Overview of the Mangrove Observatory

The Mangrove Observatory is a socio-environmental initiative focused on strengthening mangrove conservation through citizen science, data generation, and community-based governance. Over the last year, the project has made important progress in expanding its territorial reach and consolidating its methodological approach.

In Brazil, the initiative has significantly scaled its presence and is now active across multiple coastal states, including Pará, Maranhão, Alagoas, Paraíba, and São Paulo. In these regions, the Mangrove Observatory has been working with local communities to promote participatory monitoring, environmental education, and the co-production of knowledge that integrates traditional and scientific perspectives.

In parallel, the project has advanced internationally and is currently being implemented as a pilot in Peru through the initiative “DataMangrove: Environmental Governance of the Mangrove Crab Involving Citizen Science in Peru,” supported by The Rufford Foundation. This pilot focuses on strengthening local governance in mangrove ecosystems, particularly in the Tumbes region, by engaging communities in ecological monitoring, capacity building, and data-driven decision-making.

Activities:

• Training community members in citizen science and environmental monitoring

• Generating and systematizing socio-environmental data

• Supporting sustainable livelihoods linked to mangrove ecosystems

• Strengthening local governance and participation in conservation processes

Collaboration and integration:

The project will be soon launching a data platform that systematizes and makes accessible the impacts mapped by citizen scientists, strengthening transparency and usability of community-generated data.