Natur’ELLES by Socodevi

The Natural(e)s project suggests that communities in Senegal’s Saloum and Casamance deltas can boost their climate change adaptation by adopting conservation-focused nature-based solutions for mangrove ecosystems. By establishing inclusive and equitable governance that benefits women and vulnerable groups, and ensuring these communities gain more from mangrove conservation, their adaptation capacities can be sustainably enhanced.

The initiative aims to enhance climate change adaptation for women and vulnerable communities within the mangrove ecosystems of the marine protected areas in the Saloum and Casamance deltas, Senegal. It focuses on increasing the adoption of nature-based solutions (NbS) to conserve mangrove ecosystems, thereby supporting biodiversity and climate change adaptation for these communities.

The project promotes inclusive and equitable governance of natural resources within mangrove ecosystems, specifically to benefit the climate change adaptation efforts of women and their vulnerable communities. Additionally, it seeks to amplify the benefits of conserving these mangrove ecosystems within the ICHA/MPAs, ensuring that women and their communities gain significant advantages in the face of climate change.

This project is focused on capacity building, training, and field implementation to support climate adaptation and conservation efforts in mangrove ecosystems within ICCAs/MPAs. Key outputs include supporting studies on socio-ecological dynamics and restoration areas, and transferring knowledge on nature-based solutions (NbS) tailored to mangrove ecosystems to institutional stakeholders.

A gender-sensitive environmental education and awareness program is delivered to vulnerable communities, focusing on mangrove conservation and climate adaptation. Community implementation of Restoration and Ecological Development Plans is supported, alongside promoting sustainable fishing practices through CLPAs.

Programs are disseminated to provide energy and housing solutions that are nature-based and low-carbon, benefiting vulnerable women and youth. Functional and financial literacy programs are also supported for women, while a feminist environmental leadership program enhances women’s climate agency.

Training programs on gender equality, positive masculinities, and SGBV prevention are offered to stakeholders, and institutional strengthening is provided to ICHA Committees. Management plans for ICHA/MPAs are updated with an inclusive governance and climate resilience approach. A pilot Payment for Environmental Services (PSE) mechanism benefits vulnerable women and their families.

The project supports organizational strengthening inspired by the PerformCoop approach, climate-smart aquaculture systems, and post-fishing practices that align with women’s interests. It also backs women’s collective entrepreneurship and ecotourism projects that support mangrove biodiversity.