+254 776 600 673 | info@cobec.or.ke | P.O. Box 377 – 80108, Kilifi, Kenya

Protecting Kenya’s Coast Through Community Power

Since 2009, Community Based Environmental Conservation (COBEC) has united coastal communities to safeguard marine ecosystems, restore habitats, and protect endangered sea turtles. We believe lasting change starts locally—empowering people to become stewards of the natural resources that sustain their future.

Protecting Kenya’s Coast Through Community Power

Since 2009, Community Based Environmental Conservation (COBEC) has united coastal communities to safeguard marine ecosystems, restore habitats, and protect endangered sea turtles. We believe lasting change starts locally—empowering people to become stewards of the natural resources that sustain their future.

Protecting Kenya’s Coast Through Community Power

Since 2009, Community Based Environmental Conservation (COBEC) has united coastal communities to safeguard marine ecosystems, restore habitats, and protect endangered sea turtles. We believe lasting change starts locally—empowering people to become stewards of the natural resources that sustain their future.

Protecting Kenya’s Coast Through Community Power

Since 2009, Community Based Environmental Conservation (COBEC) has united coastal communities to safeguard marine ecosystems, restore habitats, and protect endangered sea turtles. We believe lasting change starts locally—empowering people to become stewards of the natural resources that sustain their future.

Protecting Kenya’s Coast Through Community Power

Since 2009, Community Based Environmental Conservation (COBEC) has united coastal communities to safeguard marine ecosystems, restore habitats, and protect endangered sea turtles. We believe lasting change starts locally—empowering people to become stewards of the natural resources that sustain their future.

Protecting Kenya’s Coast Through Community Power

Since 2009, Community Based Environmental Conservation (COBEC) has united coastal communities to safeguard marine ecosystems, restore habitats, and protect endangered sea turtles. We believe lasting change starts locally—empowering people to become stewards of the natural resources that sustain their future.

Our Impact

By the Numbers

Protecting Kenya's coast since 2009

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View live planting dashboardReal-time 3D restoration data

1,592,821Trees Planted

Native trees restored across coastal Kenya

1,664,621Species Restored

Biodiversity brought back to degraded ecosystems

1,000+Planting Sites

Active conservation zones along the coastline

Carbon Offset

Who We Are

Our History

Community Based Environmental Conservation (COBEC) was established in 2009 in response to the increasing threats facing Kenya's coastal and marine ecosystems. These included habitat destruction, degradation of vital ecosystems like mangroves and beaches, and a sharp rise in sea turtle mortalities due to illegal poaching of turtle eggs and meat, along with destructive human activities.

COBEC was founded on the conviction that lasting conservation can only be achieved when local communities are empowered and actively involved in the stewardship of their natural resources. Over the years, COBEC has grown into a trusted community organization that promotes grassroots environmental action, emphasizing sustainability, inclusivity, and local leadership.

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Learn about COBEC's work in Kenya's coastal ecosystems

What We Do

Our Programmes

Six core programmes driving community-led conservation across Kenya's coastal ecosystems.

Conservation Education & Awareness

Conservation Education & Awareness

Providing individuals and institutions with the knowledge, values, and skills necessary to make informed decisions and take responsible actions for environmental sustainability.

Habitat Restoration

Habitat Restoration

Focused on mangrove ecosystems, beaches, estuaries, and other important ecological areas impacted by human activities and climate change.

Sea Turtle Conservation

Sea Turtle Conservation

A community-driven, multi-pronged strategy aimed at protecting turtles throughout their life cycle along Kenya's coastline.

Livelihoods & Community Development

Livelihoods & Community Development

Investing in sustainable livelihoods as a core pillar — because lasting conservation cannot succeed without addressing the socio-economic challenges facing local communities.

Research & Monitoring

Research & Monitoring

Providing the scientific evidence base needed to design, evaluate, and continuously improve our environmental interventions.

Fisheries Management

Fisheries Management

A flagship initiative promoting sustainable, community-led fisheries governance across Kenya's northern coastline.

How We Work

Our Approach

COBEC adopts a bottom-up, community-led approach grounded in participation, voluntarism, and local empowerment — because solutions developed with those most affected are more likely to succeed and endure.

Community Decision-Making

Community Decision-Making

We place the people who bear the costs of conservation at the center of decision-making, ensuring they lead the process from start to finish.

Collaborative Solutions

Collaborative Solutions

We engage communities in identifying problems, proposing solutions, implementing actions, and monitoring outcomes together.

Local Empowerment

Local Empowerment

While we collaborate with external experts, management authority remains with the community to ensure ownership and sustainability.

Conservation by, for, and with Communities

Conservation by, for, and with Communities

We promote conservation that goes hand in hand with local development and cultural integrity.

Trusted By

Our Partners