Sustainable Management of Mangrove Ecosystems

Context

According to the FAO, Africa has lost nearly 1.3 million acres of its mangroves— the equivalent of more than 688.000 soccer fields—over the past 25 years. Yet mangrove areas represent an essential biodiversity and, given the resources they provide to the population, they play a major role in the economy.

The degradation factors include: climate change (coastal erosion, changes in the degree of salinity, droughts), human activities such as the overexploitation of timber (charcoal, lumber) and fishery resources (crustaceans and seashells, fish…), paddy cultivation, aggressive touristic activities, and lack of local initiatives to protect, preserve and restore mangroves.

The disappearing mangroves are having a negative impact on the basic needs of the population: the food supply is affected, and the sources of income have greatly declined (i.e. fishing income and plant collecting for the purpose of pharmacopeia). The poorest and most vulnerable groups of people tend to depend more on this sort of activities (“ecosystem services”) and are therefore now living in a more precarious state.

The threat of land grabbing by private investors is also an issue as it may affect biodiversity in these areas that are already vulnerable. Due to the complex nature of the environment, there is need for intervention aiming at socio-ecological resilience by improving the well-being of the communities depending on mangrove ecosystems and protecting their habitat.

Location

Saloum Delta: Palmarin and Fimela villages

Activities

This project is aimed at four stakeholders which are: civil society organizations, community management committees, public authorities and public organizations and, academic partners.

Together, they carry out the following actions:

• Improve the capacities of local associations and other stakeholders (eco-guards, city councilors) to raise more awareness on the vulnerable nature of the Réserve Naturelle Communautaire de Palmarin (RNCP – The Palmarin Community Natural Reserve), and improve overall management such as monitoring reforestation and raising awareness.
• Support the development and increase income-generating activities.
• Action research, especially doctoral theses, dissertations and studies in collaboration with universities in the North and South, research centers, partners from ONG and public services.
• Capitalize and share knowledge and experiences.
• Provide technical support on the use of Geographic Information System (GIS).

Contact Persons: Ousmane NIANG & Thierry DE COSTER