Sierra leone communities launch major mangrove conservation project to combat climate change while boosting local economy

A groundbreaking “blue carbon” initiative is transforming how coastal communities in Sierra Leone approach environmental conservation and economic development. The Sherbro River Estuary Project, involving more than 124 villages on Sherbro Island, represents one of Africa’s most ambitious mangrove restoration efforts.

The project addresses a critical environmental challenge facing these communities. Residents like Nenneh Sumaila, chief of the 300-person village of Gbomgboma, describe limited economic opportunities that force locals to rely primarily on fishing and small-scale agriculture. To process oil palm fruit—a vital income source—many villagers have traditionally harvested mangrove wood for fuel, inadvertently destroying these crucial carbon-storing ecosystems.

Under the new partnership with West Africa Blue, a Mauritius-based company, participating communities will receive direct financial compensation for protecting and restoring their mangrove forests instead of cutting them down. The initiative operates through the voluntary carbon credit market, where buyers purchase offsets to compensate for their own emissions. Revenue from these sales will be shared among the company, local communities, and the Sierra Leone government.

This innovative approach tackles multiple challenges simultaneously: preserving vital mangrove ecosystems that serve as carbon sinks, protecting biodiversity, and providing sustainable income alternatives for economically disadvantaged coastal communities. Mangroves are particularly valuable in the fight against climate change, as they can store significantly more carbon per acre than terrestrial forests while also providing crucial protection against coastal erosion and storm surge.