1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Fort-de-France (FUA)
Region
Latin America and the Caribbean
Native title of the NBS intervention
Sauver la mangrove de Morne Cabri
Short description of the intervention
The mangrove area of Morne Cabri, located in the municipality of Le Lamentin and sharing the bay of Fort-deFrance, is the largest mangrove area in Martinique. Since 2011, the municipality has led efforts to understand and better manage the area (Ref 1). The natural regeneration of the mangrove is threatened by fresh water run-off (from waste and rainwater), invasive species and pollution. However, it is an important protection against extreme weather events, operates as a carbon sink for the island and provides recreational activities (Ref 1). The municipality has led several initiatives supported by volunteers, local businesses, national subsidies and private donations (See: Ref 2, 3, 4, 11).
Implementation area characterization
Address

97232 Le Lamentin
Martinique

Area boundary (map-based)
NBS area image
Source of NBS area image
Google (2024) Parcours santé de Morne Cabri. Available at (accessed 08/08/2024): https://www.google.es/maps/place/Parcours+sant%C3%A9+de+Morne+Cabri/@14.5924449,-61.0198518,9692m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x8c6aa11edcd011c7:0x25129e1468be50ab!8m2!3d14.6056574!4d-61.0202085!16s%2Fg%2F1hhh37s4v?entry=ttu
Total area
7200000.00m²
NBS area
100000.00m²
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2011
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2022
End date of the intervention
ongoing
Present stage of the intervention
Objectives of the intervention
Goals of the intervention
-Mitigating the impact of invasive species, pollution and freshwater run-off in order to reach satisfactory ecological conditions so that the mangrove area can naturally regenerate and protect coastal communities (Ref 1):
-Restoring and expanding the mangrove area, ultimately reconnecting the mangrove area of Morne Cabri with the natural reserve of Génipa, south of Morbe Cabri (Ref 4).
-Maintaining a valuable recreational area where people can connect with nature (Ref 4; 5).
-Educating locals on the importance of mangroves for coastal communities (Ref 4).
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets?
What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?
Implementation activities and NBS focus
Implementation activities
Stage 1:
-between 2011-2013 a biological inventory study was conducted to assess the flora and fauna of the mangrove (Ref 2)
Stage 2:
-between 2019-2022 the project involved actions that were focused on invasive species control and reforestation with the the removal of 1000m² of invasive species, laying 500m² of tarpaulins to smother the invasive grasses, protecting 50 plants or trees threatened by the invasive grasses, planting 60 trees with a view to reforesting the degraded mangrove area, collecting 200 black mangrove seeds and planting 50 of these plants in a nursery in situ (Ref 6).
Stage 3:
-between 2022-2023 the project focused on habitat enhancement, waste management, and educational activities with actions that included planting of 300 trees and shrubs (specific species of the environment present on site or rare) in the wooded area and in the parking lot; digging-up areas to “return them to the mangrove”; setting up an “interpretation trail”; rehabilitating a pond and its immediate environment (Ref 7).
Stage 4 (ongoing)
-from 2023 onward the project involves erosion control, landowner engagement, and creation of wooded areas and wetlands (Ref 3).
-in this stage community engagement is also crucial as participatory kayaking clean-ups and workshops are organized by a local business, with municipal support (Ref 8; 9).
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Blue infrastructure
Coastal wetland, mangroves and salt marshes
Mangroves
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Regulating services
Coastal protection
Flood regulation
Habitat and supporting services
Habitats for species
Cultural services
Recreation
Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)
Scale
Spatial scale
Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Beneficiaries
Demographics in implementation area
Based on survey data collected in 2021 (Ref 10), Le Lamentin houses about 20% of pensioners, exhibits an unemployment rate of 17, 2% and 31,1% with people betweent the age of 15 and 24. 30% of people over the age of 15 are married. 38% of families are monoparental (one mother). 85% of housing is for primary use. Half of housing units fall in the category of a "house" while the other half falls in the category of an "appartment". 70% of housing units have 3-4 rooms. But 8% of housing untis are "overoccuppied". 47,2% of the population owns the property in which they live while 45,2% are renting. 40% of the population attends post-secondary education. 28,4% of the population over the age of 15 do not have any primary school diploma (a reversing trend). The author of the survey estimates the poverty rate at 22% across all age groups.
Socio-economic profile of the area
Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts
Yes
Specification of climate or environmentally vulnerable communities
Specify primary beneficiaries
.Anyone living behind the protective screen that the mangrove area forms for the municipality of Le Lamentin: "the mangrove no longer absorbs wave energy, no longer protects the shores and natural and inhabited coastal areas and no longer plays its role as an essential bulwark to deal with flooding." (Ref 3)
-And, anyone engaging in recreational activities in the mangrove area. For example, the area "has a [recreational trail] set up by the municipality in 1992" (Ref 4)
-"Future generations" (Ref 4)
-"a space for connecting between colleagues and between employees of neighboring companies" (Ref 5).
-"a discovery space, accessible to all, to rediscover local biodiversity" (Ref 5).
Measures for inclusion of marginalised groups
Specific measures: environmental education, joint mangrove planting, and awareness raising for communities living next to the mangroves (4)
Governance
Governance arrangements
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
This initiative is led by the municipality of Fort-de-France, which has partnered with various stakeholders since 2011. The municipality partnered with:
-the Research Cuban Institute for the initial inventory study
-local companies and landowners for joint planning, planting, participatory clean-ups, and workshops
-the local community to participate in joint planning, planting and educational/awareness raising activities
-Fondation du Patrimoine (NGO), the French Office for Biodiversity (national government), Primagaz (LPG supplier company) to provide funding
(Ref 1; 2; 5; 10; 11).
Key actors - initiating organization
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
National government
Non-government organisation/civil society
Citizens or community group
Researchers/university
Private sector/corporate actor/company
Level of citizen and community engagement
Please specify other missing actor
-Ref 9 shows that the prokayak business helps involving the community in the cleaning and the education of the mangrove.
-Ref 6 mentions that "around forty people registered in a reinsertion workshop were hired to restore and protecte the forest of mangroves, trees and plants." People eligible to reinsertion workshops are youth under 26, unemployed people and people looking for reinsertion after incarceration.
-Ref 12 mentions "agents from the city's technical department, elected officials and also members of the senior rangers brigade went to the site." It furhter mentions "employees of companies located in the Lézarde area who decided to volunteer. A doctoral student who is preparing a thesis on mangroves was also present."
Ref 7 mentions: "This project is planned with the involvement of young people, associations and students.".
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to a Regional Directive/Strategy
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan
Unknown
NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
Ref 1 mentions that "In 2011, the municipality of Le Lamentin began taking action to better understand, enhance and manage its mangrove." Since then, sources indicate a consistent policy of mangrove restoration led by the municipality by engaging with and gaining the support of other stakeholders.
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Enablers & Barriers
Financing
Please specify total cost (EUR)
-Ref 5 mentions 160 000 € from "Réciprocité", a program run by the French Government (2019-2022).
-Ref 4 explains that the company Primagaz in partnership with the Fondation du Patrimoine (NGO) gave a 50.000 euro grant to the project (12/2022-07/2023).
-Ref 11 mentions that the budget "amounts to 650,000 euros. A provisional subsidy of 344,000 euros will be granted from 2024-ongoing by the French government
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
N/A
Non-financial contribution
Yes
Type of non-financial contribution
Co-finance for NBS
Yes
Co-governance arrangement
Please specify other co-financing type
Co-financing is channeled through the municipality (Ref 11).
Entrepreneurship opportunities
Yes
What types of actors are leading the entrepreneurship activities linked to the NBS project?
What types of support are provided to entrepreneurs engaged in NBS-related activities?
Please specify other types of support provided to entrepreneurs
-Events organsied by prokayak are advertised by the municipality (Ref 8).
Business models
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Impacts, benefits
Description of environmental benefits
-Expected storm / wave induced erosion and flooding:
"Mangroves play a major role in combating the effects of climate change" [...] "The mangrove no longer absorbs the energy of the ocean, no longer protects the shores and natural and inhabited coastal areas and no longer plays its role as an essential bulwark to deal with flooding [...] the municipality of Lamentin, the project leader, wants to tackle the causes of this erosion" (Ref 3, 11).

-Expected enhanced protection against extreme weather events (e.g. storms, cyclones, tidal surges, coastal erosion).
"It plays an essential role [..] in the fight against climate change and also the adaptation of the territory to natural hazards (cyclonic swell, tsunamis, rising sea levels, etc.)" (Ref 13).

-Expected improved stormwater management:
"excess freshwater from rain and wastewater"[...] "our project aims here to strengthen the restorations by limiting the arrival of fresh water from the watershed to the environment" (Ref 3).

-Expected increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems:
"already planned restoration of 10 hectares of former mangroves" (Ref 3).

-Achieved increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems & increased number of species present:
"protecting 50 plants or trees threatened , planting 60 trees with a view to reforesting the degraded mangrove area, collecting 200 black mangrove seeds and planting 50 of these plants in a nursery in situ." (Ref 6).

-Expected increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales:
"This mangrove renaturation and replanting project will ultimately allow the integration of this mangrove area into the Génipa nature reserve" (Ref 4).

-Achieved improved prevention or control of invasive alien species:
" removing 1000m² of invasive grasses, laying 500m² of smothering tarpaulins, protecting 50 plants or trees threatened by these IAGs,"(Ref 6).
Environmental impact indicators
Total area of habitat restored (in ha)
10 (Ref 3)
Description of economic benefits
-Achieved increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions):
"For several weeks, around forty people registered in a reinsertion workshop are responsible for restoring and protecting this forest of mangroves, trees and plants." (Ref 6).
-Achieved generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation):
"These are employees of companies located in the Lézarde area who have decided to intervene voluntarily" (Ref 12).
-Achieved more sustainable tourism:
"Coming to visit or discover the mangrove is one thing. Exploring it, becoming aware of its richness, respecting it and ensuring that your actions protect it, is the objective that West Indies Prokayak wishes to instill in its visitors." (Ref 9).
-Achieved generation of income from NBS:
"West Indies Prokayak offers individuals and associations several options for renting single and double kayaks. We give you the choice between a kayak rental for a few hours, a day or a long period" (Ref 9).
Economic impact indicators
Number of jobs created (e.g. park maintenance, landscaping, ecotourism)
At least 40 temporary positions
Description of social and cultural benefits
-Achieved gain in activities for recreation and exercise:
The restoration benefited the "sports course set up by the municipality in 1992" on Morne Cabri but needed clearing(Ref 4; 12). An “interpretation trail” was created under the Fondation du Patrimoine grant (Ref 7).
-Achieved increased awareness of NBS and their benefits:
"setting up thematic days for schools around environmental awareness." (Ref 4).
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Yes
Actors involved in the assessment, monitoring or evaluation of NBS impacts
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Type of indicators
Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports
Yes
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Unknown
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Cost-benefit analysis
Unknown
Justice
Description of locals satisfaction with the project
References 7; 8; 9 and 12 indicate a high level of community participation which can be indicative of positive community satisfaction with the project. No sources indicated dissatisfaction, mo grievances were reported.
Trade-offs & Negative impacts
Measures to prevent gentrification or displacement
High-quality & Transformative NBS
Multiple impacts delivery (climate, biodiversity, just community)
Yes
Goal setting and impacts delivery
Yes, from the planning phase the project aimed to address issues in these three key priority areas and it also delivered benefits across these three areas.
Reaching original project goals
Please specify the achievements of the project goals
Climate action & Biodiversity:
-Expected storm / wave induced erosion and flooding:
"Mangroves play a major role in combating the effects of climate change" [...] "The mangrove no longer absorbs the energy of the ocean, no longer protects the shores and natural and inhabited coastal areas and no longer plays its role as an essential bulwark to deal with flooding [...] the municipality of Lamentin, the project leader, wants to tackle the causes of this erosion" (Ref 3, 11).

-Expected enhanced protection against extreme weather events (e.g. storms, cyclones, tidal surges, coastal erosion).
"It plays an essential role [..] in the fight against climate change and also the adaptation of the territory to natural hazards (cyclonic swell, tsunamis, rising sea levels, etc.)" (Ref 13).

-Expected improved stormwater management:
"excess freshwater from rain and wastewater"[...] "our project aims here to strengthen the restorations by limiting the arrival of fresh water from the watershed to the environment" (Ref 3).

-Expected increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems:
"already planned restoration of 10 hectares of former mangroves" (Ref 3).

-Achieved increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems & increased number of species present:
"protecting 50 plants or trees threatened , planting 60 trees with a view to reforesting the degraded mangrove area, collecting 200 black mangrove seeds and planting 50 of these plants in a nursery in situ." (Ref 6).

-Expected increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales:
"This mangrove renaturation and replanting project will ultimately allow the integration of this mangrove area into the Génipa nature reserve" (Ref 4).

-Achieved improved prevention or control of invasive alien species:
" removing 1000m² of invasive grasses, laying 500m² of smothering tarpaulins, protecting 50 plants or trees threatened by these IAGs,"(Ref 6).

Social justice and community:
-Achieved gain in activities for recreation and exercise:
The restoration benefited the "sports course set up by the municipality in 1992" on Morne Cabri; An “interpretation trail” was created under the Fondation du Patrimoine grant (Ref 7).
-Achieved increased awareness of NBS and their benefits:
"setting up thematic days for schools around environmental awareness." (Ref 4).
Long-term perspective
Yes
Cost-effective solutions
Yes
Application of lessons learned
Perception of Environmental Change
Unknown
References
1.
Mission Nature (n.d.). Sauvegarde de la mangrove du Lamentin. Accessed on August 8, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
2.
Mairie Le Lamentin (2021). IBR : UN OUVRAGE POUR DÉCOUVRIR LA MANGROVE. Le Lamentin: Accessed on August 8, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
3.
Office français de la biodiversité (n.d.). Mission Nature. Dossier de presse Accessed on August 8, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
4.
Fondation du Patrimoine (n.d.). La mangrove de Morne-Cabri au Lamentin. Accessed on August 8, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
5.
Agence Francaise pour la biodiversité (2019). Les Lauréats de l'appel : « Initiatives pour la reconquête de la biodiversité en outre-mer ». Communiqué de presse Accessed on August 8, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
6.
Guy Etienne (2022). La restauration de la mangrove de Morne Cabri au Lamentin a débuté. la1ère, Accessed on August 8, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
7.
Pole Tropicale.org (2022). Opération de renaturation de la mangrove du Morne Cabri (Martinique). Accessed on August 8, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
8.
Mairie Le Lamentin (2022). Nettoyons nos mangroves. Le Lamentin: Accessed on August 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
9.
West Indies Prokayak (n.d.). West Indies Prokayak : Des activités ludo-récréatives autour de la mangrove. Accessed on August 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
10.
L’Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques (2024). Dossier complet : Commune du Lamentin (97213). Accessed on August 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
11.
Caroline Papovic (2024). La sauvegarde de la mangrove du Lamentin en Martinique sous l'oeil d'une caméra d'un média national. La 1ère, Accessed on August 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
12.
Lorand, K., and Vincent, C. (2022). Des salariés nettoient et replantent des arbres dans la mangrove de Morne Cabri. RCI, Accessed on August 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];
Comments and notes
Additional insights
Financing details:
-It is likely that there are hidden costs that the municipality incurred earlier and that have not been reported.
Public Images
Image
Mangrove of Morne Cabri
Mangrove of Morne Cabri
The image is retrieved from: https://la1ere.francetvinfo.fr/martinique/lamentin/la-restauration-de-la-mangrove-de-morne-cabri-au-lamentin-a-debute-1277588.html