sequestering carbon, locking it away in their dense roots and deep, waterlogged soils for centuries. Beyond climate mitigation, they buffer coastlines from erosion and storm surges, provide critical nursery habitat for fish and marine life, and support the livelihoods of millions of people worldwide.

By restoring their local mangroves, the Munje Tunusuru Women’s Group is improving ecosystem health, strengthening food security, and creating a sustainable foundation for future generations. Their work is a living example of how nature-based solutions can address interconnected challenges while honoring community leadership and values.