Her daily life is shared between several activities: weaving, farming, and cooking for visitors at her village’s ecotourism site. She has also been a nursery grower for four years, a vocation sparked by awareness campaigns on reforestation. “I don’t receive a real salary, just a compensation. Yet, it’s a precious work, because the trees we plant are ours. I’ve noticed that the land has become dry and that there is almost no forest left. The region used to be lush. Today, the lack of rain is noticeable. That’s why I got involved,” she explains.

Rebany is the only female nursery grower in the village and a member of the reforesters’association. As a specialist in fuelwood reforestation, she carefully tends the association’s young plants, which will only be ready for use three years after planting. Even though her work can be challenging, she remains motivated: “When I started this job, I immediately understood that it required a lot of effort: spending half a day watering young plants demands tremendous energy. But I never gave up. On the contrary, it gave me strength and momentum. This work energizes me and truly excites me.”

Her role as a cook at the Mangily ecotourism site complements her work as a nursery worker perfectly. Not only does she contribute to environmental protection, but she also earns an income that allows her to support her family, while nurturing her optimism and hope for the future. “Before, we received few visitors. But today, I’m convinced that we will welcome more and more,” she shares enthusiastically.

WWF supports the local communities of Mangily in building resilience through the project “Resilience through Reforestation” (SDC2), promoting a sustainable fuelwood sector in harmony with the long-term protection of mangroves. The project provides support to communities and active participants to establish not only fuelwoodreforestation sites but also competitive income-generating activities that offer alternatives to charcoal production. Assistance for the development of community ecotourism including the provision of necessary equipment and specialized training is also part of the project’s initiatives to improve household incomes.