Gambian women rebuild mangroves to shield Banjul from rising seas

Every dawn, Fatou Jarjue paddles her wooden canoe through the tangled roots of the Tanbi Wetland, collecting crabs while also checking on mangrove seedlings she has helped plant. Since the previous year she estimates more than 5,000 new trees have taken root, a task supported by a community-based restoration initiative that equips women with planting skills. The wetland supplies oysters, crabs and fish that sustain her family, but rising sea levels and coastal erosion threaten those resources.

Marine scientist Dawda Saine notes that the government’s Oyster and Cockle Co-management Plan temporarily bans oyster harvesting during the rainy season to allow stocks to regenerate and to avoid contamination from runoff. Mayor Rohey Malick Lowe of Banjul warns that the city’s future depends on preserving the mangrove barrier, and the Banjul City Council is working to curb further habitat loss. Other local women, such as Sussan Colley, report that restored mangroves have already boosted oyster yields and are teaching the next generation to protect the forest. The combined effort links livelihoods, food security and climate resilience for the capital and surrounding communities.