The Blue Amazon mangrove reforestation site is in the State of Maranhão along the Southern border of the legal Amazon, which is facing alarming rates of deforestation. Most of the area only has small patches of isolated forest remaining. Although Brazil’s economy is growing Maranhao has the lowest human development index score of any state in Brazil and has a similar socio-economic situation to Bangladesh. The community, whose primary livelihood is fishing, is by majority Quilombolas–a people group made up of escaped slaves who now have recognized land tenure and are allowed to retain their traditional customs. The main factors of deforestation in the area include: the illegal removal of trees for firewood, construction of houses, charcoal manufacturing, and general land degradation from previous salt production operations. This project will improve the livelihoods of local fishers, create jobs in areas with minimal employment opportunities, and restore some of the most carbon rich forests on the planet.