Last updated: June 2024
Otchiva is the name of the NGO dedicated to reclaiming this Angolan Mangrove ecosystem, which has been disappearing at a frightening speed due to the rapid urbanization and huge demand for construction. A study shows that 60% of the loss of Mangroves in the Gulf of Guinea from Liberia to Angola is accredited to fuelwood exploitation for fish smoking, wood for construction, petroleum and gas exploration and exploitation activities along the coast and urban construction activities. In order to address issues of biodiversity loss and deforestation at a rapid rate, Otchiva embarked on a mangrove reforestation program, starting with 2019. The project by Otchiva is being implemented in all provinces of the coast of Angola Fernanda says. The Municipality of Lobito and the Capital of Angola in Luanda are the 2 places where the project already presents results. (2)
Photo 1
https://www.facebook.com/otchivamangaisangola/photos
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Coastlines
- Coastal wetland, mangroves and salt marshes
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change mitigation
- Coastal resilience and marine protection (SDG 14)
- Coastal protection / hazard mitigation
- Marine and coastal biodiversity protection
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity restoration
- Green space creation and/or management
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- Improvements to water quality
Focus
Coastal landscape management or protection, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Protection of natural ecosystems, Improved governance of green or blue areas
Project objectives
Many factors threaten the existence of mangrove forests in Angola: deforestation for fish smoking, urbanisation, urban infrastructural development, quarrying, salt and sand extraction; pollution from industries, agro-industrial chemicals, petroleum and gas exploitation; absence of appropriate legislation; and the proliferation of invasive species including the climate change effects accentuated by population growth. Over the years the government of Angola initiated various biodiversity conservation policies, but there is still inadequate provision for mangrove forests conservation. Civil society took the matter into their own hands and as such the following project aims to address issues such as:
1. To launch a massive cleaning campaign for many months in order to safeguard migratory birds that have not been seen in Luanda for years, because their habitat was clogged, what was left of its habitat was very polluted with garbage and combustible oils
2. To conserve the mangrove forests which are extremely productive ecosystems that provide numerous goods and services both to the marine environment and people
3. To address resilience to mitigate climate change effects. In recent years, frequent impacts of sea surges, inundations and natural disasters recorded in the coastal areas are evidence of increased vulnerability largely attributed to human pressures.
4. To prevent shoreline erosion and regulate coastal water quality (2,6)
Implementation activities
The NGO Otchiva was established in 2019 by volunteers interested in protecting the coastlines of Angola. Over time, the project raised support not only from Angolan authorities but also from local volunteers - in the first year more than 500 people, from all walks of life, joined the project. The planting stages usually happens throughout the year and it is not conditioned of anything except funding. In 2021, Otchiva partnered with the Blue Carbon project. The Blue Carbon Initiative focuses on mangroves, salt marshes and seagrasses, which are found on every continent except Antarctica. The Blue Carbon Initiative works to protect and restore coastal ecosystems for their role in reducing the impacts of global climate change. (1,4,5)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change mitigation:
- Increase green urban nature for carbon storage (wetlands, tree cover)
- Raise public awareness of behaviours, lifestyle and cultural changes with mitigation potential
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity restoration:
- Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
- Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
- Restore native species
- Public engagement
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Non-government organisation/Civil Society
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Non-government organisation/civil society
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The NGO organizing the planting campaigns is called Otchiva - it is a voluntarily organized group. From time to time it is supported by different Angolese governmental institutions, financially mainly. To these citizens, groups join during the planting seasons. The project, which has already been recognized by the African Union (AU), is allowing the return of life on the Angolan seafront and the restoration of the marine ecosystem. (1,4)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(The project was not created as a response to an EU Directive however in 2021 the initiative was linked to the Blue Carbon Initiative. The Blue Carbon Initiative brings together governments, research institutions, non-governmental organizations and communities from around the world. The Initiative is coordinated by Conservation International (CI), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (IOC-UNESCO). (5))
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(Mangroves are included in the National Reforestation Program, with the action of associations or movements dedicated to their preservation. (7)
)
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public national budget
- Multilateral funds/international funding
Type of funding
- Unknown
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of land
- Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
- Water management and blue areas
- Enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Education
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts, Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Angop (2021), Over one million mangroves planted this year, available at Source link (accessed 22-03-2022)
2. Talk Africa (2019), VOLUNTEERS IN ANGOLA PLANT THOUSANDS OF MANGROVES TO RESTORE FOREST COVER, available at Source link (accessed 22-03-2022)
3. All Africa (2021), Angola: President Wants Concrete Actions for Environment, available at Source link (accessed 22-03-2022)
4. Facebook account of Otchiva (no date), available at Source link, (accessed 22-03-2022)
5. The Blue Carbon Initiative (no date), MITIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH COASTAL ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT, available at Source link (accessed 22-03-2022)
6. Gordon Ajonina, Abdoulaye Diame, J.G. Kairo, Current status and conservation of mangroves in Africa: An overview (2018), available at Source link (accessed 22-03-2022)
7. Jornal de Angola (2021), Protecção de mangais preocupa autoridades, available at Source link (accessed 22-03-2022)
2. Talk Africa (2019), VOLUNTEERS IN ANGOLA PLANT THOUSANDS OF MANGROVES TO RESTORE FOREST COVER, available at Source link (accessed 22-03-2022)
3. All Africa (2021), Angola: President Wants Concrete Actions for Environment, available at Source link (accessed 22-03-2022)
4. Facebook account of Otchiva (no date), available at Source link, (accessed 22-03-2022)
5. The Blue Carbon Initiative (no date), MITIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH COASTAL ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT, available at Source link (accessed 22-03-2022)
6. Gordon Ajonina, Abdoulaye Diame, J.G. Kairo, Current status and conservation of mangroves in Africa: An overview (2018), available at Source link (accessed 22-03-2022)
7. Jornal de Angola (2021), Protecção de mangais preocupa autoridades, available at Source link (accessed 22-03-2022)
Photo 3
https://www.facebook.com/otchivamangaisangola/photos
Photo 4
https://www.facebook.com/otchivamangaisangola/photos
Photo 5
https://www.facebook.com/otchivamangaisangola/photos
Photo 7
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Location-of-the-Luanda-bay-Luanda-Angola-the-two-fishing-communities-Luanda-Island_fig1_355820081
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the UNA global extension project funded by the British Academy.