A general view of the mangrove in a creek in the village of Toube I on September 28, 2024. The coastal region of Cameroon is home to productive wetlands: here the mangrove ecosystems provide key services. Mangroves play several important roles, notably in the sequestration of greenhouse gases (CO2) but also as a barrier that reduces erosion and rising waters. They are important to ecosystems. Inherited from their parents and grandparents, the residents living in villages such as Cap Cameroon, Toube I, Toube II, Manoka, fish and then smoke the fish, by burning wood collected from mangroves, in order to preserve them. The wood is cut and then transported by pirogue back to the villages, where it can also be used for the construction of houses. The residents of the villages are aware of the important roles mangroves play for ecosystems and the environment, and a balance needs to be found to protect their way of income, food security and conservation. (Photo by Daniel Beloumou Olomo / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL BELOUMOU OLOMO/AFP via Getty Images)

Isaac, who runs a small restaurant, splits a log of mangrove wood behind an enclosure he uses as a kitchen to dry shrimps, in the village of Toube I on September 21, 2024. The coastal region of Cameroon is home to productive wetlands: here the mangrove ecosystems provide key services. Mangroves play several important roles, notably in the sequestration of greenhouse gases (CO2) but also as a barrier that reduces erosion and rising waters. They are important to ecosystems. Inherited from their parents and grandparents, the residents living in villages such as Cap Cameroon, Toube I, Toube II, Manoka, fish and then smoke the fish, by burning wood collected from mangroves, in order to preserve them. The wood is cut and then transported by pirogue back to the villages, where it can also be used for the construction of houses. The residents of the villages are aware of the important roles mangroves play for ecosystems and the environment, and a balance needs to be found to protect their way of income, food security and conservation. (Photo by Daniel Beloumou Olomo / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL BELOUMOU OLOMO/AFP via Getty Images)

A general view of the mangrove in a creek in the village of Toube I on September 28, 2024. The coastal region of Cameroon is home to productive wetlands: here the mangrove ecosystems provide key services. Mangroves play several important roles, notably in the sequestration of greenhouse gases (CO2) but also as a barrier that reduces erosion and rising waters. They are important to ecosystems. Inherited from their parents and grandparents, the residents living in villages such as Cap Cameroon, Toube I, Toube II, Manoka, fish and then smoke the fish, by burning wood collected from mangroves, in order to preserve them. The wood is cut and then transported by pirogue back to the villages, where it can also be used for the construction of houses. The residents of the villages are aware of the important roles mangroves play for ecosystems and the environment, and a balance needs to be found to protect their way of income, food security and conservation. (Photo by Daniel Beloumou Olomo / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL BELOUMOU OLOMO/AFP via Getty Images)

A general view of plastic waste, nets, bags, clothes, caught in the roots of mangrove trees near the beach in the village of Toube I on September 23, 2024. The coastal region of Cameroon is home to productive wetlands: here the mangrove ecosystems provide key services. Mangroves play several important roles, notably in the sequestration of greenhouse gases (CO2) but also as a barrier that reduces erosion and rising waters. They are important to ecosystems. Inherited from their parents and grandparents, the residents living in villages such as Cap Cameroon, Toube I, Toube II, Manoka, fish and then smoke the fish, by burning wood collected from mangroves, in order to preserve them. The wood is cut and then transported by pirogue back to the villages, where it can also be used for the construction of houses. The residents of the villages are aware of the important roles mangroves play for ecosystems and the environment, and a balance needs to be found to protect their way of income, food security and conservation. (Photo by Daniel Beloumou Olomo / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL BELOUMOU OLOMO/AFP via Getty Images)

Women seperate and clean shrimps brought by fishermen on the beach in the village of Toube I on September 28, 2024. The coastal region of Cameroon is home to productive wetlands: here the mangrove ecosystems provide key services. Mangroves play several important roles, notably in the sequestration of greenhouse gases (CO2) but also as a barrier that reduces erosion and rising waters. They are important to ecosystems. Inherited from their parents and grandparents, the residents living in villages such as Cap Cameroon, Toube I, Toube II, Manoka, fish and then smoke the fish, by burning wood collected from mangroves, in order to preserve them. The wood is cut and then transported by pirogue back to the villages, where it can also be used for the construction of houses. The residents of the villages are aware of the important roles mangroves play for ecosystems and the environment, and a balance needs to be found to protect their way of income, food security and conservation. (Photo by Daniel Beloumou Olomo / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL BELOUMOU OLOMO/AFP via Getty Images)

A general view of the mangrove in a forest in the village of Toube I on September 28, 2024. The coastal region of Cameroon is home to productive wetlands: here the mangrove ecosystems provide key services. Mangroves play several important roles, notably in the sequestration of greenhouse gases (CO2) but also as a barrier that reduces erosion and rising waters. They are important to ecosystems. Inherited from their parents and grandparents, the residents living in villages such as Cap Cameroon, Toube I, Toube II, Manoka, fish and then smoke the fish, by burning wood collected from mangroves, in order to preserve them. The wood is cut and then transported by pirogue back to the villages, where it can also be used for the construction of houses. The residents of the villages are aware of the important roles mangroves play for ecosystems and the environment, and a balance needs to be found to protect their way of income, food security and conservation. (Photo by Daniel Beloumou Olomo / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL BELOUMOU OLOMO/AFP via Getty Images)

Agnes Omalayo (L), 57, returns dried fish with her niece Mercy in their kitchen in the village of Toube II on September 26, 2024. The coastal region of Cameroon is home to productive wetlands: here the mangrove ecosystems provide key services. Mangroves play several important roles, notably in the sequestration of greenhouse gases (CO2) but also as a barrier that reduces erosion and rising waters. They are important to ecosystems. Inherited from their parents and grandparents, the residents living in villages such as Cap Cameroon, Toube I, Toube II, Manoka, fish and then smoke the fish, by burning wood collected from mangroves, in order to preserve them. The wood is cut and then transported by pirogue back to the villages, where it can also be used for the construction of houses. The residents of the villages are aware of the important roles mangroves play for ecosystems and the environment, and a balance needs to be found to protect their way of income, food security and conservation. (Photo by Daniel Beloumou Olomo / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL BELOUMOU OLOMO/AFP via Getty Images)

Sophie Job, who works with Cameroon Ecology for more than 3 years, plants mangrove seeds in plots at the nursery in Mbengue Dikoume on October 3, 2024. The community forest covers 3250 hectares and the plan is to replant 2,500,000 trees. (Photo by Daniel Beloumou Olomo / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL BELOUMOU OLOMO/AFP via Getty Images)