In Togbin Aduko, a fishing village just a few kilometers from the port city of Cotonou, residents have learned to deeply value mangroves. Community Area Manager Gerald Zikpese acknowledges the change in attitude: “Before, we didn't fully understand the importance of mangroves. Now we realize the role they play in nurturing young fish and fighting certain diseases, something we only realised later on.”
On the one hand, mangrove cutting exposes communities to increased health risks, including malaria, diarrhea and other communicable diseases; on the other hand, abandoning this traditional practice puts their food security and livelihoods at risk.
Apart from their aesthetic appeal, these magnificent trees that grow in brackish waters also play a vital role in mitigating the negative effects of climate change, acting as a natural barrier against flooding and reducing the spread of malaria, diarrhea and many other infectious diseases that tend to thrive around water bodies.
Without efforts to restore and protect mangrove forests, public health will suffer.
Dr. Alexandre Zumenou, a health economics expert, issues a stark warning: “Based on our calculations and estimates, we are heading towards a catastrophic rise in malaria infection rates by 2050 if nothing is done to raise public awareness of the urgent need to protect these fragile ecosystems.” His concerns are echoed by Dr. Razaki Osse, a lecturer and researcher at the University of Benin, who highlights that coastal populations are increasingly vulnerable to climate change.
Health vs. survival dilemma
Rachel Olowu, who is over 75, remembers a time when mosquitoes were not as plentiful as they are now. Having lost her grandson to severe malaria, she now strongly opposes mangrove cutting. “Ever since learning the consequences of mangrove loss, I have made it my mission to protect them.”
In Benin, a quarter of its mangrove forest area has been lost due to excessive logging.
Credit: Edna Fleury
Damien Fandi, who runs a small artisanal salt production business, acknowledges the difficulty of giving up mangroves for fuel: “The real health problem here is malaria, especially during floods when the rivers overflow. Organisations are urging us to stop cutting mangroves to avoid these health problems, but the wood is in demand and useful for our business.”
Indeed, mangroves also provide a vital resource for food security and coastal economies: their wood is valuable because it burns efficiently and is sought after for a variety of uses. But this success has come at a cost: in Benin, over-exploitation has caused the loss of a quarter of its mangrove area.
Salt production is heavily dependent on mangroves, with around 20,000 cubic metres of mangrove wood being cut down each year. Despite efforts to modernise salt production techniques, women who depend on salt for their livelihoods prefer traditional methods that require cutting down mangroves to obtain wood for fuel.
Dependence on mangroves puts coastal residents in a tough dilemma: on the one hand, cutting down mangroves increases health risks such as malaria, diarrhea and other communicable diseases, and on the other, abandoning this traditional practice puts food security and livelihoods at risk.
Uniting at all levels towards a common goal
Faced with this complex situation, the French Global Environment Facility (FFEM) is supporting a pilot project for mangrove forest restoration, aiming to promote the afforestation of these precious ecosystems to address environmental and health challenges.
Through FFEM, hundreds of women producers have been trained on the importance of protecting the plant. Traditional religious leaders have also been involved, leading to the emergence of “sacred mangroves.”
In the revitalization of mangrove forests, the Government of Benin, with the support of NGOs, is playing a key role. Since 2016, the NGO Eco Benin has been working to repair the losses and damage in the area. Municipal officials, village heads, young people, men and women have participated in the planting of thousands of mangrove trees and are responsible for monitoring, maintaining and protecting the seedlings.
On April 25, 2024, Benin launched its first malaria vaccination campaign targeting children aged 0-5 years. But this does not mean that prevention measures can be relaxed: protecting mangrove forests remains a critical issue for the health of coastal populations.
On 25 April 2024, Benin launched its first malaria vaccination campaign targeting children aged 0-5 years. But this does not mean it is time to relax preventive measures: protecting mangrove forests remains a key issue for the health of coastal populations.
Researcher Christophe Akre firmly believes this: “If necessary, laws should be enacted to protect the health of the most vulnerable. When I worked in a health centre, I saw children collapse from anemia caused by malaria. Vaccines have been developed and campaigns are underway, but this does not justify the continued cutting of mangroves.”
Zachary Sohou, oceanographer and director of the Benin Fisheries Research Institute (IRHOB), echoes these concerns: “Mangrove felling and ecosystem degradation increases the risk of sea level rise, high waves and flooding.”
But the dangers don't end there: “Furthermore, this deforestation has a negative impact on the health of local residents, causing respiratory diseases and skin burns due to harmful smoke emissions,” the scientists added.
