Report from the Future Ecosystems for Africa Visioning Workshop.

The Mono Transboundary Biosphere Reserve (MTBR) is a part of the RAMSAR 1017 site in the Benin Republic. This unique and regional biodiversity hotspot brings together a mosaic landscape of the natural ecosystems of southern Benin and Togo. A key motivation for establishing the MTBR was to preserve and sustainably utilize coastal resources to enhance coastal resilience, particularly emphasizing mangroves.

The integrated biosphere approach of natural, social, economic, and cultural knowledge has facilitated the combination of ecosystem conservation measures and the well-being of the local communities. As a result, several initiatives have been implemented in the MTBR by academic research institutes, environmental protection NGOs, community-based organizations (CBOs), private consulting services, Benin and Togo governments, with the active participation of indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs).

However, the efforts from different stakeholders have been relatively constrained due to a lack of including local knowledge from IPLCs in the reserve. This not only violates their right to participation, but also neglects the crucial contribution that their associated knowledge can make towards sustainability……