A Canadian Guinness World Record holder known for extraordinary tree-planting feats is set to attempt another global milestone in Kenya.

Antoine Moses, who previously set a record by planting 23,060 trees in 24 hours, seeks to plant 40,000 mangrove trees within the same time frame in Mombasa county.

He will carry out the ambitious exercise at Tudor Creek along Kenya’s coastal region in a record attempt and a major environmental restoration initiative.

Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Forestry Deborah Barasa said Kenya is honoured to host the Canadian conservationist, describing his visit as a strong endorsement of the country’s role in global climate action and ecosystem restoration.

“Kenya is honoured to welcome Antoine Moses, a Guinness World Record holder who planted 23,060 trees in 24 hours, from Canada to Coastal Kenya,” she said.

“His bold attempt to plant 40,000 mangroves within 24 hours at Tudor Creek in Mombasa county is not merely about setting a new record; it is about reversing the trend of forest degradation before it is too late.”

Barasa said mangrove ecosystems remain central to Kenya’s climate and coastal resilience strategy.

“Mangroves are vital to our nation. They protect our coastlines, support fisheries, sustain livelihoods and rank among the most effective natural systems for absorbing and storing carbon, making them indispensable to building climate resilience,” she said.

The record attempt comes as Kenya continues to expand its national tree-planting and restoration programmes aimed at restoring degraded landscapes and increasing forest cover.

Guinness World Records confirmed that Moses currently holds the record for the most trees planted by an individual in 24 hours, achieved after planting 23,060 trees in La Crete, Alberta, Canada, on July 17, 2021.

According to the organisation, Moses has been involved in tree planting for about six years, building a profile as one of the world’s most active individual reforestation campaigners.

If successful, the Mombasa attempt would mark one of the most ambitious mangrove restoration efforts ever undertaken in a single day.

This comes days after environmentalist Hillary Kiplagat embarked on an ambitious bid to break the Guinness World Records title for the most trees planted by an individual in 24 hours.

Kiplagat, a youth from Elgeyo-Marakwet county, started the attempt last week on Wednesday at Kessup Forest Station, where he aimed to plant at least 24,000 seedlings within 24 hours across 30.15 hectares.

He sought to break the current record that stands at 23,060 trees, set by Antoine Moses in La Crete, Alberta, Canada, on July 17, 2021.

Kiplagat set a new global benchmark after planting 23,326 trees within 24 hours at Kessup Forest Station in Elgeyo Marakwet county.

Kibiwott’s record attempt, which now awaits official confirmation by the Guinness World Records, marked a significant milestone in global reforestation efforts and youth-led climate action.