by Annick Gillard-Bailetti, Plan Canada

1. Conservation and
Sustainable Management
of Coastal and Marine
Ecosystems (COSME)
Project
Community Engagement
Experiences & Best Practice:
Community-Based Ecological
Mangrove Restoration (CBEMR)

2. Plan International Canada Inc.
Location:
• Kenya: Kwale and Kilifi Counties (65 coastal and terrestrial
Communities)
• Tanzania: Regions of Tanga and Pwani (45 communities)
• Partners:
Community
o Project participants - women in seaweed, mangrove and forest conservation groups
and their male counterparts, school administration and children, WROs, YLOs,
influential community Change Agents
Government Stakeholders
o Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI),
o Kenya Forestry Research Institute (KeFRI),
o Kenya Forestry Services (KFS),
o Kenya Fisheries Services (KeFS)
o Government of Kenya - County and community levels, and national with Kenyan
Ministry of Blue Economy and Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development
o Government of Tanzania – local and regional levels
COSME Project Overview
2

3. Plan International Canada Inc.
3
Improved climate-resilient, equitable economies within communities relying on coastal and marine
ecosystems, especially women, in Kenya’s Coast Region
Enhanced adoption of gender-
responsive and socially-inclusive
nature-based solutions (NbS)
for climate change adaptation
with biodiversity and
ecosystem integrity co-benefits
Improved gender-responsive
and child- and youth-friendly
governance for climate
adaptation, resilience and
biodiversity
Increased agency of women in
their diversity to exercise their
right to participate in gender-
responsive NbS to increase
adaptive capacity and build
household and community
resilience
COSME Project Outcomes
Nature-based Solutions Social and Financial Governance for Community
Assets Resilience

4. Plan International Canada Inc.
4
COSME is implementing 3 main NbS
COSME’s Nature-based Solutions (NbS)
COMMUNITY-BASED
ECOLOGICAL MANGROVE
RESTORATION (CBEMR)
SUSTAINABLE SEAWEED
PRODUCTION
COMMUNITY-BASED
FORESTRY MANAGEMENT
(CBFM)

5. Plan International Canada Inc.
5
Community-Based Ecological Mangrove
Restoration (CBEMR)
• Key Principles:
 Ecological Conditions: CBEMR is grounded in the understanding of mangrove ecology,
hydrology, and sediment dynamics. The approach seeks to identify and rectify the
underlying causes of mangrove degradation, i.e., only planting if long-term monitoring
shows it is necessary.
 Community Participation: Local communities are engaged in every step of the CBEMR
process, from initial assessments to ranking and implementation of restoration
activities and long-term monitoring. This participatory approach ensures use of local
knowledge and creates buy-in and sustainability of restoration efforts.
• CBFM is a participatory approach where the community actively engages in the
management and conservation of forests.
• In Coastal Kenya, this includes managing terrestrial and mangrove forests
• CBEMR is a sub-set to CBFM, managing mangrove forest restoration

6. Plan International Canada Inc.
6
How does CBEMR Differ from Conventional
Mangrove Restoration?
Aspect CBEMR Conventional Restoration
Approach
Restores natural hydrological
conditions
Often involves only planting
mangroves
Community
Involvement
Highly involves local communities
Community involvement is lesser
or top-down
Ecological Focus
Prioritizes ecological processes and
habitat requirements
Focuses on planting with less
emphasis on ecological conditions
Sustainability
Aims for long-term ecosystem
sustainability
May not consider long-term
maintenance and viability
Knowledge and
Expertise
Combines scientific research with
indigenous knowledge
Typically relies on external
scientific expertise
Land Use
Considerations
Integrates mangrove restoration
with existing land use practices
and zoning regulations
May not align with current land
use, leading to conflicts
Livelihoods
Supports and enhances local
livelihoods through ecosystem
services
May overlook the impact on local
livelihoods or provide less
enhancement

7. Plan International Canada Inc.
7
Main Steps in Implement CBEMR
Community-Based Ecological Mangrove Restoration
(CBEMR)
1. Community Orientation and Involvement: Engage local communities from the beginning
through mangrove groups, which are ideally registered as Community Forest Associations
(CFAs) with the Kenya Forest Service (KFS).
2. Site Assessment with Community Participation: Conduct a detailed assessment of the
mangrove site involving community members to gather local knowledge and identify the causes
of degradation.
3. Planning and Designing Restoration Activities: Collaborate with the community to develop and
prioritize restoration plans based on the assessment findings.
4. Implementation of Restoration Activities: Carry out restoration activities with active
community participation, ensuring that actions are aligned with ecological principles and local
needs.
5. Monitoring and Adaptive Management: Involve the community in monitoring the restoration
progress and adapting strategies as needed for long-term success.

8. Plan International Canada Inc.
8
Challenges in Implementing CBEMR
Community-Based Ecological Mangrove Restoration
(CBEMR)
Documented challenges to CBEMR include issues related to:
1. Understanding land usage is critical as many mangrove restoration projects bypass this
complex process, leading to failures when mangroves are planted in inappropriate
areas.
2. Overcoming normative, oversimplified restoration/planting practices requires
education and consensus-building among community members about the CBEMR
process.
3. Providing near-term sustainable livelihood assistance is essential to support
communities during the period of mangrove recovery, addressing immediate economic
needs while awaiting the long-term ecological benefits of restoration​.

9. Plan International Canada Inc.
9
Plan’s CBEMR Success Story

10. Plan International Canada Inc.
10
CBEMR Resources
Community-Based Ecological Mangrove Restoration
(CBEMR)
Restoring Lamu’s Mangroves: https://youtu.be/4DTJe59dxJM?si=hgh-4scp9pvAkVas
Mangrove Restoration: It’s More Than Just Planting
Global Mangrove Alliance: Including Local Ecological Knowledge in Mangrove Conservation
& Restoration

11. Thankyou!