Bangladesh: how restoring 32,000 mangroves transformed families' lives

On the coast of Bangladesh, one of the countries hit hardest by climate change, local people have lived for years at the mercy of storms, rising waters and erosion. Against this backdrop, an ecological project in Matarbari run by Bangla-German Sampreeti (BGS), with support from LIFE through the Sapousse initiative, offers an innovative way to protect nature and strengthen the economic resilience of local families.

After just one year, the results speak for themselves, showing how an ecological initiative can change lives for good. 🙏

Matarbari, a land on the front line

In Matarbari, in Cox's Bazar district, living right beside the sea brings residents major challenges: constant coastal erosion, steadily rising salt levels in the soil, disappearing vegetation, ever-fiercer storms and the loss of traditional livelihoods.

In some villages, salt water has made farming almost impossible, leaving families afraid of losing their homes and everything they own.
This project was designed with two aims:

• to protect nature so that local people are safe and protected 🌱
• to support families by developing reliable sources of income despite a harsh, hostile environment 💰

In other words, the goal is both to preserve a fragile ecosystem and to help residents regain lasting economic stability through activities suited to their circumstances.

32,000 mangroves: a natural barrier that has become a source of hope

Planting 32,000 mangrove seedlings along 2.6 km of coastline was a colossal task, carried out largely by the residents themselves.🌿

Mangroves play a vital role in protecting the coastline. They:

• stabilise the soil and slow down erosion,
• absorb the energy of waves during storms,
• filter water and improve the health of the ecosystem,
• store carbon,
• encourage the return of animal species essential to the ecological balance.

For residents, above all this means greater safety. Where the water crept higher every year, families now see a green barrier rising and growing.

“We used to be afraid every rainy season. Now we watch the trees grow. They protect our home, like a living wall.” — A programme beneficiary

Two model farms: driving community resilience

To make the project last, two Village Model Farms were set up. These farms play an essential role in training residents and helping them become self-reliant.

They are used to:

• grow new seedlings to maintain and extend the mangroves,
• trial salt-tolerant crops,
• train farmers in climate-smart farming methods,
• create genuine community economic hubs.

These farms are no longer just places of production:
they have become centres for sharing knowledge, learning and local coordination.

100 families supported: real change in daily life

Thanks to your generosity, 100 families have been helped to start or strengthen income-generating activities. This support was crucial: most had been living hand to mouth, with no financial security, relying on ever-shrinking harvests.

Each family received...

• 13 varieties of seed
• 14 kinds of fruit tree seedlings
• farming tools and supplies
• ongoing training
• one-to-one follow-up
• financial and material support to start an activity

Every family has been able to build at least two sources of income, securing their future despite the vagaries of the climate.

Three women who have regained their dignity and their future

*Hasina Begum: from survival to stability*

Hasina, veuve, vivait dans une grande pauvreté. Elle gagnait environ 50 BDT par jour (0,30 €). Insuffisant pour nourrir ses enfants. Grâce au projet, elle a reçu 10 poules locales, des grains et des plants fruitiers. Aujourd’hui, elle vend légumes et œufs pour 200 à 300 BDT (1,5€ à 2€) par jour.

“I had lost all hope. Now I can feed my children every day. I can even think about their future ” she says.

Nasima Begum: from seamstress to entrepreneur

Nasima, a seamstress, earned very little. The project helped her buy tools, diversify her income and set up a small workshop at home.

Her income has almost doubled, so she can now provide for her daughters. “I no longer depend on anyone to survive. I can support my family ” the mother explains.

Yeasmin Akter: turning a lack of land into an opportunity

Yeasmin had no farmland. The project taught her to use the small spaces around her house to grow vegetables. She has also started selling betel nuts. For the first time ever, she has a regular income.“We live better, eat better and, above all… we have found hope again ” says Yeasmin.

Training and raising awareness for a sustainable future

Because a project only lasts if it changes habits, more than:

• 1,600 people took part in
  160 awareness sessions,
• 7,200 learning materials were handed out.

Topics covered:

• adapting to climate change
• disaster risk management
• biodiversity
• waste management
• caring for the mangroves

These sessions brought the whole community together to protect their environment.

A project that transforms landscapes and lives alike

In one year, this programme has:

• restored the coastal ecosystem
• protected villages from storms and erosion
• trained more than 1,600 residents
• given 100 families lasting sources of income
• created a model that can be replicated in other regions
• restored dignity and hope to hundreds of people

This project shows that by helping nature come back to life, we also help entire communities to fully rebuild.

Together, let's keep creating lasting change for our planet and for local communities. 💪