Laguna de Oviedo is a hyper-saline lagoon located on the north-east side of Jaragua National Park—an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area, and part of the unique Jaragua-Bahoruco-Enriquillo Biosphere Reserve. At 28,000 ha, Laguna de Oviedo is the largest saltwater lake within the park. This wetland supports mangrove forests (c. 1,573 ha) that provide critical habitat for a number of nesting waterbirds such as the American Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber, Roseate Spoonbill Platalea ajaja, White Ibis Eudocimus albus, Brown Pelican Pelicanus occidentalis, Reddish Egret Egretta rufescens and Least Tern Sternula antillarum.

The mangroves and adjacent mud flats are also used as feeding, roosting and stop-over grounds by migratory birds including Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes, Solitary Sandpiper T. solitaria, Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla, Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus and Prothonotary Warbler Protonotaria citrea. The Vulnerable West Indian Whistling-duck Dendrocygna arborea and Near Threatened White-crowned Pigeon Patagioenas leucocephala—two species restricted to the Caribbean—rely on the mangroves of Laguna de Oviedo during important parts of their life cycle.

Residents from the surrounding community of El Cajuil have long used this wetland´s mangrove resources for food, fuel wood and other extractive purposes. Also, impacts by tropical storms and hurricanes on the lagoon´s natural ecosystems (including mangrove areas) have been reported by the local folk. Furthermore, there is an increasing presence and usage of fast-growing, non-native invasive plants, such as Neem Tree Azadirachta indica for shade.

In order to improve the conservation status of Laguna de Oviedo´s mangroves—and contribute to the overall conservation of mangrove ecosystems in JNP—between 2011- 2013 Grupo Jaragua (BirdLife in the Dominican Republic) implemented the site-project entitled Mangroves in Laguna de Oviedo: conservation status and reforestation in areas used by local communities. The main activities were: a mangrove ecosystem health assessment; implementation of bird and site monitoring through the use of the IBA monitoring framework; environmental celebrations to raise local awareness about the importance of mangroves, and plantation of buttonwood mangroves. All project activities were conducted with the participation of Local Conservation Groups and communities.

• Four permanently marked vegetation study plots were established on site, on the banks of Laguna de Oviedo. These plots were supervised on a monthly basis. 
• Water salinity and tree girth were measured, and Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates taken. 
• Red mangrove Rhizophora mangle, white mangrove Laguncularia racemosa, black mangrove Avicennia germinans and buttonwood mangrove Conocarpus erectus were all found to be present, with red and black mangroves dominating.
• Capacity built and established in regards to mangrove fieldwork investigation techniques and use of equipment. 
• Seed collection was undertaken by the Local Conservation Group (LCG)—Voluntarios Comunitarios de Jaragua. 
• Seeds were germinated in community plant nurseries which were supervised twice a week. Unfortunately, many seeds were attacked by insect larva and free- ranging chickens. A better protected hatchery was more successful in the second year.
• IBA monitoring was conducted during two consecutive years (December 2011 and 2012) by a local field ornithologist with participation from local youths.  These results have been included in the World Biodiversity Database (WBDB) and will help inform the status assessment of the IBA.
• Multiple mangrove awareness educational activities were undertaken (e.g. talks, birdwatching trips, drawing contests, production of mangrove related educational materials, poster exhibition, mural painting and mangrove tree planting near the lagoon). These activities were carried out during World Wetlands Day, Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival, World Bird Festival and International Migratory Bird Day celebrations.
• Project achievements were communicated and disseminate through traditional (i.e. television programs) and new media (e.g. social networks).
• Awareness of the importance of mangroves and mangrove conservation issues was increased through a range of communication, outreach materials, and news stories.
• Throughout the project, Grupo Jaragua worked closely with Voluntarios Comunitarios de Jaragua LCG and with local nature guides.

Grupo Jaragua found that while there is no direct exploitation of mangroves around Laguna de Oviedo, a number of small-scaled impacts were identified that could compromise JNP´s mangrove ecosystems in the long-term.

These impacts include:

• Overgrazing by free-ranging domesticated livestock (i.e. cows, goats, horses, donkeys) accompanied by seasonal cutting of mangrove roots to construct rudimentary cattle paddocks. 
• Sporadic exploitation and/or hunting of waterbirds, their fledglings or eggs.
• Seasonal harvest of land crabs Cardisoma guanhumi in mangrove areas.
• Non-degradable solid waste accumulation (of local and non-local origin brought by the sea).
• Some mangrove areas north of the lagoon (located within protected area limits) have recently been cleared with the intention of illegal land appropriation and subsequent sale.

This project was implemented with local community members, identified and trained during years of engagement between Grupo Jaragua and the surrounding communities of JNP. Especially in Laguna de Oviedo, where they have been developing a process of local empowerment through awareness-raising, field work and promotion of sustainable/alternative economic activities that render benefits locally and ultimately support conservation of the site. This pre-existing relationship and trust greatly facilitated local involvement around the theme of mangroves and allowed for successful achievement of all planned activities.

The project contributed to improving the conservation status of mangroves in Laguna de Oviedo through bird and site monitoring activities; reforestation (in order to provide people with an alternative to replace the use of invasive exotic tree plants) and awareness through commemoration of environmental dates. Awareness-raising activities (especially planting mangroves!) were very popular and helped generate local interest in this project as well as opportunities to learn more about preserving the natural goods and services derived from mangroves. Active participation from local people in raising awareness at site-based level contributes to the conservation of globally important bird and biodiversity areas and ultimately decreases pressures over these sites.