Tabichi Nyaganga

Kenyan environmentalist restoring mangrove ecosystems through community-driven conservation

Tabichi Nyaganga, a grassroots environmentalist from Kenya’s coastal region, has dedicated his life to restoring mangrove forests in the Gazi Bay. Born in 1978, Nyaganga witnessed the decline of mangroves due to illegal logging and climate change, threatening both biodiversity and local livelihoods reliant on fishing.

In 2010, he co-founded the Gazi Mangrove Conservation Group, training villagers to replant mangroves and adopt sustainable fishing practices. His ‘carbon offset’ program allows global companies to fund mangrove restoration, creating jobs for women and youth. Over 500,000 mangroves have been replanted under his leadership, boosting fish stocks and protecting coastal communities from erosion.

Nyaganga’s work gained international acclaim when the Gazi Bay project became Africa’s first blue carbon initiative. His model blends traditional knowledge with modern science, proving that local action can drive global environmental change. By empowering communities to become stewards of their ecosystems, Nyaganga offers a replicable solution to ecological crises.