the mangrove, a natural method to fight against global warming

Usually there is water in this desert part of Kenya. A region in the Horn of Africa hit by extreme drought. 20 million people are threatened by famine. The causes are known: excessive use of resources. “The very high population density and the amount of what has been extracted from land and sea are responsible” says David Oburan, scientist. Fishing, the destruction of vegetation, the wood used as construction material explains the current deficit in the ecosystem.

To remedy this, Kenyans rely on the mangrove: marine plants with precious virtues for the planet. It is able to absorb a lot of carbon and it is a natural way to fight erosion. “The world is changing a lot, but the mangroves are not. They are resisting very well and growing quickly”, assures Francis Kagema, regional director of coastal protection. Another advantage: its lower cost compared to the construction of dikes.