When I first visited communities living near the mangroves in Marine Mangrove Park in Kongo Central in 2022, I was struck by how deeply people’s lives are connected to these ecosystems. Women spoke about declining fish catches, shrinking incomes, and the growing difficulty of feeding their families as mangroves disappeared. At the same time, we saw something powerful: communities still deeply care about protecting these landscapes when conservation also supports their survival.

The mangrove ecosystem around the Mangrove Marine Park is increasingly under pressure from deforestation, climate impacts, and unsustainable use of natural resources. Mangroves are essential breeding habitats for fish, protect biodiversity, and support the livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, yet degraded areas continue to expand. MKAAJI MPYA asbl has witnessed how environmental loss and poverty often reinforce one another.

Through our 10-year renewable partnership with the Mangrove Marine Park, we will restore degraded mangrove areas while supporting sustainable livelihoods for Indigenous and local communities, especially women and girls. Together with local leaders, women’s groups, and Rural Conservation Clubs, communities will participate in mangrove restoration, biodiversity protection, and environmental awareness activities.

At the same time, MKAAJI MPYA’s Mobile Agronomists will support households through field visits and Farmer Field Schools, providing practical training in agroecology, climate-resilient farming, soil conservation, and sustainable food production.

Within six months, we expect restored mangrove sites to begin regenerating and communities to adopt more sustainable farming practices. Within a year, we hope to see stronger biodiversity stewardship, reduced pressure on mangrove resources, and more resilient livelihoods for families who depend on this fragile ecosystem.