This archive report was first published on 2 November 2019.
On October 31, 2019, World Cities Day coincided with the end of a three-day mangrove conference in Lamu County, home to 60% of Kenya's mangrove forests.
The conference, attended by over 100 scientists, emphasized the importance of mangrove conservation for both nature and people.
As coastal cities grow, the biodiversity of these areas is declining, with mangroves providing crucial resilience against flooding and serving as habitats for diverse wildlife.
According to Nathan Mutunga, a Spatial Planning Officer at World Wide Fund for Nature-Kenya (WWF-Kenya), 'If our children and the future generations are to enjoy and benefit from our cities, we urgently need to change course and the dangerously unbalanced relationship with nature.'
The Paris Agreement, signed by Kenya on December 12, 2015, aims to limit global warming to at least 1.5 degrees, requiring a coordinated approach by cities to tackle climate change impacts.
Interventions are already in place, but efforts need to be intensified to conserve and reverse the loss of urban coastal ecosystems.
City decision-makers should encourage renewable energy use, urban biodiversity conservation, sustainable waste management, and reduced emissions from industries and urban mobility.
