Like many African countries, Senegal and The Gambia are also severely affected by the consequences of global warming. However, 40 to 50 percent of mangrove stocks have been lost here in the last 50 years due to environmental destruction and development close to the shore.
Mangroves bind three to five times more greenhouse gases than other trees on land. They also provide a protected habitat for marine animals. Mangroves therefore have a very important function in the fight against climate change and coastal erosion.
Naturefriends Senegal, Gambia and Germany have reforested a total area of 15 hectares with mangroves between 2021 and 2024. The project, which was funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), focused not only on reforestation but also on environmental education. This enables local communities to take proper care of the young mangrove plantations.
In this video, Mamadou Mbodji, Senegalese Naturefriend and Vice-President of Naturefriends International, explains the importance of mangroves and Naturefriends' work.
You can find out more about Naturefriends here: www.naturfreunde.de/ueber-uns
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