Gaia Amazonas

Gaia's local partner, GRABE (Groupe de Recherche et d'Action pour le Bien-Etre au Benin) is one of Benin's most active civil society organisations in regenerating and protecting Benin's sacred forests, which are critical for biodiversity, culture and governance systems of local communities - putting conservation back in the hands of local communities and kingdoms along the Ouémé River. GRABE work in Dangbo, Bonou, Akpro-Missérét, Aguégués, Adjohoun, Sèmè-Kpodji and Porto-Novo municipalities, on: 1) community protection of sacred forests; 2) environmental education programmes for youth; 3) strengthening community food sovereignty. The organisation also played a key role in securing Benin's 2012 Forest Law (N°0121/MEHU/MDGLAAT/DC/SGM/DGFRN/SA). This law provides a framework for protecting sacred forests and their biodiversity, and local communities can be recognised legally as custodians and set the conditions for sustainable management.