Restoring Labé: women-led ecosystem recovery in Guinea

Secours et Vie (SeVie) works in rural Guinea, particularly in the Labé region, where communities are facing accelerating land degradation, deforestation, declining soil fertility, and increasing climate variability. These environmental pressures are directly affecting food security, water availability, and local livelihoods. Women and young people, who depend most on natural resources, are among the most impacted, yet remain central to restoring and protecting ecosystems.

Our project is rooted in community-led ecosystem restoration. We work alongside women, youth groups, local leaders, and authorities to restore degraded landscapes through tree planting, sustainable land management, climate education, and ecofeminist leadership. Our approach ensures that restoration is not imposed from outside but driven by the communities who depend on the land.

Beyond restoration, we focus on building long-term resilience. We train community members in sustainable agricultural practices, environmental stewardship, and climate adaptation strategies that improve both ecosystems and livelihoods. Women and girls are empowered as key actors of change, leading local initiatives that combine environmental action with social transformation.

Despite strong community engagement, our main challenge is limited resources to scale our impact. We lack sufficient means to expand community nurseries, restore larger degraded areas, and strengthen long-term monitoring systems.

If selected, the funding will directly support the expansion of community nurseries for native tree species, increase restoration activities in degraded zones, and strengthen training programs for women and youth. It will also help us improve monitoring and documentation of ecological recovery, ensuring sustainability and scalability.

Our vision is to build resilient landscapes where restored ecosystems support sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity recovery, and climate resilience. Through community ownership and inclusive leadership, we believe local action can generate lasting environmental transformation in Guinea.