IPSI Second Global Conference
SC III/5/add.3
12 March 2012

Name of the activity: Conservation and sustainable management of mangrove forests in
Benin through local capacity building and community development
1. Overview of the project
The coastal zones of Benin have many mangroves containing a rich biodiversity of plants andanimals. These mangroves recognized for their global importance have been classified in
Ramsar sites 1017 and 1018. They are subject to a particular attraction of populations andthus causing the installation of the communities in surrounding areas. They play a crucial rolein the live of local population. Currently these ecosystems of mangroves are highly degraded
and their size reduced to more than 60% due to the conjunction of anthropogenic actions
including preparation of salt, overharvesting fuel wood, medicinal plants etc; and the adverse
effects of climate change. The degradation of mangrove ecosystems is a significant threat tothe conservation of biological diversity and to the survival of the local communities. Beninmangroves have no protection status, which gives the right to anyone to exploit the resources
as he want without permission and without any control. These particular ecosystems havealways been neglected and have not benefit of a plan of restoration and sustainablemanagement. If any urgent action is not made, the mangroves may disappear in the short term
under the combined effects anthropogenic and climatic actions. At the request of local
populations, NGO Ce.Sa.Re.N identified and prepared the project of conservation andsustainable management of mangrove forests by a multidisciplinary team in collaboration
with civil society and local authorities. This project aims to contribute to restoration andsustainable management of mangrove forests in Benin for improvement of livelihood andreduction of the vulnerability of ecosystems and the population to harmful effects of climatechange.
General objective: contribute to the sustainable management of forest resources of thelandscapes of coastal wetlands for better well-being and mitigation of vulnerability to climatechange.
Specific objectives:
 Initiate and support participatory management processes of mangroves forests inBenin; Promote the restoration and sustainable use of local natural resources to reducepressures on mangroves and increase income and standard of living of the localpopulations.
The strategy of the project
The project strategy consists of an integrated approach to coastal zones management based ona continuous and iterative process using knowledge and endogenous practices that promotesustainable development of coastal regions. This approach will be implemented through thefollowing steps:

IPSI Second Global Conference
SC III/5/add.3
12 March 2012 Participatory diagnosis of the state of the ecosystems of mangroves, Development of master plan of the commune and management plan of mangroves, Local capacity building for the implementation and follow-up evaluation ofmanagement plans.

Project area and target group
The project will be implemented in the main mangroves Benin. The main beneficiaries of theproject are women, youth and other social and community users of mangroves such as small
farmers and fishers.
Expected outcomes
The main results expected at the end of this project are:Outcome 1: The knowledge of the potential resources of mangrove ecosystems are increased
Outcome 2: The tools of planning and sustainable management of the mangroves are availableand functional,
2. Budget and duration
The amount necessary for the implementation of this project is estimated at US$ 75920 andwill be implemented during eight (8) months.
3. Clusters to be allocated:
Cluster 2: Policy Research
Cluster 4: Capacity Building
Cluster 5: On-the-Ground Activities
4. IPSI member organisations involved: International Tropical Timber Organization(ITTO)
5. Contact person:
BOSSOU Bienvenu
Directeur ONG Cercle pour la Sauvegarde des Ressources Naturelles (ONG Ce.Sa.Re.N )02 BP 268 Cotonou (Rép. du Bénin)Tel (00229) 95 42 50 47,
E-mail:cesarenong@yahoo.fr or
bmbc1957@gmail.com or
lokossouo@yahoo.fr