Keeling Curve

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Project Summary / Description:

MIKOKO PAMOJA is a small scale carbon offset facility using mangroves as the domain. The project seeks to provide long-term incentives for mangrove restoration and protection through community engagement and participation. This is achieved through conservation activities, awareness creation, and the sale of mangrove carbon credits. Revenue generated (of US$24000/annum) from sale of carbon credits is used to support local development projects in water and sanitation, education, health and environment conservation. Mikoko Pamoja is an excellent example of ‚ triple win‚ project for climate, community, and biodiversity conservation.

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Best Estimate of GHG Avoidance/Reduction of This Project (Tonnes CO2 Equivalent/Year):

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Mikoko Pamoja simply means ‚ mangroves together‚ . It is based in Gazi bay, Kenya, and targets the 7000 residents of Makongeni and Gazi villages. These communities live adjacent to the mangroves and are key drivers of loss and degradation of the forest. Losses of mangroves through over-harvesting of wood products expose the communities to climate change hazards, including sea level rise. The Project is pro-nature, pro-poor, and pro-women, as such there are no anticipated negative impacts on either social or physical environment. Right from the beginning the project has been implemented with the consent, support, co-operation and participation of the local people. 

Disparity in wealth and power exist amongst communities in the project area; whereby women tend to have less influence than men. Mikoko Pamoja is reversing this by reserving 40% representation by women in the project steering committee. Moreover, equal chances are given to both gender during participation in related project activities such as forest monitoring, restoration and nursery establishment that also pose as education and awareness avenues. Priority projects are decided collectively during community meetings and the voice of the lowly in the society is heard and deliberated. 

Youth from both villages also form part of the Mikoko Pamoja, thus making them part of the decision-making processes. Educational programs with students from local, national and international institutions such as creative art competitions, field visits and educational research have helped in making the conservation efforts sustainable across all generations. The project has also hosted national and international communities who come to learn from the ongoing concepts. 

Moreover, from the various community development projects implemented each year as part of the benefit sharing process, Mikoko Pamoja has facilitated access to clean and affordable water as well as availed energy saving stoves to individual households and small businesses owned by women. This has tremendously helped the women from the two communities where they serve as primary users in various aspects such as improved health, time management, finances, general convenience and environmental awareness.

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