Las Chelemeras by Bénédicte Desrus

Keila Vázquez Lira, 42, the lea...énédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Keila Vázquez Lira, 42, the leader of Las Chelemeras, portrayed at the restoration site in Progreso, Yucatán, Mexico on August 08, 2023. Las Chelemeras is a group of 14 women of Mayan origin, age 33 to 82, in the fishing village of Chelem - 32 miles from Mérida - who, since 2010, have worked to restore and protect their local mangrove forests in the Yucatán Peninsula. To date, Las Chelemeras have contributed to the reforestation of approximately 50 hectares (124 acres) of mangrove across two sites. Mangroves are one of the world’s most important vital ecosystems. They provide community livelihoods, function as biodiversity hotspots, and help mitigate the effects of climate change. Most importantly, by area, mangroves capture and store at least four times as much carbon dioxide as tropical rainforests. But they are threatened by human activity, development and climate change. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “Over 20 percent of mangroves are estimated to have been lost globally over the past 40 years.” To make up for this loss, people attempt to restore mangroves all around the world. Photography by Bénédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

A young red mangrove (Rhizophor...énédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

A young red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) tree seen at the restoration site in Progreso, Yucatán, Mexico on March 31, 2023. Las Chelemeras is a group of 14 women of Mayan origin, age 33 to 82, in the fishing village of Chelem - 32 miles from Mérida - who, since 2010, have worked to restore and protect their local mangrove forests in the Yucatán Peninsula. To date, Las Chelemeras have contributed to the reforestation of approximately 50 hectares (124 acres) of mangrove across two sites. Mangroves are one of the world’s most important vital ecosystems. They provide community livelihoods, function as biodiversity hotspots, and help mitigate the effects of climate change. Most importantly, by area, mangroves capture and store at least four times as much carbon dioxide as tropical rainforests. But they are threatened by human activity, development and climate change. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “Over 20 percent of mangroves are estimated to have been lost globally over the past 40 years.” To make up for this loss, people attempt to restore mangroves all around the world. Photography by Bénédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Guadalupe del Rosario Ek Lira, ...énédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Guadalupe del Rosario Ek Lira, 37, a member of las Chelemeras, portrayed at the restoration site in Progreso, Yucatán, Mexico on March 31, 2023. Las Chelemeras is a group of 14 women of Mayan origin, age 33 to 82, in the fishing village of Chelem - 32 miles from Mérida - who, since 2010, have worked to restore and protect their local mangrove forests in the Yucatán Peninsula. To date, Las Chelemeras have contributed to the reforestation of approximately 50 hectares (124 acres) of mangrove across two sites. Mangroves are one of the world’s most important vital ecosystems. They provide community livelihoods, function as biodiversity hotspots, and help mitigate the effects of climate change. Most importantly, by area, mangroves capture and store at least four times as much carbon dioxide as tropical rainforests. But they are threatened by human activity, development and climate change. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “Over 20 percent of mangroves are estimated to have been lost globally over the past 40 years.” To make up for this loss, people attempt to restore mangroves all around the world. Photography by Bénédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Regina Chim Batum, 71, a member...énédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Regina Chim Batum, 71, a member of Las Chelemeras, portrayed at the restoration site in Progreso, Yucatán, Mexico on August 08, 2023. Las Chelemeras is a group of 14 women of Mayan origin, age 33 to 82, in the fishing village of Chelem - 32 miles from Mérida - who, since 2010, have worked to restore and protect their local mangrove forests in the Yucatán Peninsula. To date, Las Chelemeras have contributed to the reforestation of approximately 50 hectares (124 acres) of mangrove across two sites. Mangroves are one of the world’s most important vital ecosystems. They provide community livelihoods, function as biodiversity hotspots, and help mitigate the effects of climate change. Most importantly, by area, mangroves capture and store at least four times as much carbon dioxide as tropical rainforests. But they are threatened by human activity, development and climate change. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “Over 20 percent of mangroves are estimated to have been lost globally over the past 40 years.” To make up for this loss, people attempt to restore mangroves all around the world. Photography by Bénédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Pneumatophores of a black mangr...énédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Pneumatophores of a black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) tree exposed at low tide at the restoration site in Progreso, Yucatán, Mexico on October 20, 2023. These aerial roots allow the tree to breathe and are a major channel of oxygen circulation in mangrove forest. Las Chelemeras is a group of 14 women of Mayan origin, age 33 to 82, in the fishing village of Chelem - 32 miles from Mérida - who, since 2010, have worked to restore and protect their local mangrove forests in the Yucatán Peninsula. To date, Las Chelemeras have contributed to the reforestation of approximately 50 hectares (124 acres) of mangrove across two sites. Mangroves are one of the world’s most important vital ecosystems. They provide community livelihoods, function as biodiversity hotspots, and help mitigate the effects of climate change. Most importantly, by area, mangroves capture and store at least four times as much carbon dioxide as tropical rainforests. But they are threatened by human activity, development and climate change. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “Over 20 percent of mangroves are estimated to have been lost globally over the past 40 years.” To make up for this loss, people attempt to restore mangroves all around the world. Photography by Bénédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Marisela Gonzalez Cab, 47, a me...énédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Marisela Gonzalez Cab, 47, a member of Las Chelemeras, portrayed at the restoration site in Progreso, Yucatán, Mexico on November 09, 2023. Las Chelemeras is a group of 14 women of Mayan origin, age 33 to 82, in the fishing village of Chelem - 32 miles from Mérida - who, since 2010, have worked to restore and protect their local mangrove forests in the Yucatán Peninsula. To date, Las Chelemeras have contributed to the reforestation of approximately 50 hectares (124 acres) of mangrove across two sites. Mangroves are one of the world’s most important vital ecosystems. They provide community livelihoods, function as biodiversity hotspots, and help mitigate the effects of climate change. Most importantly, by area, mangroves capture and store at least four times as much carbon dioxide as tropical rainforests. But they are threatened by human activity, development and climate change. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “Over 20 percent of mangroves are estimated to have been lost globally over the past 40 years.” To make up for this loss, people attempt to restore mangroves all around the world. Photography by Bénédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Regina Laudalina Valle Chim, 47...énédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Regina Laudalina Valle Chim, 47, a member of Las Chelemeras, portrayed at the restoration site in Progreso, Yucatán, Mexico on October 20, 2023. Las Chelemeras is a group of 14 women of Mayan origin, age 33 to 82, in the fishing village of Chelem - 32 miles from Mérida - who, since 2010, have worked to restore and protect their local mangrove forests in the Yucatán Peninsula. To date, Las Chelemeras have contributed to the reforestation of approximately 50 hectares (124 acres) of mangrove across two sites. Mangroves are one of the world’s most important vital ecosystems. They provide community livelihoods, function as biodiversity hotspots, and help mitigate the effects of climate change. Most importantly, by area, mangroves capture and store at least four times as much carbon dioxide as tropical rainforests. But they are threatened by human activity, development and climate change. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “Over 20 percent of mangroves are estimated to have been lost globally over the past 40 years.” To make up for this loss, people attempt to restore mangroves all around the world. Photography by Bénédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Black mangrove (Avicennia germi...énédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) seeds on the tree, seen at the restoration site in Progreso, Yucatán, Mexico on October 20, 2023. Las Chelemeras is a group of 14 women of Mayan origin, age 33 to 82, in the fishing village of Chelem - 32 miles from Mérida - who, since 2010, have worked to restore and protect their local mangrove forests in the Yucatán Peninsula. To date, Las Chelemeras have contributed to the reforestation of approximately 50 hectares (124 acres) of mangrove across two sites. Mangroves are one of the world’s most important vital ecosystems. They provide community livelihoods, function as biodiversity hotspots, and help mitigate the effects of climate change. Most importantly, by area, mangroves capture and store at least four times as much carbon dioxide as tropical rainforests. But they are threatened by human activity, development and climate change. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “Over 20 percent of mangroves are estimated to have been lost globally over the past 40 years.” To make up for this loss, people attempt to restore mangroves all around the world. Photography by Bénédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Angie Alejandra Martinez Castil...énédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Angie Alejandra Martinez Castillo, 49, a member of Las Chelemeras, portrayed at the restoration site in Progreso, Yucatán, Mexico on August 08, 2023. Las Chelemeras is a group of 14 women of Mayan origin, age 33 to 82, in the fishing village of Chelem - 32 miles from Mérida - who, since 2010, have worked to restore and protect their local mangrove forests in the Yucatán Peninsula. To date, Las Chelemeras have contributed to the reforestation of approximately 50 hectares (124 acres) of mangrove across two sites. Mangroves are one of the world’s most important vital ecosystems. They provide community livelihoods, function as biodiversity hotspots, and help mitigate the effects of climate change. Most importantly, by area, mangroves capture and store at least four times as much carbon dioxide as tropical rainforests. But they are threatened by human activity, development and climate change. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “Over 20 percent of mangroves are estimated to have been lost globally over the past 40 years.” To make up for this loss, people attempt to restore mangroves all around the world. Photography by Bénédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

A sprouting emerges on a degrad...énédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

A sprouting emerges on a degraded black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) tree, seen at the restoration site in Progreso, Yucatán, Mexico on October 20, 2023. Las Chelemeras is a group of 14 women of Mayan origin, age 33 to 82, in the fishing village of Chelem - 32 miles from Mérida - who, since 2010, have worked to restore and protect their local mangrove forests in the Yucatán Peninsula. To date, Las Chelemeras have contributed to the reforestation of approximately 50 hectares (124 acres) of mangrove across two sites. Mangroves are one of the world’s most important vital ecosystems. They provide community livelihoods, function as biodiversity hotspots, and help mitigate the effects of climate change. Most importantly, by area, mangroves capture and store at least four times as much carbon dioxide as tropical rainforests. But they are threatened by human activity, development and climate change. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “Over 20 percent of mangroves are estimated to have been lost globally over the past 40 years.” To make up for this loss, people attempt to restore mangroves all around the world. Photography by Bénédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Las Chelemeras take a shortcut ...énédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Las Chelemeras take a shortcut by floating on the foam pallets to the exit after a hard day of work at the restoration site in Progreso, Yucatán, Mexico on November 09, 2023. Las Chelemeras is a group of 14 women of Mayan origin, age 33 to 82, in the fishing village of Chelem - 32 miles from Mérida - who, since 2010, have worked to restore and protect their local mangrove forests in the Yucatán Peninsula. To date, Las Chelemeras have contributed to the reforestation of approximately 50 hectares (124 acres) of mangrove across two sites. Mangroves are one of the world’s most important vital ecosystems. They provide community livelihoods, function as biodiversity hotspots, and help mitigate the effects of climate change. Most importantly, by area, mangroves capture and store at least four times as much carbon dioxide as tropical rainforests. But they are threatened by human activity, development and climate change. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “Over 20 percent of mangroves are estimated to have been lost globally over the past 40 years.” To make up for this loss, people attempt to restore mangroves all around the world. Photography by Bénédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle...énédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) trees that have grown for several years, through the natural regeneration project, seen at the restoration site in Progreso, Yucatán, Mexico on November 09, 2023. Las Chelemeras is a group of 14 women of Mayan origin, age 33 to 82, in the fishing village of Chelem - 32 miles from Mérida - who, since 2010, have worked to restore and protect their local mangrove forests in the Yucatán Peninsula. To date, Las Chelemeras have contributed to the reforestation of approximately 50 hectares (124 acres) of mangrove across two sites. Mangroves are one of the world’s most important vital ecosystems. They provide community livelihoods, function as biodiversity hotspots, and help mitigate the effects of climate change. Most importantly, by area, mangroves capture and store at least four times as much carbon dioxide as tropical rainforests. But they are threatened by human activity, development and climate change. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “Over 20 percent of mangroves are estimated to have been lost globally over the past 40 years.” To make up for this loss, people attempt to restore mangroves all around the world. Photography by Bénédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Las Chelemeras keep red mangrov...énédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Las Chelemeras keep red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) seedlings in protective bags and immerse them in water at the restoration site in Progreso, Yucatán, Mexico on March 31, 2023. Las Chelemeras is a group of 14 women of Mayan origin, age 33 to 82, in the fishing village of Chelem - 32 miles from Mérida - who, since 2010, have worked to restore and protect their local mangrove forests in the Yucatán Peninsula. To date, Las Chelemeras have contributed to the reforestation of approximately 50 hectares (124 acres) of mangrove across two sites. Mangroves are one of the world’s most important vital ecosystems. They provide community livelihoods, function as biodiversity hotspots, and help mitigate the effects of climate change. Most importantly, by area, mangroves capture and store at least four times as much carbon dioxide as tropical rainforests. But they are threatened by human activity, development and climate change. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “Over 20 percent of mangroves are estimated to have been lost globally over the past 40 years.” To make up for this loss, people attempt to restore mangroves all around the world. Photography by Bénédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Marvis Dianelli Cohuo Cauich, 3...énédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Marvis Dianelli Cohuo Cauich, 33 (R), a member of Las Chelemeras, places red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) seedlings in protective bags at the restoration site in Progreso, Yucatán, Mexico on March 31, 2023. Las Chelemeras is a group of 14 women of Mayan origin, age 33 to 82, in the fishing village of Chelem - 32 miles from Mérida - who, since 2010, have worked to restore and protect their local mangrove forests in the Yucatán Peninsula. To date, Las Chelemeras have contributed to the reforestation of approximately 50 hectares (124 acres) of mangrove across two sites. Mangroves are one of the world’s most important vital ecosystems. They provide community livelihoods, function as biodiversity hotspots, and help mitigate the effects of climate change. Most importantly, by area, mangroves capture and store at least four times as much carbon dioxide as tropical rainforests. But they are threatened by human activity, development and climate change. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “Over 20 percent of mangroves are estimated to have been lost globally over the past 40 years.” To make up for this loss, people attempt to restore mangroves all around the world. Photography by Bénédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Las Chelemeras form a chain to ...énédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Las Chelemeras form a chain to move red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) seedlings from an area that had dried out to keep them submerged in water at the restoration site in Progreso, Yucatán, Mexico on March 31, 2023. Las Chelemeras is a group of 14 women of Mayan origin, age 33 to 82, in the fishing village of Chelem - 32 miles from Mérida - who, since 2010, have worked to restore and protect their local mangrove forests in the Yucatán Peninsula. To date, Las Chelemeras have contributed to the reforestation of approximately 50 hectares (124 acres) of mangrove across two sites. Mangroves are one of the world’s most important vital ecosystems. They provide community livelihoods, function as biodiversity hotspots, and help mitigate the effects of climate change. Most importantly, by area, mangroves capture and store at least four times as much carbon dioxide as tropical rainforests. But they are threatened by human activity, development and climate change. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “Over 20 percent of mangroves are estimated to have been lost globally over the past 40 years.” To make up for this loss, people attempt to restore mangroves all around the world. Photography by Bénédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

A young red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) tree, being monitored at the restoration site in Progreso, Yucatán, Mexico on August 07, 2023. Las Chelemeras is a group of 14 women of Mayan origin, age 33 to 82, in the fishing village of Chelem - 32 miles from Mérida - who, since 2010, have worked to restore and protect their local mangrove forests in the Yucatán Peninsula. To date, Las Chelemeras have contributed to the reforestation of approximately 50 hectares (124 acres) of mangrove across two sites. Mangroves are one of the world’s most important vital ecosystems. They provide community livelihoods, function as biodiversity hotspots, and help mitigate the effects of climate change. Most importantly, by area, mangroves capture and store at least four times as much carbon dioxide as tropical rainforests. But they are threatened by human activity, development and climate change. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “Over 20 percent of mangroves are estimated to have been lost globally over the past 40 years.” To make up for this loss, people attempt to restore mangroves all around the world. Photography by Bénédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Las Chelemeras keep red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) seedlings in protective bags and immerse them in water at the restoration site in Progreso, Yucatán, Mexico on March 31, 2023. Las Chelemeras is a group of 14 women of Mayan origin, age 33 to 82, in the fishing village of Chelem - 32 miles from Mérida - who, since 2010, have worked to restore and protect their local mangrove forests in the Yucatán Peninsula. To date, Las Chelemeras have contributed to the reforestation of approximately 50 hectares (124 acres) of mangrove across two sites. Mangroves are one of the world’s most important vital ecosystems. They provide community livelihoods, function as biodiversity hotspots, and help mitigate the effects of climate change. Most importantly, by area, mangroves capture and store at least four times as much carbon dioxide as tropical rainforests. But they are threatened by human activity, development and climate change. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “Over 20 percent of mangroves are estimated to have been lost globally over the past 40 years.” To make up for this loss, people attempt to restore mangroves all around the world. Photography by Bénédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Mangrove cutting and wetland fi...édicte Desrus San Felipe Mexico

Mangrove cutting and wetland filling - within the Protected Natural Area of the Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve - in the municipality of San Felipe, Yucatán, Mexico on August 16, 2023. Several hectares of mangroves in the Coastal beaches of Yucatán have been devastated because of rapid urban development and illegal construction. This practice leaves the communities unprotected against hydro-meteorological phenomena such as hurricanes, in addition to severely impacting the flaura and fauna. Photograph by Bénédicte Desrus San Felipe Mexico

Mangrove cutting and wetland fi...nédicte Desrus Chicxulub Mexico

Mangrove cutting and wetland filling to build housing in Chicxulub, Yucatán, Mexico on November 09, 2023. Several hectares of mangroves in the Coastal beaches of Yucatán have been devastated because of rapid urban development. This practice leaves the communities unprotected against hydro-meteorological phenomena such as hurricanes, in addition to severely impacting the flaura and fauna. Photograph by Bénédicte Desrus Chicxulub Mexico

Las Chelemeras build new water ...énédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Las Chelemeras build new water channels to restore hydrological flows and allow the natural establishment of mangrove species at the restoration site in Progreso, Yucatán, Mexico on October 20, 2023. Las Chelemeras is a group of 14 women of Mayan origin, age 33 to 82, in the fishing village of Chelem - 32 miles from Mérida - who, since 2010, have worked to restore and protect their local mangrove forests in the Yucatán Peninsula. To date, Las Chelemeras have contributed to the reforestation of approximately 50 hectares (124 acres) of mangrove across two sites. Mangroves are one of the world’s most important vital ecosystems. They provide community livelihoods, function as biodiversity hotspots, and help mitigate the effects of climate change. Most importantly, by area, mangroves capture and store at least four times as much carbon dioxide as tropical rainforests. But they are threatened by human activity, development and climate change. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “Over 20 percent of mangroves are estimated to have been lost globally over the past 40 years.” To make up for this loss, people attempt to restore mangroves all around the world. Photography by Bénédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Las Chelemeras enter the restor...énédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Las Chelemeras enter the restoration site with wooden poles to set up "tarquinas" - shelters made out of wooden posts and mesh where mangrove seedlings can take root - at the restoration site in Progreso, Yucatán, Mexico on August 07, 2023. Las Chelemeras is a group of 14 women of Mayan origin, age 33 to 82, in the fishing village of Chelem - 32 miles from Mérida - who, since 2010, have worked to restore and protect their local mangrove forests in the Yucatán Peninsula. To date, Las Chelemeras have contributed to the reforestation of approximately 50 hectares (124 acres) of mangrove across two sites. Mangroves are one of the world’s most important vital ecosystems. They provide community livelihoods, function as biodiversity hotspots, and help mitigate the effects of climate change. Most importantly, by area, mangroves capture and store at least four times as much carbon dioxide as tropical rainforests. But they are threatened by human activity, development and climate change. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “Over 20 percent of mangroves are estimated to have been lost globally over the past 40 years.” To make up for this loss, people attempt to restore mangroves all around the world. Photography by Bénédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Las Chelemeras deposit mud into...énédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Las Chelemeras deposit mud into the “tarquinas” - shelters made out of wood posts and mesh where mangrove seedlings can take root - to plant mangrove seedlings later at the restoration site in Progreso, Yucatán, Mexico on August 08, 2023. Las Chelemeras is a group of 14 women of Mayan origin, age 33 to 82, in the fishing village of Chelem - 32 miles from Mérida - who, since 2010, have worked to restore and protect their local mangrove forests in the Yucatán Peninsula. To date, Las Chelemeras have contributed to the reforestation of approximately 50 hectares (124 acres) of mangrove across two sites. Mangroves are one of the world’s most important vital ecosystems. They provide community livelihoods, function as biodiversity hotspots, and help mitigate the effects of climate change. Most importantly, by area, mangroves capture and store at least four times as much carbon dioxide as tropical rainforests. But they are threatened by human activity, development and climate change. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “Over 20 percent of mangroves are estimated to have been lost globally over the past 40 years.” To make up for this loss, people attempt to restore mangroves all around the world. Photography by Bénédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Guadalupe del Rosario Ek Lira, 37, a member of Las Chelemeras, planting red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) seedlings at the restoration site in Progreso, Yucatán, Mexico on August 08, 2023. Las Chelemeras is a group of 14 women of Mayan origin, age 33 to 82, in the fishing village of Chelem - 32 miles from Mérida - who, since 2010, have worked to restore and protect their local mangrove forests in the Yucatán Peninsula. To date, Las Chelemeras have contributed to the reforestation of approximately 50 hectares (124 acres) of mangrove across two sites. Mangroves are one of the world’s most important vital ecosystems. They provide community livelihoods, function as biodiversity hotspots, and help mitigate the effects of climate change. Most importantly, by area, mangroves capture and store at least four times as much carbon dioxide as tropical rainforests. But they are threatened by human activity, development and climate change. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “Over 20 percent of mangroves are estimated to have been lost globally over the past 40 years.” To make up for this loss, people attempt to restore mangroves all around the world. Photography by Bénédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Marvis Dianelli Cohuo Cauich, 33 (L) and Guadalupe del Rosario Ek Lira, 37 (R), both members of Las Chelemeras, wade through a swamp as they exit the restoration site in Progreso, Yucatán, Mexico on August 08, 2023. Las Chelemeras is a group of 14 women of Mayan origin, age 33 to 82, in the fishing village of Chelem - 32 miles from Mérida - who, since 2010, have worked to restore and protect their local mangrove forests in the Yucatán Peninsula. To date, Las Chelemeras have contributed to the reforestation of approximately 50 hectares (124 acres) of mangrove across two sites. Mangroves are one of the world’s most important vital ecosystems. They provide community livelihoods, function as biodiversity hotspots, and help mitigate the effects of climate change. Most importantly, by area, mangroves capture and store at least four times as much carbon dioxide as tropical rainforests. But they are threatened by human activity, development and climate change. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “Over 20 percent of mangroves are estimated to have been lost globally over the past 40 years.” To make up for this loss, people attempt to restore mangroves all around the world. Photography by Bénédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

Black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) tree, seen at the restoration site in Progreso, Yucatán, Mexico on October 20, 2023. Las Chelemeras is a group of 14 women of Mayan origin, age 33 to 82, in the fishing village of Chelem - 32 miles from Mérida - who, since 2010, have worked to restore and protect their local mangrove forests in the Yucatán Peninsula. To date, Las Chelemeras have contributed to the reforestation of approximately 50 hectares (124 acres) of mangrove across two sites. Mangroves are one of the world’s most important vital ecosystems. They provide community livelihoods, function as biodiversity hotspots, and help mitigate the effects of climate change. Most importantly, by area, mangroves capture and store at least four times as much carbon dioxide as tropical rainforests. But they are threatened by human activity, development and climate change. According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “Over 20 percent of mangroves are estimated to have been lost globally over the past 40 years.” To make up for this loss, people attempt to restore mangroves all around the world. Photography by Bénédicte Desrus Progreso Mexico

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