Community-Centric Blue Carbon Projects in West Africa
West Africa Blue
West Africa Blue develops community-centred blue carbon projects that protect and restore mangrove ecosystems across West Africa. Working closely with local communities and governments, the organisation pioneers high-integrity, nature-based solutions that support biodiversity conservation, climate mitigation, community resilience and sustainable livelihoods.
Mangroves are among the world’s most important coastal ecosystems, storing significant amounts of carbon while protecting shorelines, supporting fisheries and sustaining local economies. Yet West Africa has lost up to 50% of its mangrove cover over recent decades due to deforestation, urban expansion and economic pressures on coastal communities.
With funding from the Levine Family Foundation via the UBS Optimus Foundation, West Africa Blue is expanding programmes that combine mangrove conservation and restoration with long-term community development. The funding supports West Africa Blue’s work across West Africa, including Sierra Leone and Guinea, where local communities are being equipped with alternative livelihood opportunities and practical, community-led interventions that reduce pressure on mangrove ecosystems.
Initiatives supported through the partnership include mangrove restoration, efficient cookstoves, improved fish smoking ovens (IFSOs),solar salt production, woodlots, oyster farming, and women-focused financial inclusion programmes. These projects help reduce pressure on mangrove forests while creating more resilient local economies and improving food security.
The funding is also helping West Africa Blue scale high-quality blue carbon projects that generate measurable climate, biodiversity and social outcomes. Over the long term, the organisation aims to protect and restore hundreds of thousands of hectares of mangroves, support vulnerable coastal communities, and serve as a catalyst for high-integrity blue carbon projects across West Africa and beyond.
By combining environmental restoration with community-led economic development, West Africa Blue is demonstrating how climate action can deliver lasting benefits for both people and nature.
