The European Union said it has approved €9.9 million to help protect wetlands in West Africa. The resources will be injected in a project jointly deployed by the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and Wetlands International Africa (WIA).

The initiative is designed to raise people’s awareness of the crucial role mangroves play in keeping the environment healthy; they absorb 50% of human greenhouse-gas emissions and are home to various ecosystems. Integrated protection of the diversity and fragility of ecosystems and strengthening their resilience to climate change will also be promoted through the project. The ultimate goal is to ensure the sustainable management of the region's protected areas.

Activities will target nine West African countries and will include many actors involved in the sector. They will be required to submit their action plans to both FDA and WIA.

Let’s note that actions aiming at safeguarding wetlands are already underway in West Africa. An example is the mangrove forests management project implemented by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in Senegal and Benin. The organization is also implementing a mangrove management initiative in the Greater Mano Landscape in Sierra Leone and Liberia, in association with WIA and the 5 Deltas Collective.

Gwladys Johnson Akinocho