Restoring with Nature, Guided by the Land
The land tells us what restoration needs. Our role is to listen, understand, and act accordingly.
In Gabura, Satkhira, the 2026 restoration phase of Mangroves4Life is moving from preparation to action.
Through our Community-Based Ecological Mangrove Restoration (CBEMR) approach, community members have begun Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) through direct mangrove seed planting.
Before planting, we considered the site’s previous ecological condition, hydrology, water conditions, soil and mud characteristics, earlier restoration experience, and local ecological knowledge. These factors guided our restoration decisions and helped determine which restoration actions and species would be most appropriate for this particular landscape.
The community selected six locally suitable mangrove species, with Keora (Sonneratia apetala) and Banna (Avicennia officinalis) among the prominent species prioritized for the site.
The activity brought together 20 community members, including 10 women and 10 men. Among them were 10 members of the local Munda community, including 7 women and 3 men, along with 4 youth participants.
Together, they are putting ecological understanding into action. Their participation is not limited to planting seeds. Community members are actively contributing to the restoration process and helping shape decisions about how their landscape can recover.
This is CBEMR in practice
Observe the ecosystem.
Understand the site.
Choose what fits.
Restore with the community.
Through ANR, we are supporting the site’s capacity for natural recovery while strengthening community ownership of the restoration process.
Each seed placed is part of a larger ecological journey, connecting local knowledge, community action, and the natural regeneration of mangrove ecosystems.
Community-led. Site-informed. Ecologically grounded.
* Gabura, Shyamnagar, Satkhira, Bangladesh
* Mangroves4Life | Community-Led Mangrove Restoration in the Sundarbans