Kenya Coastal Mangrove Case Study — Gazi Bay / Community Projects
Executive summary
Community-led mangrove restoration in Gazi Bay has delivered measurable carbon sequestration, resilient coastal protection and steady revenue from voluntary carbon credits. This project model combines community governance, participatory monitoring and conservative carbon accounting to create investable blue carbon outcomes.
Key project metrics
Area under conservation~ 200 ha
Estimated average carbon stock (TEC)~ 500 Mg C ha⁻¹
Estimated CO₂e (stock)~ 1,834 tCO₂e ha⁻¹
Recent verified credits sold~ 18,000 tCO₂e (2014–2023)
Community revenues to date~ US$ 144k
Notes: some values are sourced from peer-reviewed studies and project reports; others are conservatively modelled for investor illustration. See PDF footer for assumptions and data provenance.
Why invest?
- High carbon density — mangroves store several hundred Mg C per hectare (soil-dominated pools).
- Co-benefits — fisheries, shoreline protection, biodiversity and local livelihoods.
- Proven delivery — community projects in Kenya (e.g., Mikoko Pamoja) have generated verified credits and distributed revenues.
Risks & mitigations
- Risk: baseline uncertainty. Mitigation: periodic soil sampling + conservative IPCC defaults.
- Risk: community governance. Mitigation: escrowed payments and transparent community funds.
- Risk: permanence & leakage. Mitigation: insurance buffers and verified registry requirements.