The Antsanitia Mangrove 1 site is in the rural municipality of Belobaka, on Madagascar's northwest coast, adjacent to the Antsanitia fishing town north of the regional capital of Mahajanga. This project includes a planting area of approximately 330 hectares at the mouth of the Morira River. It is part of an important mangrove ecosystem that requires long-term protection and restoration.

The Antsanitia Mangrove 1 site is an important habitat for a variety of endangered plant and animal species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed several of these species as critically endangered due to habitat destruction, including Coqueral's Sifaka (Propithecus coquereli). Many bird species nest and roost in the mangrove forest. Some of the endemic bird species found here include the endangered Malagasy Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis bernieri), and Bernier's Teal (Anas bernieri). Furthermore, the mangroves are an important habitat for the Malagasy Fruit Bat (Pteropus rufus), which is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN, due to significant hunting pressure. The estuary is an ideal breeding ground for fish, shrimp, crabs, and other sea creatures. Mangrove forests, with their extensive root systems, play an important role in protecting coastal areas from storms and cyclones, as well as preventing soil erosion.

The majority of Antsanitia residents rely on fishing for a living, while others work at the tourist lodge near the planting site. Mangrove forests are being destroyed in this area to make way for agriculture, charcoal production, and construction materials. The degradation of mangrove forests puts the coastal population at risk of extreme weather. This also jeopardizes other valuable ecosystem services, such as breeding and nursery grounds for fish and shellfish species, threatening local communities' livelihoods.

Eden: People+Planet, formerly Eden Reforestation Projects (Eden) facilitated ecosystem restoration and community development in the region by actively reforesting the estuary with native mangrove species. Eden worked directly with communities to help mitigate climate change and support them in restoring the natural environment.