A major continental environmental drive has kicked off in Mombasa, where more than 10,000 mangrove seedlings have been planted at Mkupe Creek under the Sahara Group’s ambitious Adopt-a-Forest initiative.
Led through Asharami Synergy in partnership with Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani, the effort marks the beginning of a long-term plan to restore Kenya’s coastline and strengthen community livelihoods along the Coast.
The restoration campaign, which will cover all 16 Beach Management Sites in the region, is part of Sahara Group’s wider goal of planting at least one million trees across Africa.
The initiative spans Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, focusing on rehabilitating degraded forests, mangroves and other critical ecosystems.
Bethel Obioma, Head of Corporate Communications at Sahara Group, highlighted the scale of the commitment:
“Our Adopt-a-Forest initiative is targeting a minimum of 1,000,000 trees across Africa by restoring critical forest and mangrove ecosystems. This work is essential for protecting biodiversity and supporting resilient communities.”
At Mkupe Creek, the mangrove planting event brought together local residents, environmental champions and partner organisations determined to reverse shoreline degradation.
Mangroves provide one of the most important natural defenses for coastal communities—reducing erosion, supporting fisheries, improving water quality and acting as a buffer against climate change.
Eunice Munala, Operations Assistant at Asharami Synergy, noted that the team is only getting started:
“So far, we have planted 10,000 mangroves at the Coast to support the restoration of the creek. We plan to expand this number as we work with all 16 Beach Management Units, starting right here at Mkupe Beach.”
Sahara Group’s Governance and Sustainability Officer, Bashir Umar, emphasised the long-term vision:
“The Adopt-a-Forest initiative started as a nature-based solution for degraded forests. Nature and trees do so much for us, from medicine to protecting our shores. This work is like a love letter to the future.”
Local communities have welcomed the initiative, recognising its direct impact on their lives and livelihoods.
“This project is more than environmental work, it’s a direct investment in the lives of our people,” said Albert Mwamburi from Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani.
“Healthy mangrove ecosystems mean better fishing, improved incomes and greater resilience for coastal communities.”
Already, the results are visible. Beyond the 10,000 mangroves planted at Mkupe Creek, an additional 3,100 trees are helping bolster biodiversity, improve fishing grounds and support tourism along Kenya’s coastline.
Across the continent, Asharami Synergy’s Adopt-a-Forest initiative continues to roll out significant environmental projects.
The company has upgraded facilities at Banco National Park and restored a 34-hectare arboretum in Côte d’Ivoire, planted 23,900 trees in Nigeria, rehabilitated degraded land in Ghana, and supported large-scale planting efforts in Cameroon and Tanzania.