The focus is on the lower part of African rivers that play an important role for coastal biodiversity and productivity. The traditional management of the deltaic and estuarine ecosystems takes their dynamic nature into account and maintains their connectivity. These coastal wetlands are under threat due to land-use and climate change but also when ill-adapted management plans, designed for terrestrial areas, are imposed without taking the existing customary agreements into account. The pitch advocates for a conservation management model adapted to the deltaic landscape, respectful of its dynamic nature and the connectivity between the River and Ocean, supportive of local institutions and socially inclusive. The solutions presented are inspired by a successful restoration project in Mauritania (Diawling National Park) and by the output of a network of researchers and conservation practitioners in East Africa and Madagascar (Western Indian Ocean Deltas Exchange and Research network).
