The Cacheu Landscape

Cacheu is part of the broader Jeta-Pecixe-Cacheu (JPC) landscape, located in northern Guinea-Bissau along the border with Senegal. Spanning nearly 450,000 hectares, the landscape forms a rich mosaic of interconnected ecosystems, mangrove forests, mudflats, seagrass beds, freshwater marshes, rivers, sandy coasts, savannahs, and palm groves. Linked by the Cacheu and Mansoa rivers, these habitats create an ecological transition between marine, freshwater, and terrestrial systems, making the JPC landscape a vital ecological bridge between the drier Sahel to the north and the humid tropical forests to the south.

The landscape holds global ecological importance. Its 90,000 hectares of mangroves rank among the most extensive in West Africa, providing nurseries for marine life and sustaining around 70% of Guinea-Bissau’s coastal fisheries. Cacheu is also a sanctuary for biodiversity, with 248 recorded bird species, including massive seasonal congregations of migratory waterbirds, as well as threatened wildlife species such as the African manatee, Atlantic humpback dolphin, and five species of sea turtles. Seagrass beds, freshwater marshes, and rivers further enrich the ecosystem, making Cacheu a biodiversity hotspot of international relevance.

For the estimated 245,000 people living within the JPC landscape, wetlands are the foundation of life. Fishing, rice farming, small-scale agriculture, and mangrove harvesting sustain local economies and food security. Mangroves also protect freshwater supplies and shield farmland from saltwater intrusion, contributing to the resilience of communities. Beyond their economic importance, these wetlands are deeply interlinked with cultural identity: Indigenous groups maintain sacred forests, inlets, and traditions that have been passed down for generations.

Cacheu’s wetlands are also critical for climate mitigation and resilience. In this landscape, mangroves store an estimated 248 million tonnes of CO₂ and sequester approximately 630.000 of tonnes of CO₂ each year, making them powerful natural carbon sinks. They stabilize coastlines, buffer storm impacts, slow water flow, and reduce erosion, helping both people and nature adapt to rising seas and changing climates.

However, Cacheu faces mounting pressures. Overfishing, mangrove logging, and the expansion of cashew plantations are degrading key habitats and threatening livelihoods. Planned offshore oil and gas exploration, phosphate mining, and infrastructure projects could further destabilize ecosystems if unmanaged. Climate change amplifies these threats, with projected rainfall declines of up to 30% by 2045 likely to increase drought risks, drive saline intrusion, and alter freshwater-dependent habitats.

Despite these challenges, the JPC landscape offers a unique opportunity for conservation and restoration. Ongoing efforts aim to strengthen local stewardship, improve sustainable resource management, and align conservation priorities with global goals, including the proposed designation of the JPC landscape as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Restoring mangroves, improving fisheries management, and supporting sustainable livelihoods will be key to safeguarding biodiversity, cultural heritage, and climate resilience in the region.