Biodiversity preservation: women‘s role in mangrove restoration

Continuous exploitation and external impacts are affecting oyster habitat; thus affecting the income of those dependent on their availability. Mangrove ecosystems have a potential to reduce carbon emissions by sinking it to the ocean floor. Planting mangroves improves air and water quality, enhances biodiversity, and reduces local temperature. With right restoration method and cheap mangrove tree (€0.15-0.20 each), the community can benefit in long-term, environmentally and economically.

Almost 90% of the rural women in Aceh are oyster farmers. The work is strenuous and affects their health. The project trains the women in sustainable mangrove restoration. To avoid adding to the women’s workload, they are given a daily allowance during the training period. Women in Aceh struggle to be included in community decision-making, however, the project provides the women space to participate in local decision-making on environmental issues, which affect their lives adversely.

By cooperating and setting targets with the local community, this project could be a reference for replicability for the Aceh government. It can also be replicated in other poor coastal areas where income is dependent on coastal resources. If mangrove ecosystems are restored, the availability of fishes and other aquatic animals will increase in the future. This contributes to food security and nutrition as well as generating income and mitigating climate change.