Dominican mangrove revival with local stewards

Restoring Life to a Forgotten Forest

For decades, this inland mangrove forest was under siege. Crab corrals, salt pans, and cattle ranching stripped away vegetation and compacted the soil so severely that nature couldn't heal itself. Though those destructive practices have long stopped, the damage remains—mangrove seedlings simply cannot push through the hardened earth to take root.

Here's where your support makes the difference: We're turning the tables by transforming the very community that caused the degradation into restoration heroes. Local residents are leading hands-on mangrove planting efforts and monitoring recovery, rebuilding the forest tree by tree.

We're also creating a designated walking path that channels foot traffic away from vulnerable seedlings while preserving community access to the shore. What was once a source of destruction now protects new growth.

This isn't just about planting trees—it's about building lasting stewardship. By empowering locals to restore what was lost, we're creating guardians who will protect this forest for generations to come.