The Bengo Project aims to promote the sustainable use of mangroves in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region, focusing on Kenya, Madagascar, and Tanzania. It is funded by BMZ (Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development) through the BENGO funding line, with WWF Germany as the primary grant recipient. The project began in March 2023 and will run until January 2026. The project targets the conservation of mangrove ecosystems, which are vital for the livelihoods of coastal communities in the WIO region, while addressing climate change impacts. The objectives of the Bengo project are (i) conducting mangrove resource assessments and development of collaborative management plans to guide sustainable utilization, (ii) conduction socio-economic surveys and identifying economically viable and sustainable uses of mangroves (both existing as well as potential alternatives) and developing sustainable use schemes, (iii) conducting community training and giving communities the tools and capacity to manage the mangrove ecosystems they depend on for their livelihoods, (iv) creating enabling conditions for coastal communities to continue their livelihoods, which are closely linked to mangrove ecosystems as well as ensure food security and resilience against increasing climate change impacts.
