Overview:

TMSU International successfully implemented the Mangrove Honey for Togo project, addressing environmental degradation and economic vulnerability in coastal communities. By training local people and establishing cooperatives for sustainable beekeeping, the project has generated income and fostered mangrove conservation.   

The Challenge:

Mangrove ecosystems in Togo face threats from deforestation, overexploitation, and climate change, while local communities struggle with limited income opportunities.

The Solution:

The project promoted sustainable apiculture as an alternative livelihood, empowering local communities, especially women, while fostering mangrove conservation.   

Why this matters:

Integrating environmental restoration with income generation creates a sustainable model for ecosystem protection and community resilience.   

Main outputs and achievements:

The project trained 101 beneficiaries (85% women) in sustainable apiculture, enabling them to produce over 600 liters of honey and generate additional income. It also reforested 1 hectare and actively protected 42.36 ± 11.53 hectares of mangrove ecosystems.   

Support the project:

Potential partners could support the project by providing funding for scaling up the project to other mangrove-dependent communities in Togo and beyond, supporting the cooperative business model and market linkages for honey products, and investing in capacity building and training programs for beneficiaries. 

Lessons learned:

The project highlighted the importance of community engagement and women’s empowerment as crucial factors for its success and impact. It also emphasized the importance of combining environmental education with economic incentives to drive behavior change and promote sustainable practices.