Mapping Mangroves

Mapping Mangroves aims to empower communities and local actors engaged in the protection and regeneration of the mangrove of the lower delta of the Senegal River, a key ecosystem for preventing coastal erosion, to preserve biodiversity and structure sustainable economic activities. The mangrove forest of the lower delta is the least documented in the country, even though it plays a central role for the territory and the people. Mapping Mangroves strengthens the power of action of communities and local actors to protect and regenerate the mangrove of the lower delta of the Senegal River, a strategic ecosystem for biodiversity, coastal resilience and sustainable economic activities. Poorly documented and threatened, this mangrove suffers from a lack of reliable data, limiting conservation strategies. The project innovates by combining participatory mapping, ecological monitoring of mangrove areas and the ecosystem to produce data co-constructed with local stakeholders. Over 24 months, Mapping Mangroves consolidates the local network, structures interventions and mobilizes communities around mangrove preservation. It supports ecological restoration through nurseries and targeted replanting, develops sustainable economic activities and promotes advocacy for the recognition of this ecosystem as a strategic space. Led by SEED and the GIE Suxali Alam, in partnership with Gaston Berger University, the project promotes local knowledge, facilitates decision support and is a replicable model for other territories. Mapping Mangroves thus helps to protect biodiversity, limit coastal erosion, strengthen resilience to climate change and strengthen the link between people and the river.