Restoring Reefs,
Rebuilding Lives
Together with Coral Guardian, we're pioneering community-led coral restoration in the Kuruwitu Marine Protected Area - where conservation meets livelihoods.
Kuruwitu, Kilifi County
Indian Ocean Coast
12,000 Hectares
Protected Area
Since 2024
Active Collaboration
Our Joint Mission
The REEL Kilifi
Project
Restoring Reef Ecosystems for Enhanced Livelihoods is more than a coral restoration project - it's a transformative initiative in Kenya's Indian Ocean waters.
The project unfolds in the 12,000-hectare Kuruwitu coastal co-management area in Kilifi County. This pioneering zone benefits from shared coastal and marine resource management between the government and the local fishing community, making it a beacon of effective collaborative conservation in Kenya.
"A pioneer in effective collaborative conservation in Kenya - where communities and government protect the ocean together."
Government + Community
Co-managed conservation area
Fishing Community
Local stewards & beneficiaries
Coral Nurseries
Community-built & maintained
Sustainable Fishing
Enhanced marine livelihoods
Science Meets Community
Our Restoration
Techniques
Methods adapted and replicable by local communities, ensuring sustainable impact.
Coral Restoration
We use methods that are adapted and replicable by local communities. On-site coral nurseries house fragments of opportunity corals collected in the area.
Collection
Opportunity coral fragments collected from the area
Nurture
Community-maintained nurseries care for young corals
Transplant
Corals planted on locally-built artificial reefs
Community Training
Fishermen trained in coral biology and restoration methods over several months
Protected Zone
Restoration within the Tengefu law protected area, ensuring sustainability
Innovation in Action: We're testing new methods to find the most appropriate and financially sustainable approaches for this unique environment.
Community at the Core
Involving Local
Communities
The community plays a central role in the adoption and implementation of the project - from training to teaching to shared ownership.
Fisherman Training
Local fishermen trained by the project team in coral restoration methods over several months
- •Awareness of coral reef importance
- •Reinforcement of local reef management capacities
- •Hands-on restoration techniques
Youth Education
Developing tools to help teachers in local schools raise awareness among young people
- •Educational materials for schools
- •Engaging curriculum on ocean conservation
- •Inspiring the next generation of reef guardians
Community Ownership
Regular exchanges between team and community members to share results and engage in protection
- •Peer-to-peer learning networks
- •Community citizen science
- •Shared project results and benefits
Our Goal
To develop a sense of ownership in the local community by fostering peer-to-peer learning in the context of community citizen science, and by sharing the results of the project with the immediate and wider community.
Evidence-Based Impact
Monitoring &
Evaluation
We track both ecological and social outcomes to ensure lasting, meaningful impact.
Biological Monitoring
Coral Health
Monitor survival, growth, and natural recruitment of coral larvae
Water Quality
Regular temperature monitoring and coral bleaching observations
Marine Life
Fish species diversity, biomass estimates, and invertebrate populations
Social Monitoring
Socio-Economic Data
Track benefits from the reef: fisheries and tourism evolution
Community Perception
Regular surveys and interviews with the fishing community
Outreach Impact
Monitor attendance at presentations to stakeholders and schools
The Future
Looking Ahead:
Project Evolution
From Local Success to Regional Model
The overall aim of this collaboration is to strengthen and extend the participatory coral reef restoration models implemented in the Kuruwitu Tengefu Community Protection Area in Kenya, in order to support local communities.
Living Classroom
The Kuruwitu area will serve as a living classroom for training new communities, sharing experiences and best practices across the region.
Adapted Approach
Following a restoration approach adapted to the socio-economic context of local traditional fishing communities - scalable and sustainable.
"This partnership represents more than coral restoration - it's about empowering communities to become the guardians of their own marine heritage, creating a model that can be replicated across Kenya's coast and beyond."
Support Community-Led
Coral Restoration
Your contribution directly funds training, equipment, and long-term monitoring for the REEL Kilifi project - empowering local communities to restore their reefs and secure their livelihoods.
Donate to the Project →Coral Nurseries
Fisherman Training
Marine Monitoring
Community Outreach