The International Day for the Protection and Conservation of Mangroves is celebrated annually on July 26, to highlight the importance of these coastal habitats, vital for biodiversity and environmental sustainability, which serve as nurseries for the reproduction and growth of countless marine species, as well as protecting the shores against coastal erosion and siltation and contributing to carbon capture, combating climate change.

In the Recôncavo Baiano, especially in the municipalities of Maragojipe and Salinas da Margarida, Enseada’s area of direct influence, mangroves play a crucial role in the local economy and culture, sustaining traditional communities of fishermen and shellfish gatherers, the region’s main subsistence economic activity.

To celebrate this date, Enseada carried out a series of educational and cultural activities on July 31 in two different locations, based on the principle that knowledge is an important tool for transforming behavior. Actions aimed at preserving and conserving this important ecosystem are part of the scope of the Environmental Education programs and the Fisheries Management Plan, both of which were built in a participatory manner with the communities and are currently being implemented by the company.

The first action was aimed at members of the Conceição de Salinas Fishermen and Shellfish gatherers Association, bringing together 35 participants, most of them shellfish gatherers from the region. The second activity was held at the Juracy Magalhães School in Salinas da Margarida and was aimed at 75 high school students. The actions were led by teacher and environmentalist Carlinhos de Tote, from the Vovó do Mangue Foundation, an NGO dedicated to mangrove conservation and the socio-economic development of traditional communities. The active participation of shellfish gatherers and fishermen in the Association was fundamental, as participants were able to reflect on the importance of mangroves for maintaining their livelihoods, while at school, students, as future multipliers of knowledge, received valuable information on the importance of not polluting mangroves and preserving their natural characteristics.