Nature protecting Senegal’s coastal communities

When healthy ecosystems protect people

Located in Senegal’s Lower Casamance, Diogué Island forms part of one of West Africa’s most important coastal ecosystems. Mangrove forests, wetlands and marine habitats support biodiversity, protect the coastline from erosion and provide the natural resources that sustain local communities.

These ecosystems are increasingly under pressure. Rising sea levels, stronger coastal erosion and more frequent extreme weather events are accelerating environmental degradation, while growing pressure on natural resources further weakens the resilience of coastal landscapes. As ecosystems deteriorate, communities become more exposed to climate risks, threatening livelihoods, infrastructure and food security.

Protecting coastal communities therefore requires a new way of working with nature. Rather than intensifying resource extraction, nature can be seen as an ally in addressing these challenges. Restoring natural systems can help reduce climate impacts. Healthy mangroves and coastal habitats can stabilise shorelines, buffer storm surges, support fisheries and improve the long-term resilience of coastal economies.

The RESILAO project aims to demonstrate how ecosystem restoration and community-led governance can work together to protect both people and nature while generating knowledge that can be applied in other vulnerable coastal areas across West Africa.

Restoring ecosystems, strengthening resilience

Healthy ecosystems are one of the most effective ways to reduce coastal climate risks. Because of this, through an EbA approach, the project will focus on:

• Restoring mangrove ecosystems and implementing nature-based coastal protection measures, including Maltese groynes and permeable groynes, to reduce erosion and strengthen coastal resilience.
• Strengthening local governance by establishing multi-stakeholder coordination platforms, supporting an inter-Marine Protected Area committee, integrating ecosystem-based adaptation into local development and management plans, and strengthening the capacities of local authorities and communities to jointly plan, implement and monitor adaptation measures.
• Promoting the active participation of women, young people and other vulnerable groups in natural resource management and local decision-making, while creating opportunities for green jobs, community mangrove nurseries, ecological monitoring, coastal restoration activities and eco-tourism.
• Documenting lessons and practical evidence from Diogué to support the replication of similar ecosystem-based adaptation approaches in other coastal areas across West Africa.

By the end of the project, it aims to:

• Restore 10 hectares of mangroves to mitigate coastal erosion and improve the stability of the coastline by planting 500,000 mangrove trees, which are essential for stabilising riverbanks and creating fish nurseries.
• Achive a 50% reduction in coastal erosion in areas targeted for restoration work. This will be measured using a digital, georeferenced monitoring system for the coastline, as well as through planting schemes.
• Train 80% of local stakeholders in Ecosystem Based Adaptation (EbA) strategies and integrated coastal zone management.
• The creation of a network of five local organisations involved in the integrated management of coastal ecosystems, promoting multi-stakeholder collaboration.
• The publication of three case studies documenting EbA success stories and best practices.
• The organisation of three knowledge-sharing events, including workshops and forums, to disseminate the project’s results and encourage their adoption by local stakeholders.

Together, these actions will contribute to healthier coastal ecosystems, reduced climate risks and more resilient livelihoods for communities living along Senegal’s coast.