Mangrove Photography Award’s Spotlight:

A Woman’s Fight in the Sundarbans Mangrove Forest

Mohammad Rakibul Hasan’s award-winning photos focus on tiger widows, women whose husbands were killed by Royal Bengal tigers in the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest. Even with the danger, many women gather wild honey to support their families. In the mangroves, they face wild animals, harsh conditions, and unfair loan systems, relying on skills passed down through generations and their own bravery.

Together, these photos tell a powerful story of strength. They show women facing climate change, environmental damage, and social challenges with courage and determination. The images also highlight what is at risk in the Sundarbans: a critical mangrove ecosystem and the people whose lives depend on it. Protecting the Sundarbans means protecting both the land and the communities that call it home.

Where in the World is MAP?

January started our year off with our full training team in the field.

Dom and Jim traveled to Tanzania, spending two weeks on a road trip along the coastline to meet with nine local organizations. Together, they visited restoration sites, provided hands-on training, site-specific advice, and exchanged knowledge directly in the field. The restoration sites ranged from a few hectares to a 5,000-hectare blue carbon project, each with its own set of challenges.

At the same time, Diana and Laura traveled to Indonesia to assess mangrove restoration sites with our partner organization, Planète Urgence, and its local partner Yayasan Planète Urgence Indonesia (YPUI). Building on the restoration workshop we ran in October, their visit focused on assessing active restoration sites, offering technical advice on restoration techniques and monitoring, and exploring next steps for continued collaboration.

Diana’s First Field Notes: On the Ground with MAP

Diana joined MAP this past October. The trip to Indonesia was her first field assignment with MAP.

“A trip that I’ll never forget. My first time for many things: first MAP trip, first time I met Laura, first time in Indonesia. All days were full of fun, the Planèt Urgence team and all community members welcomed us warmly. Working side by side in the field with our partners and community, under the sun and in the mud, always reminds me why I love this work.

We saw some Proboscis monkeys in the mangroves (also my first time), and, of course, the strong relationship among biodiversity, livelihoods, and mangroves. I’m thrilled about the opportunity to share my experience and continue contributing to mangrove restoration.”

– Diana Cisneros, Restoration Workshop Leader

New Film Releases: Spotlight on Bangladesh

In December, MAP released two new films highlighting our work in the Sundarbans, a UNESCO natural world heritage site.

Mangrove Restoration and Livelihoods in the Sundarbans highlights a project restoring mangroves while strengthening local communities. Through hands-on restoration, training, and education programs, the initiative empowers residents, supports sustainable livelihoods, and fosters a deeper connection between people and the mangroves that protect them.

Rita of the Sundarbans, follows Rita, a fisher, mother, and community leader, whose life is intertwined with the mangroves and rivers of the Sundarbans. With support from MAP and BEDS, she and her community have restored degraded riverbanks, planted mangroves, and built hope for a more resilient future.

Favorite Fuzzy Friend from the Field

“While waiting in Pangani [coastal Tanzania] for community members to join our site visit with NGO Ambakofi and the excellent Mr. Gumbo, these friendly visitors stopped by to say hello–sadly, we had no treats to offer.”

– Dom Wodehouse, Executive Director