Nnaa Saama Mankolou- Mangroves For Our Future.

02/04/2026

29/03/2026

29/03/2026

Excited to share that we just got recognized as one of The Association for Coastal Ecosystem Services top fans! 🎉

19/03/2026

International Day of Forests 2026.

Advancing Community-Led Restoration in The Gambia.

On 21 March, we mark the International Day of Forests, a global call to recognize the indispensable role of forests in sustaining ecosystems, livelihoods, and climate stability.

In The Gambia, the importance of forests—particularly mangrove ecosystems—cannot be overstated. These ecosystems serve as critical carbon sinks, protect coastal communities from erosion, and sustain biodiversity and fisheries that thousands depend on.

Through the Sankandi Youth Development Association (SYDA) and the Nnaa Samaa Mankolou (Mangroves for Our Future) initiative, significant strides are being made in restoring degraded mangrove landscapes in the Lower River Region. Community-led efforts have already resulted in the planting of hundreds of thousands of mangrove propagules, contributing to climate mitigation, ecosystem restoration, and improved livelihoods.

This work reflects a scalable model of nature-based solutions, where local knowledge, youth leadership, and community ownership are central to long-term sustainability and impact.

As we commemorate this day, we reaffirm our commitment to:

1. Strengthening participatory forest management.
2. Expanding blue carbon initiatives.
3. Empowering women and youth in environmental stewardship
4.Building resilient communities through ecosystem restoration.

We call on partners, donors, and stakeholders to continue supporting locally driven solutions that deliver measurable environmental and socio-economic benefits.

Together, we can restore forests, protect livelihoods, and secure a sustainable future for generations to come.

09/03/2026

With University of The Gambia – we just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

09/03/2026

With Ministry of Environment-MECCNAR – we just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

09/03/2026

"I had to leave because of the saltwater intrusion. Now, the entire rice field affected is left uncultivated – Nurse Senneh."

From The Gambia to the US, sea salt is increasingly seeping into the freshwaters people need for drinking and producing food.

08/03/2026

Native trees are the backbone of a healthy local ecosystem, supporting more local wildlife than exotic species. When you plant native mixed tree species, you aren't just adding shade you're growing a legacy.

08/03/2026

International Women’s Day 2026

Today we proudly celebrate the incredible women who are part of Nnaa Samaa Mankolou – Mangroves for Our Future.

From restoring mangrove forests to supporting sustainable livelihoods, women in our communities are leading the way in protecting nature and strengthening climate resilience. Their dedication, strength, and leadership are helping to safeguard our mangroves, support fisheries, and secure a better future for the next generation.

On this special day, we honor their contributions and reaffirm our commitment to empowering women as key leaders in environmental conservation and community development.

Happy International Women’s Day to all the amazing women making a difference in our communities and for our planet.

06/03/2026

Can community-led mangrove restoration drive climate resilience and local development?

In Sankandi, The Gambia, the Nnna Samaa Mankolou (NSM) initiative is showing that it can.

What began as a community-driven mangrove restoration effort is now evolving into a broader nature-based solutions landscape, linking ecosystem restoration with livelihoods, food security, and climate resilience.

One of the latest steps in this journey is the rehabilitation of the Sankandi Community Women’s Garden, which had remained abandoned for nearly four years due to the lack of fencing, reliable water supply, seeds, and tools. As livelihood opportunities declined, many women turned to coping strategies such as charcoal production through tree cutting, petty trade, or migration, while salt intrusion into rice fields increasingly threatens local food systems.

To help reverse this trend, NSM is supporting:

• Completion of the garden perimeter fence.
• Drilling of a borehole for reliable water supply
• Provision of seeds and gardening tools to restart vegetable production.

Looking ahead, we aim to strengthen the initiative through:

• Cold storage facilities to reduce post-harvest losses.
• A community bantaba for training and knowledge exchange.
• Strengthening vegetable value chains and market access.
• Rehabilitation of an abandoned community market in Sankandi.

These livelihood initiatives complement our community-led mangrove restoration and emerging blue carbon efforts, helping to address the underlying drivers of environmental degradation while strengthening community resilience to climate change.

Through NSM, Sankandi is gradually emerging as a living laboratory for community-led nature-based solutions, where conservation, research, and sustainable development intersect.

We welcome partnerships with research institutions, development organizations, and climate finance partners interested in supporting scalable, community-driven climate solutions.

Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy
The Association for Coastal Ecosystem Services
Ministry of Environment-MECCNAR
Edinburgh Napier University
UNDP The Gambia
University of The Gambia
UK in The Gambia
GEF Small Grants Programme
UN Environment Programme

03/01/2026

🎆 | Happy New Year!

Wishing the community all the best for 2026!

01/01/2026

Happy New Year