Preserving Mangroves and Livelihoods in Benin

Deforestation often comes from nearby communities who depend on forest products for their livelihood. The challenge for policymakers in these settings is twofold: preserving forest ecosystems while also alleviating the economic strain conservation efforts may impose on already disadvantaged households. Conservation efforts that detract from local economic development are likely to encounter stiff local opposition and flounder.

In Benin, rural communities rely on the mangrove forests as an inexpensive source of high-quality firewood, which is a critical input in artisanal salt production. The researchers will pilot and rigorously evaluate an intervention where local religious leaders perform a ceremony to sanctify nearby mangrove forests and, in so doing, promote a norm against deforestation. Additionally, the research project will subsidize improved cookstoves and sustainably sourced charcoal. This reduces the costs of conservation for households, particularly salt producers, who would otherwise find it costly to honor a (social) prohibition on deforestation. This approach supports conservation by shifting preferences (through sanctification ceremonies) and incentives (through subsidies) without relying on government enforcement.