Alain Licari sends us his first series dedicated to life in the mangroves of Guinea, accompanied by this text.
Along the Guinean coast, the mangrove swamp stretches for nearly 300 kilometers, from Guinea-Bissau to Sierra Leone. It is home to a rich biodiversity of animal and plant species.
On the many islets scattered here and there, between the oceans and the sea, villages live to the rhythm of the seasons and the tides. Lacking drinking water and electricity, the villagers rely on various activities offered by their environment: fishing, oyster farming, and artisanal salt extraction. They regularly go to the mainland to collect water and sell the fruits of their labor at the weekly market.
But of the initial 300,000 hectares, only 80,000 hectares of mangroves now remain. Climate change, rising sea levels, pollution, and deforestation are the reasons for this dramatic situation. And, according to experts, Guinea’s mangroves could disappear within about thirty years. Fortunately, national and international programs are being implemented to preserve this ecosystem, which is essential for coastal protection.
Alain Licari
http://alainlicari-photographe.com
Mangroves in Guinea:
https://urlr.me/fqRvek
