Kenya’s ambitious drive to grow 15 billion trees by 2032 received a major boost after more than 4,000 people participated in a synchronised mangrove planting exercise that has positioned the country to set a new Guinness World Record.
The historic exercise, held at the Jomvu Mangrove Ecosystem in Mombasa County, brought together 4,196 scouts, community members and conservationists in a coordinated effort to plant mangrove seedlings as part of this year’s International Day for the Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems.
Following independent verification, 4,124 participants successfully met the strict synchronisation and logistical standards required by Guinness World Records, surpassing the previous record of 3,001 participants.
The evidence will now be submitted to Guinness World Records for verification before the official outcome is announced.
Organised by the Kenya Forest Service (KFS) in collaboration with the Kenya Scouts Association (KSA) and the M-PESA Foundation, the initiative was designed not only to pursue a world record but also to accelerate restoration of degraded coastal ecosystems and support national climate action.
Mangrove forests are among the world’s most effective natural carbon sinks, storing significant amounts of carbon while protecting coastlines from erosion, supporting fisheries and providing habitats for marine biodiversity.
Their restoration has become an important component of Kenya’s efforts to build climate resilience and strengthen the blue economy.
Independent witness Dr. Clement Ng’oriareng, Principal Senior Deputy Chief Conservator of Forests at KFS, said the achievement demonstrated Kenya’s growing leadership in ecosystem restoration.
“What we witnessed today at the Jomvu Ecosystem was nothing short of extraordinary. As an official independent witness, I can verify that out of 4,196 participants, 4,124 met the logistical precision and absolute synchronisation of the highest standards of verification required by the Guinness World Records team,” he said.
This year’s event was held under the theme “Healthy Mangroves for Sustainable Blue Economy and Climate Resilience,” highlighting the growing importance of mangrove restoration in addressing climate change while supporting sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities.
Organisers said the synchronized planting exercise required months of planning, participant training and strict adherence to Guinness World Records guidelines.
KFS officers supervised the exercise while independent witnesses verified compliance to ensure the integrity of the record attempt.
The KFS said the initiative reflects the growing impact of partnerships in advancing environmental conservation, bringing together government, the private sector, youth and local communities in support of national restoration goals.
If ratified by Guinness World Records, the achievement will place Kenya on the global map for environmental stewardship while demonstrating how large-scale public participation can contribute to climate action, ecosystem restoration and the country’s long-term vision of increasing national tree cover to 30% by 2032.
