To mark World Environment Day 2025. NCBA joined Boreka Group, the Kenya Forest Service, Kwale County Government, NEMA and local residents in planting 3,000 mangrove seedlings. They also collected marine litter along the Diani shoreline.
Mangroves stabilise coasts, shelter fisheries and store up to four times more carbon than terrestrial forests. Yet plastic pollution and habitat loss continue to erode these vital ecosystems. The community-led exercise blended habitat restoration with hands-on lessons in waste reduction for local schools and youth groups. It echoed this year’s global call to “End Plastic Pollution.”
The event builds on a three-year collaboration between NCBA and Boreka. The partnership has already established 180,000 trees in Kwale and Kitui counties with a verified 75 % survival rate. Over the same period, 1,040 farmers have trained in climate-smart agroforestry, 392 short-term jobs emerged through nurseries and clean-ups, and 27 village clusters mobilised for ongoing climate awareness. In addition, 35 Boreka staff members have completed environmental, social and governance [ESG] training to support long-term project oversight.
“Today’s efforts demonstrate what collective action can achieve for coastal resilience and livelihoods.” Said Nelly Wainaina, NCBA Group Director, Marketing, Communication & Citizenship. Kwale County Chief Officer for Environment Neema Suya noted that tackling plastic waste protects biodiversity and human health. It also reduces emissions embedded in plastics production.
Partners will nurture the new mangrove plots, map waste hotspots and share findings with Kwale’s environmental unit to guide future interventions. Local communities will receive follow-up training in waste segregation and sustainable income streams such as beekeeping and eco-tourism linked to healthy mangrove ecosystems.
