Manon Marlier

Mangroves are areas rich in flora and fauna, found along tropical coastlines. The trees that make up mangroves, known as mangrove trees, are unique in that they are able to grow in slightly salty water. This unusual ecosystem is the setting for my internship with ULB-Coopération in Togo.

Thanks to the unique conditions they offer, mangroves provide an unprecedented range of “services.” They are an ideal place for fish and other marine resources (e.g., crabs) to spawn, reproduce, and seek refuge. They are a source of wood for heating and other uses, as well as a source of medicinal plants, and the roots of the trees that grow there provide a support for oyster farming. They also act as a buffer zone, absorbing wave energy, limiting flooding and coastal erosion, and contributing to carbon sequestration. Unfortunately, this precious ecosystem is under considerable anthropogenic pressure, which is exacerbated by climate change.

In southern Togo, the coastal region is dotted with mangroves along the banks of the lagoon system (Gbaga Channel, Lake Togo). The mangrove forests there have long been overexploited and are now severely degraded in places, surviving only in sparse clumps. In recent years, various institutions have launched awareness-raising and mangrove reforestation projects, which are crucial for the region’s many fishing communities.

The purpose of my internship is to gather as much information as possible on this issue in Togo. The first step was bibliographic research, gathering all published material on Togolese mangroves in terms of surface area, biodiversity, and ecosystem services, as well as research conducted by the University of Lomé, projects carried out by the government or NGOs, etc. This step made it possible to identify sub-themes that still lacked a scientific basis, and therefore new research topics needed to launch relevant projects.

At the same time, I conducted an ethno-biological survey based on questionnaires developed by Professor Farid Dahdouh-Guebas, a lecturer specializing in mangroves (ULB and VUB). The aim was to find out how mangroves are actually used by local populations, how the ecosystem has changed according to their memories, what changes are currently underway and where they originate from, to identify the state of their knowledge of the ecosystem, the problems they face, their ideas and needs in terms of projects, etc.

Once there, accompanied by local NGOs AHD and Agbo-Zegue, the practical part of the project was carried out: meeting with the people concerned and interviewing nearly 124 villagers. This fieldwork also allowed me to observe the condition of the various mangrove areas, see the results of past reforestation projects, and identify areas where urgent action is needed.

There are many possibilities, which will be discussed at a scientific symposium on mangroves co-organized by ULB-Coopération as part of Uni4Coop in February 2019 in Lomé.

Manon Marlier

Intern and ULB student in bioengineering (environmental science and technology)