Through a win-win model, Seacology works closely with island communities to protect some of the most threatened natural habitats in the world. Seacology offers local islanders a unique deal: If the village agrees to create or support a forest or marine reserve, Seacology will fund a key community need, like a school, community center, water system, clinic, sustainable livelihoods training, etc. Since 1991, Seacology has helped protect 1.6 million acres of marine and terrestrial habitat, while helping island communities meet critical needs. Our impact spans the globe, with over 400 projects in 73 countries. By partnering directly with indigenous communities and women-led collectives, we ensure a local sense of ownership, culturally-appropriate objectives, and long-term sustainability.
Project story
Seacology’s mission is to protect island ecosystems and cultures worldwide. Since 1991, we have launched over 400 projects on islands in 73 countries, helping to protect approximately 1.6 million acres of marine and terrestrial habitat. While most of our projects take place on the village level, we have also launch three national-level projects: The Sri Lanka Mangrove Conservation Project, The Dominican Republic National Mangrove Initiative and, most recently, The Greek Islands Seagrass Alliance.
While implementing the Dominican Republic National Mangrove Initiative, we realize that the key to effecting truly lasting change is to engage the next generation of environmental stewards and community leaders. From this realization, Play for the Mangroves as born. Play for the Mangroves provides high quality sports equipment, branded uniforms, and play opportunities to under-resourced coastal youth in exchange for their participation in environmental education and hands-on activities in their local communities, such as beach clean ups, mangrove planting, and bio-blitzes. The project has exceeded all of our expectations and has since expanded to the Philippines and, most recently Jamaica.
The Dominican Republic program has already engaged over 6,000 young people in mangrove conservation. The effectiveness of the model has been proven in an external evaluations carried out by Innovations for Poverty, and it was also recently the subject of a short film produced by Gnarly Bay called Operation Restoration: Roots.
Project updates
Team
Play for the Mangroves: Dominican Republic
Through a win-win model, Seacology works closely with island communities to protect some of the most threatened natural habitats in the world. Seacology offers local islanders a unique deal: If the village agrees to create or support a forest or marine reserve, Seacology will fund a key community need, like a school, community center, water system, clinic, sustainable livelihoods training, etc. Since 1991, Seacology has helped protect 1.6 million acres of marine and terrestrial habitat, while helping island communities meet critical needs. Our impact spans the globe, with over 400 projects in 73 countries. By partnering directly with indigenous communities and women-led collectives, we ensure a local sense of ownership, culturally-appropriate objectives, and long-term sustainability.
Project story
Seacology’s mission is to protect island ecosystems and cultures worldwide. Since 1991, we have launched over 400 projects on islands in 73 countries, helping to protect approximately 1.6 million acres of marine and terrestrial habitat. While most of our projects take place on the village level, we have also launch three national-level projects: The Sri Lanka Mangrove Conservation Project, The Dominican Republic National Mangrove Initiative and, most recently, The Greek Islands Seagrass Alliance.
While implementing the Dominican Republic National Mangrove Initiative, we realize that the key to effecting truly lasting change is to engage the next generation of environmental stewards and community leaders. From this realization, Play for the Mangroves as born. Play for the Mangroves provides high quality sports equipment, branded uniforms, and play opportunities to under-resourced coastal youth in exchange for their participation in environmental education and hands-on activities in their local communities, such as beach clean ups, mangrove planting, and bio-blitzes. The project has exceeded all of our expectations and has since expanded to the Philippines and, most recently Jamaica.
The Dominican Republic program has already engaged over 6,000 young people in mangrove conservation. The effectiveness of the model has been proven in an external evaluations carried out by Innovations for Poverty, and it was also recently the subject of a short film produced by Gnarly Bay called Operation Restoration: Roots.
Project updates
Team
Location
Dominican Republic
Round 3
Jul 1-21, 2026
Supporting community-led nature projects around the world.
Matching funds provided by
