Mornings along the coast carry a unique calm. As waves gently hit the shore, the sound of the wind flows through mangrove trees or rather, as it used to. Today, in some parts of the Indian Ocean coastline, that silence has taken on a different meaning; it is a silence filled with unanswered questions as mangroves continue to decline rapidly.
For many years, coastal communities have depended on mangroves as a source of firewood, construction materials, and quick income through small-scale trade.
However, this dependence lacking clear limits and strong management has turned into a major threat to the survival of mangroves. Uncontrolled cutting, environmentally unsustainable construction, and other human activities have left many areas exposed, vulnerable to coastal erosion and the loss of fish breeding grounds. That is when a new story of hope began to unfold.
At Ilulu grounds in Lindi Municipality, during the commemoration of World Forest Day and a national tree-planting campaign, voices from environmental stakeholders echoed a strong call for change. Among them was the Earth lungs organisation, which has emerged as a key player in mangrove restoration efforts in Tanzania.
Speaking at the event, the organisation’s Project Coordinator, Husen Hassan, emphasise that since launching their activities in 2024, they have already planted 40 million mangroves, with an 85 percent survival rate a significant achievement demonstrating the success of their efforts.
“We started in the Tanga Region, but now we are also in the Coast Region.
Currently, we are implementing projects in the districts of Mkinga, Tanga City, and Pangani, as well as Bagamoyo. Our goal is to expand further to southern regions including Lindi and Mtwara,” explained Hassan.
He added that mangroves have the ability to absorb carbon dioxide four times more than ordinary trees, making them a powerful tool in the fight against climate change.
“It is one of the most affected tree species due to excessive cutting, which is why we chose to start with it to save what is being lost rapidly,” he stressed.
On his part, Earth lungs’ Chief Forest Operations Manager, John Logart, explained the organisation’s unique strategy of placing communities at the centers of the solution. He said that 80 percent of project activities are designed to directly benefit local communities.
“When we operate in an area, we ensure that local people are employed. This makes them the guardians of the mangroves themselves,” he said.
He added that after restoring mangrove areas, the organisation introduces alternative income-generating activities such as beekeeping, goat farming, and mushroom cultivation to reduce direct dependence on mangroves.
This story comes to life through the testimony of Huruma David, a Social Impact Officer at Earth lungs, who explained how community livelihoods have improved.
“In the past, people cut mangroves to earn a living. But now we employ them to plant and care for mangroves, and at the end of the month, they receive salaries,” she said. “Today, they can pay school fees, buy food, and meet other needs without destroying the environment.”
She noted that mangrove forests alone cover more than 27,660 hectares in Lindi and Kilwa districts, with ongoing efforts to plant at least 10 hectares annually to strengthen conservation.
Demonstrating the government’s commitment, the Minister of Natural Resources and Tourism, Dr. Ashatu Kijaji, led the planting of 120 mangrove seedlings at Machole beach as part of the preparations for the celebrations.
Speaking during the exercise, Dr. Kijaji said Tanzania has approximately 158,100 hectares of mangrove forests, emphasise their importance to the national economy and the health of the planet.
“Mangroves are extremely important. They have a high capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, which is the main driver of climate change.
But they are also breeding grounds for fish and other marine life,” she said. “If we destroy mangroves, we are also destroying sources of food and income for our communities.”
As the sun set over the skies of Lindi that day, it was not just the end of the commemoration it marked the beginning of a renewed promise: a promise to restore what has been lost. From the hands of communities that once cut mangroves, to becoming their protectors today, the story of mangroves is being rewritten.
And in every seedling planted, there is hope for a healthier environment, a sustainable economy, and a future generation that will inherit a revived and living ocean.
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