Empowering Women and Reviving Ecosystems in Mtwapa Creek

NatureHub Collective has reached a transformative milestone in its conservation journey after being selected for the Seeds of Sustainability Award by the Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation. This prestigious recognition celebrates the organisation’s innovative project, “Mangrove Revival: Kidongo Women Leading Kenya’s Coastal Restoration,” which merges environmental restoration with social empowerment in Mtwapa Creek, Kilifi County.

At the heart of the project is a visionary, community-driven approach to mangrove ecosystem restoration, led by women from the historically marginalized Kidongo community. With support from the Ceiba Foundation, the initiative will regenerate degraded mangrove forests while creating sustainable income-generating opportunities for local women through beekeeping enterprises and environmental ambassador training programs.

Women at the Forefront of Conservation

In many coastal regions, women play a crucial yet often under-recognized role in natural resource management. The Mangrove Revival project places women at the forefront, equipping them with tools and knowledge to lead both ecological and economic transformation. By training women as environmental ambassadors, NatureHub Collective is not only restoring coastal ecosystems but also fostering long-term community stewardship rooted in local leadership.

The project will establish community-run mangrove nurseries, supplying native seedlings for reforestation efforts. These nurseries serve as hubs of environmental learning, economic opportunity, and intergenerational knowledge-sharing, ensuring that the benefits of the project extend beyond the immediate restoration sites.

Restoring a Critical Coastal Ecosystem

Mangroves are among the most valuable ecosystems on the planet, providing vital services such as fish breeding grounds, bird nesting sites, and natural protection against coastal erosion and climate change. However, they are also among the most threatened due to unsustainable development, pollution, and overharvesting.

By restoring these vital habitats, the project will not only enhance local biodiversity but also contribute to carbon sequestration and improved climate resilience for the surrounding communities. The combination of ecological recovery with socio-economic development sets this project apart as a holistic model for community-based conservation.

Joining Ceiba’s Global Conservation Network

With this award, NatureHub Collective becomes part of an exclusive network of Conservation Partners supported by the Ceiba Foundation for Tropical Conservation. Known for its impactful work in Ecuador’s coastal forests and orchid-rich mountains, Ceiba champions local solutions to global conservation challenges. Through this partnership, NatureHub gains access to technical support, visibility, and a platform to scale their model across Kenya’s coastline and beyond.

Ceiba’s approach — connecting people and nature through conservation easements, sustainable livelihoods, and land stewardship — aligns seamlessly with NatureHub’s mission. The partnership affirms that conservation and community prosperity are not mutually exclusive but mutually reinforcing.

A New Chapter for Kenya’s Coastal Communities

The Seeds of Sustainability Award marks a powerful endorsement of NatureHub Collective’s grassroots vision for a greener, fairer future. As women in Kidongo plant mangroves, tend bees, and raise their voices as stewards of the coast, they are cultivating not only a restored ecosystem but also a renewed sense of purpose and possibility.

This initiative stands as a bold testament to what can be achieved when conservation is rooted in community, guided by equity, and driven by hope.