Mangrove reforestation can help convert barren salt flats into some of the most productive natural ecosystems on the planet. Mangroves are salt-water trees that can desalinate water, fix nitrogen nutrients, and convert sunshine and CO2 into wood, biomass and food. VPI has determined that mangrove reforestation is likely to be one of the most beneficial types of environmental rehabilitation projects in Africa because it can so drastically increase ecological productivity and because of the many benefits to the environment and the local economy.

Village Projects International (VPI) has partnered with the local Senegalese NGO, Oceanium to support community-based mangrove reforestation projects in Southern Senegal and beyond.

VPI organizers first met the founder of Oceanium, Mr. Haidar El Ali in November 2007. Mr. El Ali is an Ashoka fellow who is building a rapidly growing grassroots environmental rehabilitation movement in Senegal which is now expanding to neighboring Gambia and Guinea through his Oceanium NGO. VPI has invested in Oceanium’s summer 2008 reforestation campaign by paying for the planting of more than 1 million mangrove seedlings of the total 6.2 million seedlings planted during the campaign. The planting density is approximately 5000 seedlings per hectare.

And the cost of reforestation is $0.036/seedling or $180/hectare.

You can listen to a speech by Mr. El Ali (in French) at the global greens congress on youtube

The Oceanium mangrove reforestation investments through VPI have resulted in the following mangrove plantings in the following villages

ZONE	VILLAGE	DATE PLANTED	SEEDLINGS PLANTED
2	Kaleane	06/09/08	154000
3	Souda	03/08/08	80000
3	Sindialan	03/08/08	25000
4	Tobor	23/08/08	208000
5	Tendouk	25/09/08	20000
7	Fintiok	17/09/08	35000
8	Goudomp	07/09/08	60000
8	Kanema	07/09/08	30000
8	Kassa Kaour	07/09/08	30000
10	Diattang	28/08/08	63000
10	Baila	27/08/08	37000
11	Badiana	23/09/08	25000
11	Kawane	17/09/08	50000
12	Sibikouroto 1 et 2	28/08/08	52000
12	Farancounda Sarakhole	05/09/08	50000
12	Farancounda Baynouk	05/09/08	50000
12	Farancounda Bainnkouda	05/09/08	50000
13	Bonna	23/09/08	35000
13	Oulampane	30/08/08	63000
13	Boutiago	30/08/08	62000

The participating village locations for the entire summer 2008 reforestation campaign can be seen in the following google earth link.

 

And the full campaign report (in French) can be seen here.