Lamu Town 15

Thick mangroves and sandy waters of the Lamu archipelago of the East African coast. A magnificent welcome to the landscape that is the backdrop to Swahili culture. Meandering mangrove channels create intricate patterns echoing the arborescent patterns of the Turkana Basin rift.

The presence of mangrove forests on the East African coast made exploitation of the area lucrative for Arab, Indian and Chinese traders. The mangroves were and still are harvested specifically for poles due to their ability to withstand harsh weather conditions and extended human use. They are well adapted to grow on the muddy shores of the ocean which means they are at significant risk of overexploitation due to the ease of harvesting. Mangroves were also removed to give way to other economic activities on the coastline.