Kenya to attempt Guinness World Record with 5,000 volunteers in Mombasa mangrove restoration drive
The challenge falls under the Guinness World Records category for the most people planting mangrove trees simultaneously and will coincide with the.
Mombasa residents planting mangrove along Tudor Creek during a past conservation drive. (Photo: Courtesy)
Thousands of volunteers are expected to converge at the Jomvu Mangrove Ecosystem in Mombasa County on Sunday as Kenya seeks to set a Guinness World Record for the largest number of people planting mangrove trees simultaneously.
The record attempt, being organised through a partnership between the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and the Kenya Scouts Association (KSA), is expected to bring together about 5,000 participants in a coordinated restoration exercise aimed at restoring degraded mangrove forests while securing global recognition for the conservation effort.
The challenge falls under the Guinness World Records category for the most people planting mangrove trees simultaneously and will coincide with the International Day for the Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems, observed annually on July 26.
More To Read
This year's global theme is Healthy Mangroves for Sustainable Blue Economy and Climate Resilience, highlighting the role of mangrove forests in protecting coastlines, supporting marine biodiversity and strengthening resilience against climate change.
According to KFS, the exercise is intended to go beyond a record attempt by contributing to the conservation, protection and sustainable management of Kenya's mangrove ecosystems, which are considered critical for coastal livelihoods and environmental sustainability.
The agency said the initiative also supports the government's national tree-growing programme, which aims to plant 15 billion trees across 10.6 million hectares by 2032 in an effort to raise the country's tree cover to 30 per cent.
To ensure the attempt complies with Guinness World Records requirements, KFS has assumed the lead technical and coordination role, working alongside the Kenya Scouts Association on planning and implementation.
The agency said preparations have included technical mapping of the planting site, assessing site readiness, coordinating volunteer logistics and maintaining engagement with Guinness World Records officials, independent witnesses and local community stakeholders.
As part of the verification process, KFS has appointed two independent witnesses and deployed 50 stewards who will oversee participant groups during the exercise.
Their role will be to provide impartial supervision, monitor compliance with Guinness World Records guidelines and prepare the independent reports required to validate the attempt.
The event is expected to draw thousands of participants to the Jomvu Mangrove Ecosystem, making it one of the largest coordinated mangrove restoration activities ever organised in Kenya.
If successful, the attempt will place Kenya in the Guinness World Records while drawing international attention to ongoing efforts to restore coastal forests and promote environmental conservation.
The organisers say the exercise is designed to deliver lasting ecological benefits through the restoration of mangrove habitats, which play a key role in protecting shorelines, supporting fisheries and storing carbon