GROWING FORESTS

Mangroves are incredible for so many reasons, stemming from their ability to grow and thrive on the boundary of ocean and land.

The trees’ unique adaptations to salinity make wherever they grow a vital haven for wildlife and an important resource for the hundreds of millions of people living near these ecosystems. Their importance to people and wildlife could not be any clearer as ever-growing impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss threaten our planet.

Mangroves are some of the most powerful trees on our planet. Mangrove soils are highly effective carbon sinks. They are among the most carbon-rich tropical ecosystems globally and can contain more carbon per square metre than tropical rainforests. An acre of mangroves can store 5 to 10 times more carbon that an acre of rainforest, therefore, planting and conserving these amazing forests is essential to the wellbeing of our planet and people.  

In mangrove and dune forest zones, replanting and conservation activities play a crucial role in stabilising coastal soils and protecting shorelines from erosion and storm surges. These restored ecosystems also provide essential food and shelter for a wide range of wildlife, while serving as important nursery habitats for commercially valuable fish and shellfish.

In Madagascar, mangrove ecosystems support a rich diversity of species, particularly birds, marine life, and reptiles. Common bird species include herons, egrets, and kingfishers such as the Madagascar kingfisher. Reptiles such as the Nile crocodile and nearby sea turtles are also found in these environments. Mangroves are especially vital for marine life, acting as nursery grounds for fish, crabs, mudskippers, and mollusks.

Smaller mammals, including tenrecs and certain lemurs such as the mongoose lemur, may inhabit or visit these areas, alongside bats and a wide variety of insects. Overall, Madagascar’s mangroves are essential for maintaining coastal biodiversity and supporting healthy marine ecosystems.

Madagascar, one of the poorest countries in the world, faces severe social challenges that disproportionately affect women. Many experience ongoing physical, emotional, and financial abuse, often compounded by a pattern of family abandonment during difficult times.

This project addresses these issues by creating stable employment opportunities that provide security and long-term prospects. Empowering women is a central priority, with some teams made up of up to 90% women, and 3 out of 4 of the leadership team are women.

Dignified work enables financial independence, allowing women to support their children’s education and save money. It also provides time to develop additional skills such as sewing, pottery, and other crafts.

Communities also benefit from sustainable local industries, including the responsible harvesting of raffia palm for traditional crafts and markets.

Managed timberland areas further support livelihoods while protecting nearby forests. By supplying renewable wood and reducing reliance on native forests, they help ease environmental pressure. These areas are locally managed through careful planning, replanting, and oversight to ensure long-term sustainability.

Mangrove species do not require planting nurseries. At 3-5 years of age, mangroves begin to produce propagules (seeds), which give rise to a new tree.

Propagules are collected from existing trees or from trees previously planted. The locals separate them by species and inspect them one by one at the nearby village. Then they are distributed to the planting team according to the species mix determined for each area of the planting site. Propagules grow throughout the year, only during the dry season (May-October) with less rainfall they collect less propagules. Propagules can also be planted year-round in Madagascar.

Regular annual site inspections are carried out by local governmental authorities: The Madagascar Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development. They provide a DREDD Certificate, which is an official third-party Project Survey and Project Scope/Boundary Certification.

The Mahubo planting site comprises of a narrow strip of partially degraded mangrove forests, located on the western bank of the Tembe river, approximately 18 kilometers south of its confluence with the Mbuluzi, Matola and Infulene rivers that form the “Estuário do Espírito Santo“ delta. This large estuary flows into Maputo harbor, the main commercial seaport of Maputo Bay in Mozambique

The mangrove forests in this area are an important habitat for marine life, birds, and animals such as turtles and crocodiles. Marine animals include the d'Urville's fiddler crab (Tubuca urvillei), mud crabs (Scylla serrata), mudskippers (Periophthalmus kalolo), and many species of sea snails and slugs.

The mangrove ecosystem of Mahubo also supports several native bird species, including the mangrove kingfisher (Halcyon senegaloides), a small, colorful bird commonly found in estuaries and mangrove forests along the east coast of sub-Saharan Africa. Smaller mammals, including shrews and rats, are quite common in parts of these mangrove forests, while the red bush squirrel and vervet monkeys are sometimes observed.

Mangroves are incredible for so many reasons, stemming from their ability to grow and thrive on the boundary of ocean and land.

The trees’ unique adaptations to salinity make wherever they grow a vital haven for wildlife and an important resource for the hundreds of millions of people living near these ecosystems. Their importance to people and wildlife could not be any clearer as ever-growing impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss threaten our planet.

Mangroves are some of the most powerful trees on our planet. Mangrove soils are highly effective carbon sinks. They are among the most carbon-rich tropical ecosystems globally and can contain more carbon per square metre than tropical rainforests. An acre of mangroves can store 5 to 10 times more carbon that an acre of rainforest, therefore, planting and conserving these amazing forests is essential to the wellbeing of our planet and people.

Mangroves are tropical marine forests with huge potential. They protect coastlines from erosion and storm surge, tsunamis and provide food and shelter for a diverse array of wildlife, and nursery habitats for commercially important fish and shellfish.

An estimated two thirds of the fish that are eaten in Mozambique spend part of their lives in the mangroves which act as their breeding and nursery grounds.

Mangrove species do not require nurseries. At 3-5 years of age, mangroves begin to produce and drop their own propagules (seeds), which can be used to give rise to a new tree. These propagules may be collected from existing trees or from trees previously planted. Mangroves are planted year-round in Mozambique.

Our reforestation partner hires local people to reforest their region by planting mangrove trees while stimulating economic growth, breaking the cycle of poverty, and empowering the community whilst building economic resilience.

Rhizophora Mucronata is a slow-growing, evergreen tree growing up to 27 metres tall, with a bole 50 - 70 cm in diameter. The tree produces numerous stilt roots from the base. One seed is developed per fruit & starts to germinate when the fruit is still attached or hanging on the tree. The root (radicle) gradually protrudes from the fruit, at first like a green cigar, then grows into a rod-like structure. In this species such a seedling root (hypocotyl) with a rough & warty surface may attain a considerable length (sometimes over 100 cm), the largest & longest in the genus.

Bruguiera Gymnorhiza has the largest leaves, flowers, propagules and lenticels of all Bruguiera species. The name Large-Leafed Orange Mangrove comes from the orange flowers and the large leaves that can reach up to 25cm in length. They grow about 20 to 25 degrees north and south of the equator in an area with subtropical to tropical climates. These conditions enable this evergreen tree to produce leaves and shoots during the whole year. The leaves have an elliptic shape, the upper side is smooth and dark green, the bottom is waxy and light green. Occasionally three or four leaves are formed simultaneously.

Ceriops Tagal is a medium-sized tree growing to a height of 25 metres (80 ft) with a trunk diameter of up to 45 cm (18 in). The growth habit is columnar or multi-stemmed and the tree develops large buttress roots. The radiating anchor roots are sometimes exposed and may loop up in places. The bark is silvery-grey to orangeish-brown, smooth with occasional pustular lenticels.