Net Pay: Economic Analysis of a Replanted Mangrove Plantation in Kenya

Economic analysis of mangrove reforestation is provided for a replanted Rhizophora mucronata plantation at Gazi Bay, Kenya. Major goods and services from a 12-year plantation were identified as: firewood and building poles, coastal protection, ecotourism, research and education, carbon sequestration and on-site fisheries. The net value of extractable wood products was estimated at US$379.17/ha/yr. For nonextractable products, however, the net value ranged from US$44.42/ha/yr in carbon sequestration to US$1,586.66/ha/yr in coastal protection. The total economic value of a 12-year-old Rhizophora plantation was therefore US$2902.87/ha/yr. Since most of these benefits cannot be internalized, there is need for governments to promote community efforts in mangrove reforestation through finding ways of marketing ecosystem services of the replanted forests.