Tides of Hope: Expanding Kenya's Vanga Blue Forest to Boost Community Income and Enhance Nature Conservation

Vanga Blue Forest (VBF) project in Kenya is dedicated to restoring and protecting mangroves, generating high-quality blue carbon credits that directly benefit local communities. Currently protecting 460 ha, VBF sequesters approximately 5,600 tCO2 each year, resulting in annual community earnings of about USD 37,000 over a 20-year crediting period beginning in 2019. To assess the feasibility of expanding VBF, we conducted consultations with the community and other stakeholders. We then mapped potential expansion areas using standard forest assessment methods complemented by a detailed ground truthing. Preliminary results show strong community support for the expansion. The proposed expansions would increase the mangrove area managed by the community to 915 hectares, raising annual CO2 sequestration to about 8,700 tCO2e, a 32% increase; and boosting local revenue to approximately USD 81,000 per year. This expansion promises substantial climate, community, and biodiversity benefits, serving as a model for advancing the Sustainable Blue Economy through inclusive, science-driven ocean governance. The paper discusses both the opportunities and challenges of scaling up VBF, including the need for equitable benefit sharing, effective management of a larger ecosystem, and addressing social and environmental risks.

Keywords: Blue Carbon, Community-based Conservation, Climate Change, Mangrove Restoration

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