Summary
The Creating Community-Based Mangrove Conservation and Livelihood project, led by SDN, is a one-year initiative focused on reversing mangrove and biodiversity loss within Bayelsa State, Nigeria. This project aims to establish sustainable, community-led mangrove protection and management plans while fostering alternative livelihood opportunities in two pilot communities near Edumanon National Park.
Leveraging local and governmental partnerships, the project will implement a phased approach to educate communities on sustainable mangrove practices, support mangrove-based livelihood training, and encourage local stewardship. By aligning with the Bayelsa State Government and national environmental ministries, SDN will work to create a replicable model for broader mangrove conservation across Bayelsa State. The initiative includes the deployment of community-selected mangrove guards, research into sustainable mangrove uses, and scalable livelihood models like managed charcoal production and nipa palm repurposing.
The project not only seeks to protect vital coastal ecosystems but also to improve economic resilience and food security in the Niger Delta, providing a holistic approach to climate change mitigation, ecosystem restoration, and community development.
Aim
The aim of the project is to halt and reverse the degradation of mangrove ecosystems in Bayelsa State, Nigeria, by establishing community-led protection and conservation plans. Through the development of sustainable livelihood opportunities, this project seeks to empower local communities to actively participate in mangrove conservation, enhance biodiversity, and strengthen the economic resilience of coastal populations.
Key Activities
1. Community Engagement and Initial Research
- Conduct a project kick-off workshop to align key implementers and stakeholders on project goals and objectives.
- Engage with target communities through entry visits and buy-in meetings to secure local endorsement.
- Perform research on current community use of mangroves and related resources, identifying sustainable livelihood opportunities and mapping resource usage.
2. Development of Community-Led Mangrove Management Plans
- Organise a stakeholder workshop to draft community-led mangrove management plans based on research findings.
- Select and train 30 community members as mangrove guards, including women, to lead local mangrove conservation efforts.
- Provide capacity-building sessions on sustainable mangrove practices and alternative, nature-based livelihoods, such as managed charcoal production and nipa palm utilisation.
3. Pilot Sustainable Livelihood Programs
- Implement pilot livelihood projects to reduce community dependence on mangroves, focusing on nature-based solutions that support conservation.
- Equip mangrove guards with skills for sustainable resource management, promoting long-term community resilience.
4. Advocacy and Knowledge Sharing
- Facilitate multi-stakeholder advocacy sessions to encourage policy support for community-led mangrove conservation approaches.
- Document lessons learned to inform potential statewide scaling of conservation efforts.
5. Monitoring and Evaluation
- Conduct regular monitoring and evaluation through field visits, stakeholder meetings, and workshops to assess project impact and identify areas for improvement.
- Hold a project close-out workshop to review outcomes and finalise next steps for broader application of community-led mangrove management models in Bayelsa State.
Context
Nigeria’s mangrove forests, located primarily in the Niger Delta, represent Africa’s largest mangrove ecosystem and are vital for biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and coastal resilience. These forests provide critical habitat for numerous species, support local fisheries, and protect communities from coastal erosion and flooding. However, Nigeria’s mangroves are among the least protected in the world, with only 6% under formal protection, and are facing accelerated degradation due to unsustainable fuelwood harvesting, pollution from oil spills, urban expansion, and the spread of invasive species like the nipa palm.
Bayelsa State, home to the Edumanon National Park and other key mangrove areas, is particularly affected by these pressures. Communities in this region rely heavily on mangrove ecosystems for their livelihoods, with many people engaged in fishing, aquaculture, and small-scale farming. Despite the economic and ecological importance of these mangroves, there is minimal institutional support for their conservation, and current efforts remain small-scale and fragmented.
This project by SDN seeks to address these challenges by promoting a community-led, sustainable approach to mangrove conservation. Through collaboration with local communities and governmental bodies, the project aims to develop scalable conservation practices that integrate community needs with ecosystem protection. By creating sustainable livelihood options linked to mangrove conservation, this initiative strives to reduce pressure on the mangrove forests, support biodiversity, and enhance the economic resilience of the region’s coastal communities.
Funder
