Aneho's renaissance is not decreed: it is built facing the salty winds that erode the coast, in the shared gardens that regreen the neighborhoods, through the international partnerships that finance the ecological transition. Caught between a capricious ocean and a vast lagoon system, the city has no choice but to invent its own model of urban sustainability. What was once considered a mere environmental adaptation is today a question of survival and local pride.
A Unique and Vulnerable Coastal Ecosystem
Aneho's geographical location is both its greatest wealth and its greatest vulnerability. Surrounded by water, the city enjoys a rich biodiversity: estuary fish, crustaceans, migratory birds, and vast expanses of mangroves. However, this ecosystem is extremely sensitive to climate variations and human activity.
Global warming has led to changes in rainfall cycles and rising sea levels. Consequently, managing the river mouth (where the lagoon meets the Atlantic Ocean) requires constant attention. The silting of this opening disrupts fish migration and promotes flooding during the rainy season. Maintaining this fluid system is one of the pillars of the municipality's environmental sustainability policy.
The delicate balance between land, lagoon, and ocean requires daily attention.
Circular Economy and Waste Management
Rapid urbanization has posed the colossal challenge of waste management. In the past, much of the waste ended up in the lagoon or on the beaches. Today, a paradigm shift is underway. The Lacs 1 municipality, supported by local NGOs, is setting up collection, sorting, and recovery systems.
The circular economy is taking root in Aneho. Plastic waste is collected by citizen brigades and sent to recycling centers in Lome. Organic waste, on the other hand, is beginning to be transformed into natural compost, directly feeding urban agriculture initiatives.
Urban Agriculture: Feeding the City
Although fishing is the traditional activity of Aneho, agriculture plays a growing role in food security strategies. In backyards and on less flood-prone banks, cooperatives — often led by women — grow vegetables, aromatic herbs, and cassava.
These community gardens use increasingly fewer chemical fertilizers, favoring agroecology techniques. This not only provides fresh food to local markets (like the Aneho central market), but also preserves the water table from chemical pollution, thus protecting the city's drinking water.
A Hub for Ecological Transition
Because Aneho's challenges (erosion, lagoon, urban planning) are global textbook cases, the city has become a true laboratory for international cooperation. Organizations like GIZ (German cooperation), FAO, and AIMF are deploying pilot projects here. This technical and financial support allows the city to build lasting resilience.