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Jeta-Pecixe-Cacheu and Casamance Mangrove: Two major organisations share their expertise to create more resilient landscapes

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The Jeta-Pecixe-Cacheu (JPC) Landscape Stakeholders’ Platform in Guinea-Bissau undertook an exchange visit to the Casamance Mangrove Platform (PMC) in Senegal. Organised by Wetlands International Africa as part of the Wetlands for Resilience (W4R) initiative, funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), this meeting aimed to strengthen the exchange of experiences in the areas of territorial governance, ecosystem conservation and community development.

Wetlands International Africa: at the heart of the territorial platforms’ momentum

In both Senegal and Guinea-Bissau, Wetlands International Africa has supported the establishment of the PMC and JPC platforms to bring together local stakeholders around a shared vision of ecosystem conservation and sustainable local development.

These exchanges enabled participants to discover initiatives that reconcile the preservation of natural resources with local economic development. The visit to the Oussouye Department Beekeepers’ Cooperative (SCADO) in Senegal, the meeting with beekeepers and eco-guards from the Ufoyaal Kassa-Bandia (UFK) in Diakène Dioula, as well as the visit to the port of Elinkine, illustrated the role of communities in the sustainable management of ecosystems and the enhancement of local resources.

These experiences serve as a source of inspiration for the JPC Platform, which aims to strengthen participatory governance in the Jeta-Pecixe-Cacheu landscape, particularly with a view to its recognition as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

We came to share our experiences with the Casamance Mangrove Platform, but also to learn from theirs. Mangroves and ecosystems know no borders. It is therefore essential to preserve them for the good of both our countries.

Joãozinho Sá
represents the JPC Platform participants and is an associate expert with Wetlands International Africa in Guinea-Bissau,

Cross-border cooperation: a driver of resilience

Beyond the sharing of best practices, this visit highlights the importance of strengthening synergies between stakeholders in Senegal and Guinea-Bissau. Faced with the shared challenges of mangrove conservation and coastal resource management, cooperation between platforms serves as a driver for fostering coordinated responses, tailored to the realities of the regions.

Socio-economic development initiatives, both in Casamance and in Guinea-Bissau, rely on ecosystems. We must therefore ensure they are managed effectively and maintain a balance between the needs of local communities and the conservation of natural resources.

Bakary Sonko
representative of the Ziguinchor Regional Development Agency (ARD)

Building on the lessons learnt from this meeting will help to identify practices that can be adapted to the JPC landscape and strengthen relations between the two platforms.

Through Wetlands for Resilience, Wetlands International Africa, with support from Sida, facilitates dialogue and learning amongst local stakeholders to promote more coordinated, inclusive and sustainable landscape management.

Sharing experiences today, strengthening cooperation tomorrow: an essential dynamic for more resilient coastal landscapes, for the benefit of both people and nature.