Guinea-Bissau is a mangrove country. These unique coastal forests cover around 326,000 hectares (about 806,000 acres), or 9% of the national territory — the highest proportion in the world. They not only sequester vast amounts of carbon but also provide essential services for local communities by sustaining fisheries and protecting the coastline, as well as serving as vital habitats for migratory birds and other threatened species such as manatees, dolphins and sea turtles.

As a program manager for Wetlands International, I’ve seen this with my own eyes. I’ve also witnessed these ecosystems come under threat over the years due to overexploitation and environmental degradation. Over the past 80 years, the total area of mangrove forests in my country has declined by almost a third.

However, a grassroots revolution is underway, spearheaded by national organizations, international partners and communities to restore mangrove landscapes in Guinea-Bissau. Since the efforts began in 2016, mangrove landscapes in my country have become more climate-resilient, and the surrounding communities more socially and economically prosperous.

Grassroots organizations: The heartbeat of ecological mangrove restoration

Grassroots organizations are taking center stage in the restoration of mangroves. Operating in the southern part of the country, particularly around Cantanhez National Park, close to the border with Guinea, these organizations partner with international organizations such as Wetlands International to identify sites, mobilize communities, implement best-practice restoration and conservation actions, and monitor progress.

Our collaboration with local organizations like these is essential. With them, we’ve adopted a transformative approach called Ecological Mangrove Restoration. This method differs from conventional restoration techniques in that it focuses on optimizing conditions for the mangroves to restore naturally (for example, by removing hydrological imbalances caused by the construction of dikes for rice-growing purposes), a process driven by members of the community. After they are trained in the methodology, they work with us to improve the water supply to rice fields by breaking dikes and clearing channels, thus restoring the site’s natural water flow — one of the main requirements for mangrove growth. This model ensures sustainability and resilience, as it leverages local knowledge and resources, while fostering ownership of the project outcomes.

And grassroots organizations not only facilitate the restoration but also create a ripple effect across the region, inspiring others to take similar steps and thereby creating a network of restoration initiatives that scale upward to larger conservation goals.

From local action to global impact

Overexploitation of mangrove ecosystems, driven by excessive firewood extraction and land conversion for agriculture, often occurs because local communities lack viable alternatives. A key element of our strategy is to support local communities through training, a “food for work” mechanism, and by promoting mangrove-positive economic activities such as savings and loans groups. In return for their work, community members receive cash, food and other support such as assistance with their vegetable gardens. This multifaceted approach has proved to be highly effective, benefitting 777 households in 2024.

By integrating these financial incentives with environmental restoration, the program not only enhances food security but also strengthens the local economy and reduces overexploitation of mangroves. This has led to a noticeable shift in how communities perceive mangroves, moving from exploitative practices to conservation and sustainable management.

Community involvement: A win-win for people and nature

For the people of Guinea-Bissau, the restoration of mangroves is more than just an environmental project — it’s a lifeline. Mangroves shield villages from floods, improve fish stocks and protect vital rice fields. The benefits extend beyond just environmental gains; they have social and economic dimensions as well.

Take Daniel, a beekeeper from the village of Baracca, who has seen firsthand how mangrove restoration has transformed his livelihood.

“Mangroves are important for local communities,” he says. “Before, we used to cut down mangroves because we didn’t know their value. But now, we’ve learned their importance. We’ve stopped cutting, and I even started producing mangrove honey, which holds great wealth for us.”

Daniel’s story is echoed by many others in the region. The restored mangroves are providing new opportunities for economic development. Local women, for instance, have been empowered through 45 savings and loans groups established by Wetlands International. These groups, which offer access to small loans, have helped more than 1,000 women start small businesses, like palm oil production and vegetable farming, allowing them to support their families and contribute to the community’s resilience.

“I can never forget what Wetlands International did for us,” says Laura Sania, the owner of a palm oil-processing business in the village of Apilho. “They showed us the importance of mangroves and helped us set up a savings and loans group, which has allowed me to borrow money and pay the people who help me make palm oil. We’ve stopped cutting mangroves, and now we have so much fish.”

Laura’s story and those of many like her make me confident that the mangrove restoration projects are not just about restoring and protecting vegetation, they’re about transforming lives. The savings and loans groups, in particular, have become a critical tool for empowering women and ensuring that the benefits of restoration are felt throughout the community.

A future built on collaboration

The restoration of mangroves in Guinea-Bissau is a shining example of what can be achieved when local communities take the lead. But as Jean-Louis Sanka, an IUCN representative in Guinea-Bissau, points out, collaboration is essential to sustaining these efforts.

“We must work together, we need synergy, pooling resources, and that’s what we are doing through PLANTA, the national mangrove platform,” he says. PLANTA, the National Mangrove Landscapes Platform of Guinea-Bissau, launched in 2020, bringing together more than 20 government agencies, international NGOs and national organizations to promote and track restoration efforts.

But the collaboration that’s needed extends beyond government and local and international organizations. It also includes the communities themselves, who now see the protection of mangroves as integral to their own future. As one park      ranger, Padjallo, eloquently puts it, “Mangroves and humans, they are married. We cannot separate them. We depend on mangroves every day for our livelihoods.”

The journey to restore Guinea-Bissau’s mangroves is far from over, but the results so far are promising. Between 2015 and 2024, 2,600 hectares (about 6,400 acres) of mangroves were restored by Wetlands International. These efforts are not just about protecting nature, they are about building a sustainable future where both people and ecosystems can thrive.

As the movement continues to grow, the grassroots organizations leading the way in Guinea-Bissau offer a blueprint for similar efforts around the world. By giving everyone a seat at the table, the restored mangroves generate benefits for all stakeholders, whether they are individuals, communities, the natural ecosystems surrounding the mangroves, or the businesses that rely upon the ecosystems for raw materials. We must ensure that funding reaches the grassroots level, because by placing communities at the heart of restoration, they are creating a legacy that will benefit generations to come.

Banner image: Residents of the village of Baraca gather at a mangrove restoration site. Image courtesy of Wetlands International & Beyond Borders Media.

Abdoulaye Ndiaye is an award-winning program manager for Wetlands International in Guinea-Bissau. He has experience in wetlands management and waterbird monitoring, poverty reduction and climate change adaptation in more than 30 countries with a focus in West, Central and East Africa. During his career with Wetlands International Abdoulaye has mobilized funds, designed and managed projects, worked as a trainer in wetland management and developed educational curricula.

How a holistic approach aims to heal mangroves in Guinea-Bissau