Mangrove forests are exceptional ecosystems. Looked at from the water side they are quite unique, with the high stilted tree trunks they give the impression of being afraid of the water. On the stilt roots, uncovered at low tide, one can see crabs and shrimps crawling around, and molluscs of all kinds live attached to the roots such as oysters or move up and down with the water level such as snails. All the while birds patiently look out for prey. Mudskippers, hopping out of the water, adventure on the muddy soil between the roots.

At high tide the roots are covered again with sea water, leaving only the crowns of the trees above the water line. With their tangled root system, mangroves protect the coastline against erosion from wave action and storms.

The mangrove ecosystem is an essential resource for the local communities. The mangrove trees provide them with fuelwood and timber for house construction, fences and furniture. In the creek waters the communities collect fish, prawns, crabs and shellfish. Many fish species spend their larval and sub-adult stages in the mangroves, finding refuge between the root systems as well as plenty of food; as adults they move to the nearby seagrass beds and coral reefs where they can be fished by artisanal fisherman.

It is estimated that one hectare of healthy mangrove forest produces 450 kilogrammes of prawns and 750 kilogrammes of fish per year. However, due to an increasing population pressure and the resultant uncontrolled use, mangrove ecosystems are degrading at an alarming rate.

In Kenya more than 10% of the mangrove area has already disappeared, while in most areas the largest trees have been severely depleted. Over-exploitation of the timber resource has an impact on their food resource as shown by reduced fish catches in the creeks and lagoons.

Having lower fish catches and needing more time to find fuelwood and good poles for house construction, local communities are becoming concerned about the mangrove environment upon which they depend. It is this concern that led a women's group in Mida Creek to start re-planting bare places with mangrove seedlings. Their initiative was quickly followed by two other groups of men and children from the same community. There are now about 27 women, 15 men and 50 children active in mangrove re-afforestation. They collect propagules or seeds of different mangrove species in the forest: Rhizophora mucronate (mkoko), Burguiera gymnorrhiza (mshinzi), Ceriops tagal (mkandaa), Avicennia marina (mchu) and Xylocarpus granatum (mkomafi). The propagules are grown in a nursery which they have put up in the shade of mangrove trees at the edge of the swamp near the village. After a few months the seedlings are planted on bare areas along the creek, about 10,000 seedlings have already been planted. The whole activity is however quite work intensive.

Whilst in Mida Creek I participated in one of the planting activities. From early morning women, men and children gathered at the nursery to collect a number of seedlings.

Carrying the seedlings on their heads or in their arms the groups walked for a few kilometers through shallow waters and sticky muddy areas to reach another bare place to be replanted. Upon arrival different tasks were distributed and the planting activity began: indicating the planting sites, digging the holes to the right depth and carefully packing the mud around them. After a few hours the bare place was covered with young green plants.