Cultural value

Community-Led Restoration Efforts of SYDA

25/09/2025 by Amber Baker in Conservation

The contents of this blog were written by Omar Jobarteh, pictured right (photo © Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy). Omar is the Assistant Project Manager of the Nnaa Samaa Manklou project, currently under development in The Gambia. Omar has over a decade of experience in community engagement and mobilisation and has recently completed a Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies.

This blog showcases the impact of community-led grassroots organisations such as SYDA, and to highlight the current impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss and land degradation in areas such as Sankandi.

“Having seen the mangrove forest and witnessed its degradation, and having the opportunity to restore the area with mangroves, I believe mangroves are a vital part of our ecosystem”- villager from Sankandi

Mangrove forests, with their intricate root systems and remarkable adaptability to saline environments, are vital ecosystems that bridge land and sea, supporting both ecological balance and human livelihoods. In the Sankandi area of The Gambia, located within the Kiang West region along the Gambia River and its tributaries, these forests historically played a critical role in sustaining the local environment and communities. The Sankandi Youth Development Association (SYDA), a grassroots organisation founded to address environmental degradation and empower rural communities, has been at the forefront of efforts to restore these vital ecosystems.

Let’s explore the significance of mangrove forests in Sankandi and Kiang West, the consequences of their loss, the long-term impacts on the community, SYDA’s foundational aims, and the organisation’s successes in community-led ecological restoration.

Aerial footage of the restoration efforts led by SYDA in Sankandi land in the centre of the image, and the complexity of the area and remnant mangroves showing the previous extent, © Samuel Gibson

Mangrove forests in Sankandi and the broader Kiang West region

Mangroves were once extensive, forming a green belt along the Bintang Bolong, a tributary of the Gambia River. These ecosystems were indispensable for both ecological and socio-economic reasons. Ecologically, mangroves served as critical habitats for diverse species, including fish, crabs, and the protected West African manatee, supporting biodiversity and acting as nurseries for fish stocks essential to local fisheries. Their dense root systems stabilised riverbanks, prevented soil erosion, and acted as natural barriers against tidal surges and flooding, protecting agricultural lands from saltwater intrusion.

Socio-economically, mangroves provided essential resources such as firewood for domestic use and materials for construction, sustaining the livelihoods of communities heavily reliant on fishing and agriculture. Culturally, mangroves were woven into the fabric of local life, supporting traditional practices, such as Baamo, and fostering a sense of environmental stewardship among residents.

The community of Sankandi, mobilised by SYDA’s vision of restoring the mangroves and their benefits, have been working voluntarily to replant mangrove propagules during the rainy season, almost each year since 2016, © SYDA

Changes Following the Loss of Mangrove Forests

The mangrove forests in Sankandi and Kiang West suffered significant degradation, with over 90% of the forest cover along the Bintang Bolong lost. This was primarily due to a severe drought in the 1970s during the Sahel drought, which increased tidal penetration and soil salinity. Additional pressures, such as the damming of tributaries in the neighbouring Casamance region of Senegal and subsequent fungal attacks, exacerbated the dieback.

The loss of these forests brought profound changes to the region. The decline in fish habitats led to reduced fish catches, threatening the primary livelihood of fishing communities. The scarcity of firewood forced residents to seek alternative, often unsustainable, fuel sources, increasing household burdens, particularly for women. Most critically, the loss of mangroves allowed saltwater to encroach into agricultural lands, causing salinisation that rendered rice fields and other farmlands unproductive, severely impacting food security and economic stability in a region already among the poorest in mainland Africa. These environmental shifts disrupted the delicate balance between the community and its natural resources, leading to economic hardship and ecological imbalance.

Long-Term Impacts on the Community

The loss of mangrove forests has had enduring cultural and practical impacts on the Sankandi community over the years since their decline. Culturally, the degradation of mangroves has weakened the community’s connection to its natural heritage. Traditional practices tied to the mangroves, such as fishing, have diminished, eroding cultural knowledge and communal activities that once reinforced social cohesion. For women, who play a significant role in horticultural activities, the salinisation of farmlands has been particularly devastating.

“Addressing salt intrusion by planting mangroves will enable is to improve rice productivity leading to sustainable livelihoods” – villager from Sankandi

The loss of fertile land has reduced opportunities for growing crops like rice and vegetables, critical for household nutrition and income generation through local markets. This has increased the workload for women, who must now travel farther to access viable farmland or alternative resources, exacerbating gender-specific burdens in an already resource-scarce environment. On a day-to-day basis, the community faces ongoing challenges from reduced fish stocks, limited access to firewood, and increased vulnerability to flooding, which further strains livelihoods and food security.

The impact on culture and fish stocks

Baamo… The cultural practice where fishermen share their catch from the riverside with the community, with every single household benefiting. This was made possible because of the presence of mangroves, which served to attract fish, providing them with a breeding ground. As a result of this, access to fish and other seafood was available to the community. The practice enhanced community cohesion and promoted the spirit of sharing, further uniting the community. This practice highlights the crucial role played by mangroves in enhancing livelihoods. Currently, there are no active fishermen in Sankandi, and the community relies on fish driven from the coast and fishing settlements of Gunjur, Sanyang, Bakau etc. This has made fish almost inaccessible; in the rare event it’s available, most households can’t afford it.

The restored mangroves will bring more than just carbon benefit; they will enable the return of important biodiversity and culture, © SYDA

SYDA’s Foundational Aims and Their Enactment

Founded approximately 20 years ago, the Sankandi Youth Development Association (SYDA) emerged as a community-driven response to these environmental and social challenges. SYDA’s primary aims are to restore the native mangrove forests, empower rural communities—particularly youth and women—and promote sustainable development in alignment with goals such as poverty alleviation, climate action, and the conservation of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems

To achieve these objectives, SYDA (led by Ansumana Darbo, pictured left, © SYDA) initiated a large-scale mangrove restoration project in 2016, focusing on planting mangrove propagules to recreate a green belt across rural Gambia. Since its inception, SYDA has planted over 200,000 red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) propagules along the Bintang Bolong riverbanks near Sankandi, with ambitions to plant at least 400,000 more propagules to connect mangrove forests across six communities.

Beyond ecological restoration, SYDA has promoted alternative livelihoods to reduce dependency on mangrove resources, including beekeeping for honey and wax production, poultry farming, and horticultural initiatives. The organisation has also prioritised capacity-building, offering training in micro-enterprise development and leadership for women and youth, fostering economic resilience and community empowerment. Training programs have equipped community members with skills in project management and sustainable practices, fostering a sense of ownership and long-term commitment to environmental stewardship.

SYDA’s Successes and the Role of Community-Led Efforts in Ecological Restoration

SYDA’s efforts have yielded notable successes, demonstrating the power of community-led initiatives in ecological restoration. The planting of 400,000 mangrove propagules has begun to restore habitats, with early signs of improved fish stocks and reduced soil salinisation, enhancing agricultural productivity.

Community-led efforts, as exemplified by SYDA, are critical to successful ecological restoration. Local knowledge ensures that restoration strategies are tailored to site-specific conditions, increasing their effectiveness. Community participation fosters a sense of responsibility, ensuring sustained maintenance of restored areas. Moreover, engaging women and youth addresses social inequalities, enhancing the socio-economic benefits of restoration projects. By integrating ecological goals with livelihood development, SYDA has created a holistic model that not only revives ecosystems but also uplifts the community, aligning with global sustainable development goals.

“Restoring the area will provide a breeding ground for fish and that will enable the fishermen to go back to fishing to provide us with enough fish for our household consumption” – villager from Sankandi

The mangrove forests of Sankandi and Kiang West were once lifelines for local communities, supporting biodiversity, livelihoods, and cultural practices. Their loss due to drought, damming, and environmental stressors led to severe ecological and socio-economic consequences, particularly for women engaged in horticulture. SYDA’s establishment marked a turning point, with its mission to restore mangroves and empower communities through sustainable initiatives. Over the past two decades, SYDA’s successes in planting mangroves, promoting alternative livelihoods, and fostering community engagement highlight the transformative potential of grassroots efforts. As SYDA continues its work, it serves as a beacon of hope, demonstrating that community-led restoration can rebuild ecosystems and strengthen the resilience of vulnerable populations in the face of environmental challenges.

Established mangroves that were planted by the Sankandi community in 2018 and will generate carbon benefits for many years to come © ACES

SYDA contacted ACES in 2017, asking to partner and replicate the success of Kenya’s Mikoko Pamoja project, initiating Nnaa Samaa Mankolou – Mandinka for ‘Mangroves for Our Future’. This project is currently undergoing certification under the Plan Vivo Standard – the first Plan Vivo project to be developed in The Gambia. It aims to continue the restoration of the mangrove forest and fund community development projects through the sale of carbon credits. SYDA work in close collaboration with the Sankandi Village Development Committee, the entry point for any community development as per the Local Government Act.

The team behind Nnaa Samaa Mankolou is thankful for the support of Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy.

You can learn more about this project and high-integrity carbon credits which support community-led mangrove conservation, restoration, and community development projects by contacting ACES at aces@aces-org.uk. To learn more about ACES and the work we do, please contact us and a copy of our Information Pack will be sent to your inbox!

The socio-cultural value of mangroves by Dr Dencer-Brown

10/12/2024 by Amber Baker in Conservation / Financing / Natural Capital

The contents of this blog were written by Dr Imi Dencer-Brown and are presented by Amber Baker. Imi is on the ACES Board of Trustees and has studied mangroves and their cultural value in New Zealand as part of her doctoral research. Imi is a mixed methods researcher and lecturer in education working in cross-disciplinary spaces specifically with people and nature.

This blog was written as part of our ‘Conservation’ series which showcases people in conservation and explores upcoming projects and trends.

The socio-cultural value of mangroves – what’s it all about and why is it important?

“When we think of mangrove ecosystem services, we normally relate them to some of the more tangible concepts, such as the provisioning services of food and clean water for both humans and nature. We may also recognise their importance as regulating services, in the roles of flood prevention and protecting against storm damage. As the effects of climate change take their toll on ecosystems worldwide, we understand the plethora of positive attributes these intertidal forests provide, in particular, the enormous below-ground carbon storage capacity of mangroves, in the form of blue carbon.

Lesser known is the socio-cultural value of mangroves. The complexity of human existence and relationships with nature has been little explored in the large body of work of mangrove science, even though it may be pivotal to the deeper recognition of the socio-ecological importance of these ecosystems. Cultural services may include aspects such as cultural identity, sense of home, aesthetic inspiration and a spiritual experience in relation to the natural environment¹. As some of these elements are intangible and complex to explain or quantify, it means that this area of research in relation to mangroves is under-researched and poorly understood.

There is such variation in the location of mangroves globally, which range from the United States such as Louisiana and Florida and the Japanese islands of Okinawa and Kyushu in the North, to the most southerly mangrove stands in New Zealand and South Australia. This variation in species and differing levels of degradation mean that humans interact with mangroves in different ways, based on their community needs and societal importance.”

Take New Zealand, for instance…

“Take New Zealand, for instance. Home to a monoculture of estuarine Avicennia marina subsp. australasica. Many of these stands are dwarf mangroves, growing and expanding in harbours and estuaries due to increases in nutrient levels brought about by urbanisation and farming practices. Many people regard these trees as a nuisance, nothing more than weeds, which have obscured the views of the beautiful beaches they had once enjoyed out of their windows.

Their ecological value is not recognised in many cases, making the relationship between humans and nature strained and not positive.”

“Previously, in New Zealand, mangroves were utilised for boat building and recognised as a valuable habitat for kaimoana (seafood) for local iwi (Māori communities).

Whilst some recognition of this may remain, the lack of utilisation and co-existing with mangroves in New Zealand has created a disconnection to nature and with it, a lack of understanding of the intrinsic value of this habitat.”

“Whilst New Zealand might be a very particular case of lack of socio-cultural integration with this ecosystem, many communities in the world do recognise the importance of this habitat to many aspects of human life., however, this has not prevented deforestation and degradation of mangroves globally due to anthropogenic activities such as replacement for aquaculture farms, construction of hotels, urbanisation and overexploitation of wood without sustainable forestry practices.”

Value and monetary value

“We tend to measure the value of goods and services provided by nature in monetary terms, this socio-economic value may be useful in driving forward conservation practices to restore and protect mangroves.”

“Kenyan mangroves are said to be worth around 82 million pounds (200, 473.93 KSH/ha²). Whilst this is an impressive number – what does it actually mean? Where does the money go and how does it benefit local communities? ”

– Dr. Imi Dencer-Brown

“Whilst valuing mangroves as a commodity in this way may influence policy on their conservation, it may not change understanding and awareness of this ecosystem, especially for the local people of the areas who have the closest relationship with mangroves.

In Kenya, the main drivers for loss are the excessive removal of wood for charcoal burning, fishing stakes, fencing and fuelwood, as well as conversion of areas for salt mining and settlement and coastal development. It is recognised in Kenya that poverty, inequalities, lack of education and poor governance have underpinned these losses.³

Communities living close to mangroves and have a high dependency on them for their livelihoods may have a greater cultural connection with these ecosystems and therefore have a high potential to work with conserving mangroves as they directly relate to their livelihoods.

The ongoing success of Mikoko Pamoja and Vanga Blue Forests projects in Kenya has been largely due to the direct stakeholder engagement with conserving these areas and seeing directly how improving the quality of habitat has a positive effect on livelihoods.

For instance, this may be in the form of increased numbers of juvenile fish using the mangroves as a nursery, which in turn allows for larger fisheries yields offshore, creating more sustainable income for families.”

“Mangroves are a cultural fabric to coastal communities, they support our livelihoods and beliefs, protect our homes and lands, and unite us with bordering communities.”
– Mwanarusi Mwafrica, Previous Project Coordinator for Vanga Blue Forest

“Realising the importance and value that mangroves have for communities and respecting and upholding social justice frameworks to empower these communities to conserve and protect mangroves is a necessary step for the sustainable use of and long-term presence of this precious ecosystem in an evermore volatile world.”

We thank Imi for this blog and their insights on the importance of socio-cultural value of ecosystems, drawing from their experience and research in New Zealand. Like many plants that are often considered weeds or pests – based in Scotland, I am thinking of the humble dandelion – mangroves can be viewed in this negative light but upon further inspection, mangroves and other often overlooked species can provide valuable benefits to people and nature. – Amber

Tag: Cultural value