Supporting jaguar conservation through mangrove restoration in Maranhão, Brazil
Maranhão, Brazil - A key region in the Jaguar Corridor initiative
This project focuses on restoring mangrove ecosystems in the Primera Cruz area, which serves as a vital link in the broader Jaguar Corridor network connecting fragmented jaguar habitats from Mexico to Argentina.
Connectivity allows jaguars to find mates from different populations, reducing inbreeding and strengthening the overall health of the species.
Isolated jaguar populations often wander into human-dominated landscapes. Corridors provide safe passages that minimize these interactions.
The corridor promotes ecologically sustainable land-use practices that balance conservation with human development.
Connected and protected habitats make monitoring more effective, making it harder for poachers to target jaguars.
The Primera Cruz Mangrove site, located in Maranhão State, Brazil, plays a crucial role in the health of the coastal ecosystem. Mangroves are vital for marine species, serving as breeding grounds and nurseries for fish, including the endangered Goliath Giant Grouper and the Amazonian Manatee.
These coastal forests also support a wide variety of wildlife, from migrating birds to apex predators like Jaguars. However, the area is highly patchy, with mangrove forests being fragmented due to deforestation, creating ecological vulnerabilities and disrupting habitat connectivity.
The mangroves are under increasing threat from human activities, including charcoal production, logging, and salt farming, leaving local communities whose livelihoods depend on fishing increasingly vulnerable.
The Primera Cruz restoration project stands out for its community-driven approach. Local fishers, who depend on healthy mangroves for their livelihood, are leading the restoration efforts, understanding that without mangroves, fish populations will continue to decline, threatening their way of life.
The project provides local workers with sustainable employment to plant and care for mangrove trees. This approach not only restores the ecosystem but also empowers the community economically, creating long-term benefits for both people and the environment.
Women play a central role in this effort, making up over half of the team, with many being single mothers. The project offers these women crucial employment opportunities, fostering empowerment and inclusion.
Sustainable jobs for local fishers and community members, with support for programs like Bolsa Família.
Over 50% of the team are women, many single mothers, providing crucial employment opportunities.
The biodiversity of the Primera Cruz Mangrove site is rich and varied, home to species like the Goliath Giant Grouper, Amazonian Manatees, and Jaguars. These species rely on mangrove forests for breeding and habitat, and their survival is increasingly threatened by deforestation.
The restoration project aims to reconnect fragmented wildlife corridors and create safe zones for migrating animals. This not only supports endangered species but helps preserve the delicate balance of the ecosystem that sustains both wildlife and the local community.
Endangered fish species
Vulnerable marine mammal
Apex predators
Transparency is critical to ensuring the success of restoration efforts. The Primera Cruz project uses geospatial data layers to monitor the restoration process. This data helps track tree survivability, CO2 sequestration, and other key environmental impacts.
Mangroves are known to sequester significant amounts of carbon, and restoring these forests can help combat climate change. The project's use of technology ensures that each step of the restoration is measured and monitored, making the process transparent and accountable.
Map restored areas to assess habitat connectivity
Real-time documentation by local teams
Bird's-eye view of environmental changes
Every mangrove tree you plant helps restore the Jaguar Corridor and supports local communities in Maranhão, Brazil.
Start Planting Mangroves Today