Today is World Population Day, a day where we reflect on the collective impact of over 8 billion people on the planet. Our growing population and rising consumption are putting the planet under pressure like never before. With wildlife species already going extinct, nature can’t wait for us to take action. We decided to reach out to our partners to show what they’re doing to protect and restore nature in their communities.

Dorcas Wakio – mANGROVE RESTORATION 

Dorcas is a passionate climate activist based in Kenya, and one of our Choice Ambassadors.

“We are combining traditional knowledge with modern conservation to promote local ownership, to empower communities, and to build a sustainable future.” 

Dorcas Wakio

She founded the Mazingira Pamoja Initiative which organises community-led mangrove restoration projects.

Did you know? Mangroves are considered a nature-based solution to climate change.

• Mangroves’ biggest strength is their ability to capture and store carbon in the muddy soil they prefer to grow in – mangrove forests are a valuable carbon sink to absorb excess carbon from the atmosphere.

• Mangrove forests also improve local biodiversity, their vast root systems providing habitat for local species, including juvenile sharks, shellfish, and even bees!

Did you know? Mangrove forests also provide employment opportunities for local communities.

• Shellfish gathering, fishing, and beekeeping are some of these opportunities that communities living alongside mangroves can benefit from with a thriving mangrove forest.

Dorcas’ organisation works with communities to replant mangroves – they’ve already planted 20,000 and plan to hit 1,000,000 by 2030- with women and girls playing a leading role in conservation. 

The AWAKENING – youth LEADERS TO PROTECT NATURE

“If we lose our rivers and forests, we lose our future. We are not separate from nature, we are part of it.”

The Awakening

The Awakening are an organisation that strives to empower vulnerable and disenfranchised women in rural areas of Pakistan by building feminist leadership, advances for women’s human rights, advocate and mobilize for gender equality and social justice.

In northern Pakistan, the stunning Swat Valley is facing growing environmental pressure – from deforestation and waste dumping to the effects of climate change- all exacerbated by a growing population.

The Awakening is working with girls, young people, and local communities to protect nature and promote environmental awareness through eco-literacy workshops, school-led river clean-ups, and reforestation campaigns. 

Since 2023, over 200 young people have joined their “Empowering Youth for Climate Justice” clubs; planting trees, leading waste audits and going on clean up drives. Their trainings on menstrual waste and climate resilience have reached 500 girls and vastly reduced plastic usage.

“Nature can’t wait, and neither can we”

The Awakening

Here are some powerful words from their Director, Erfaan Hussein Babak, on the importance of youth engagement in protecting nature:

Turimiquire Foundation – Sustainable agriculture

Turimiquire Foundation are a community-based organisation focused on family planning, rural education and agricultural development with communities in Sucre, Venezuela. 

They follow a Population Health Environment (PHE) model.

Their work has stopped destructive slash and burn practices to clear forest for farmland and instead worked with the local community to promote more sustainable agriculture practices such as agroforestry.

Turimiquire Foundation recognises that the health of the people is just as important as the health of the environment.

With their PHE model they promote environmental education and fulfil unmet need for family planning.

Watch this video to find out more.

KOMB GREEN – tree planting

Komb Green volunteers have participated in the Nairobi River Regeneration, a project aimed to revitalized Nairobi’s rivers into vibrant waterfronts.

The project seeks to improve the quality of life for the residents by reclaiming the river as a shared public good, enhancing biodiversity and providing sustainable water resource.

Komb Green volunteers have removed trash polluting the local rivers.

They’ve also participated in growing seedlings to plant along the banks of Nairobi’s rivers. Tree planting helps to improve soil health and stability, turning river banks into thriving ecosystems that support a wealth of local species.

ghettoh clean

Ghettoh Clean is a Youth Environmental Group based in the informal slum settlement of Kibera on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya.

“Ghettoh Clean Youth Group was founded in 2016, right after I finished high school in 2015. I couldn’t manage to go to college or university since my parents couldn’t afford to pay for my fees, I was frustrated since I couldn’t imagine being idle as I knew its consequences having been brought up in the slum. I got passionate about trying to get a solution regarding the bad image of our environment. On a daily basis, I always woke up early in the morning with some of my friends and did some clean up in the small narrow river…we realized that there was some change but still we were not satisfied with some of the residents who still lacked awareness. So I spent two months hustling for some money for an environmental campaign and also for purchasing the polythene bags which were used at that time. I initiated a garbage collection activity after holding the campaign in Kibra.”

– Brian Omariba, Founder of Ghettoh Clean Youth Group 

Their volunteers remove and recycle waste littering the streets and polluting the local rivers. They also organise tree planting days with their volunteers, bringing benefit to the local community and environment.

CELEBRATING OUR PARTNERS

This World Population Day we’re proud to showcase the work of our grassroots partners doing all they can to protect nature with their own resourcefulness and creative ideas.

If you would like to support any of our Empower to Plan partners’ work then you can find links to their websites on this page or on our social media channels.