The Mara Mangue Mangrove Restoration Project seeks to reverse ecosystem degradation in mangrove habitats while simultaneously improving the livelihoods of dependent local communities. Through close collaboration with residents, the project integrates ecological restoration, sustainable resource management, and environmental education. Key activities include establishing community-led nurseries to raise mangrove propagules and native tree species for transplantation into degraded areas, as well as restoring riparian forests along the Capivara River to enhance water quality, stabilize riverbanks, and reconnect ecological corridors. The initiative is also piloting the reintroduction of Button Mangrove (Conocarpus erectus) combined with erosion control measures like strategic planting and natural barriers to stabilize vulnerable coastal and riverine zones.
Community participation forms the core of the project, involving four communities—Iritituiua, Boa Vista, Conceição, and Ponta do Suares—in every stage, from propagule collection and nursery management to planting and monitoring. Local knowledge guides the efforts, while fishermen and shellfish gatherers receive training in sustainable harvesting practices. To ease pressure on mangroves, agroforestry systems are introduced as alternative sources of income, fuelwood, and fodder. Environmental education programs further promote participatory waste management and conservation awareness, ultimately strengthening coastal resilience, supporting biodiversity, and empowering communities to manage their natural resources sustainably.
