Mangrove Planting in Bahía Hondita

Mangroves are extraordinary salt-tolerant trees (halophytes) that thrive in the coastal intertidal zone — the fragile space between high and low tide. Their stilts of twisted roots stabilize shorelines, filter salt, and reduce wave energy, protecting coastal communities from erosion and storms.

Globally, mangroves are biodiversity hotspots:

- 80% of global fish catch depends directly or indirectly on mangroves.
- They shelter around 1,500 species, including migratory birds and endangered animals.
- A mangrove belt can reduce wave energy by up to two-thirds within just 100 meters.

They cover only 0.1% of Earth’s surface, yet store up to 10 times more carbon than terrestrial forests.

Mangroves are natural climate defenders, capturing carbon, buffering cyclones, and restoring ecological balance. Yet they remain threatened by pollution, unsustainable development, and biodiversity loss.

The Wayuu people of La Guajira, Colombia, live in deep connection with the sea, the desert, and the mangroves. For them, nature is not just a resource — it is a sacred space where spirits dwell. In their mythology, Palalujuna is the king of the mangroves, guardian of balance, tranquility, and respect. The mangrove forests, known as junna in Wayuunaiki, are part of their cultural and spiritual order, supporting their livelihoods through fishing, rituals, and ecological stewardship.

Bahía Hondita and the nearby Bahía Portete-Kaurrele National Park are territories where Wayuu traditions and ecosystems intertwine. These mangroves provide food security, shelter sacred species like sea turtles, flamingos, and caimans, and embody ancestral knowledge passed down through generations. Protecting and restoring them is inseparable from protecting Wayuu culture and identity.