Wetlands International has developed a series of Mangrove Best Practice leaflets drawing on its experiences in West and East Africa. These resources showcase proven technical solutions alongside practical approaches for working with stakeholders in mangrove conservation, restoration, and sustainable use. 

The leaflets capture key lessons, results, and methodologies to support wider uptake of successful approaches, inform policy dialogue, and promote South-South learning among NGOs and government agencies. They also highlight how scaling requires strengthened capacity, strong partnerships, and access to finance to support sustainable mangrove-based livelihoods.

In line with the objectives of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, this series helps make proven, field-based knowledge more accessible to support the restoration and protection of mangrove ecosystems at scale. 

Mangrove Best Practices: Stakeholder Collaboration through Mangrove Platforms

Mangrove conservation and restoration efforts are most effective when built on strong collaboration between the many stakeholders who depend on and influence these ecosystems. However, many programs operate in isolation, lacking shared strategies across stakeholders. This fragmentation hinders transformative change and large-scale, lasting impact in mangrove landscapes. Across Senegal, Tanzania, Kenya, and Guinea-Bissau, Wetlands International has therefore helped establish national- and landscape-level mangrove platforms. 

Drawing on these experiences, this Mangrove Best Practice leaflet outlines key principles and steps for establishing and sustaining inclusive Mangrove Platforms that support more effective, equitable, and scalable mangrove action. These collaborative mangrove platforms have proven to be essential in aligning actors, strengthening governance, building capacity, raising awareness, resolving conflicts, and supporting policy development and implementation. They are most effective when they create trust and ownership among the different stakeholders involved and are backed by continued capacity-building so policymakers, NGOs, and community champions can engage with confidence.

The mangrove platforms established in Senegal, Tanzania, Kenya, and Guinea-Bissau demonstrate a scalable model for other countries and key landscapes. Read more.

Mangrove Best Practices: Mangrove School Clubs

Young people are among our most powerful allies in securing the future of mangroves. Wetlands International has established Mangrove School Clubs across Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Tanzania to help youth understand the ecological and economic value of mangroves and become active ambassadors for their protection. By combining curriculum materials with creative activities such as drama, art, excursions, and public events, the clubs make mangrove conservation visible, memorable, and community-driven.

Mangrove School Clubs bring students and teachers together to learn about the value of mangroves through dynamic activities like drama, field trips, and art competitions. In several locations, club activities have spilled beyond the classroom into restoration work, community radio, exchange visits, and public clean-up actions, helping connect youth education with wider community engagement.

With over 100 clubs already established, benefiting around 2,500 pupils, and growing demand across Africa, this model offers an exciting pathway to mainstream mangrove education into national curricula at both primary and secondary levels. This Mangrove Best Practice leaflet shares a stepwise process to establish Mangrove School Clubs. Read more.

Mangrove Best Practices: Energy-Efficient Cookstoves

Harvesting fuelwood from mangrove forests is a principal source of energy for many households. However, traditional cookstoves are extremely inefficient, cause significant waste and harmful indoor smoke, and are a key driver of mangrove degradation.

In this Mangrove Best Practice leaflet, Wetlands International shares a staged process that can be adopted by others for successfully introducing energy-efficient cookstoves. In Lamu, Kenya, these cookstoves have already helped over 3,000 people dramatically reduce demand for mangrove wood while improving their daily lives.

The leaflet highlights the importance of working first with motivated users who can demonstrate the benefits to others, and training local artisans who use locally available materials so the stoves remain affordable and easy to maintain. Wetlands International also helps communities grow sustainably sourced timber from Casuarina and Neem trees, which mature in 3–5 years for firewood use, offering a long-term alternative to harvesting wood from mangrove forests.

In Lamu, community members say the stoves save a lot of wood, are easier to use, cook faster, and produce far less smoke. Their positive experiences have also generated strong demand for replication across the region and beyond. Read more.

Mangrove Best Practices: Savings and Loans Groups

Overexploitation of mangrove ecosystems—from overextraction of firewood to land conversion for agriculture—usually occurs because local communities lack alternative means of support. Wetlands International’s Savings and Loans Groups initiative helps communities develop sustainable livelihoods, reducing their reliance on mangrove resources.

Through the creation of 66 village-based Savings and Loans Groups in Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, Wetlands International has already supported over 7,300 community members, especially women. These groups have diversified local livelihoods, boosted household incomes, and strengthened social cohesion while helping to restore and protect mangrove forests.

This Mangrove Best Practice leaflet explains how the Savings and Loans Groups work and shows that the model works best when communities receive not only seed support but also training in governance, financial management, business skills, and mangrove stewardship. The leaflet stresses the importance of strong facilitators and village agents. Because the model is simple, low-cost, and ultimately self-sustaining, it has strong potential for replication. Seed capital, a governance structure, and community support are the key ingredients needed. Read more.