Conserve mangroves - secure livelihoods The pilot project "
Des Leçons sur la Mangrove" is an education and reforestation project, which will be implemented in 2022/23 in the public school of Avlékété, a fisher village in southern Benin. The project will be realized in collaboration with the local NGO
Centre de Recherche pour la Gestion de la Biodiversité, who is working to protect wetlands in Benin since 1996 (e.g.
educational work) and member of the
World Wetland Network. The project teaches school children and teachers about the importance of mangroves and supports them getting involved in mangrove conservation and reforestation by theoretical and practical knowledge. Learning venues are: the classroom, a tree nursery on the school ground and the mangroves in the lagoon of Ouidah. The theoretical and practical knowledge will be communicated by scientific staff.
Goals:
- to empower and encourage school children through education and involvement for mangrove conservation.
- to create a hands-on community project, that helps to support the natural regeneration of degraded areas by growing mangrove seedlings.
- establishment of a youth group that is committed to long-term mangrove conservation.
Why are mangroves important?
Mangroves contribute significantly to the well-being of coastal communities through a wide array of goods and services. This includes provisioning (e.g. timber, fish), regulating (e.g. climate and coastal protection), supporting (e.g. improving water quality, nursery ground for fish and shellfish) and cultural (e.g. tourism, religion) services. More than three million people live in the coastal zone of Benin. Many of them depend on the mangrove ecosystem for subsistence and small economic activities.
Mangroves under pressure
Rising population density and the increasing demand for natural resources putting severe pressure on the ecosystem. Overexploitation and land use changes have led to the loss of mangroves in many areas of the lagoon. This loss impacts the income, health and safety of the local population. For example, the loss leads to declining fish stocks and increased vulnerability to extreme weather events. Awareness of the value of mangroves, sustainable use and income diversification are essential to counteract further degradation and secure the livelihoods of coastal communities in Benin.
