Coastal Mayors & Local Leaders in the Global South Call for Investment into Local Mangrove Action

While the global narrative around the value of mangroves has centered on their ability to store carbon, for coastal communities like ours, they represent so much more. These extraordinary ecosystems underpin the livelihoods, food security, cultural practices, and climate resilience of millions across the globe. For us, mangroves and associated coastal ecosystems serve as our first line of defense against climate hazards and rising seas, shielding our communities from increasingly powerful and frequent hurricanes and typhoons and protecting us against coastal erosion. They serve as nurseries and habitats for diverse creatures, from crabs to oysters, being critical sources of food and protein for our people and income for our fishers and harvesters. They fuel our local economies, bringing revenue and jobs through tourism, fisheries, and businesses. For us, mangroves and coastal ecosystems are our lifeline, and we must protect them. 

 

“When super typhoon Odette (Intl: Rai) and the pandemic struck our municipality in 2021, our efforts for a decade of rehabilitating and preserving our mangrove ecosystems allowed us to prepare for a four-hour super storm, provided a stable food source and the inspiration to be resilient. This led to minimal loss of lives and property and a strong sense of hope. In protecting our mangrove forest, the mangroves protected us back.” Mayor Alfredo Coro II, Del Carmen, Philippines

“Brazil has the largest continuous belt of mangroves in the world — and they sustain our lives, our economy and our culture. We increasingly need partnerships and alternative financing to protect the mangroves and ensure the future of our communities.” Mayor Hamilton Brito, Curuçá, Pará, Brazil

As local leaders and members of Coastal 500 we urge the global community to invest in local action that safeguards mangroves and unlocks their immense potential. The tropical, highly biodiverse coastal communities we represent are some of the most climate-vulnerable on the planet, and many are small, rural, poor, and heavily reliant on nature for their livelihoods, food security, and wellbeing. Our countries have some of the highest mangrove coverage on the planet, including Indonesia, Brazil, the Philippines & Mozambique.

“Coastal 500 brings local leaders together to learn from and inspire one another. What we’ve learned from leaders in the Philippines triggered a movement for coastal protection in Honduras. And Honduras now hopes to do the same for others. This network has demonstrated the impact of collective action in safeguarding our future.” Mayor Juan Ramon Manaiza, Limón, Honduras

We urge the international community, governments, businesses, and philanthropic organizations to prioritize grassroots and bottom-up efforts in protecting and restoring our mangrove forests.   

Local leaders are critical changemakers and environmental stewards. Global and national marine conservation and climate targets will never be met without our engagement, commitment and action. Financing must reach frontline communities and local governments, efforts must actively include local communities in the design and implementation of mangrove projects, and access to knowledge, data and best practices must be made accessible to strengthen local adaptation capacity.  

We’re already witnessing the power of this approach in our own communities.  

In Brazil, Amazonian municipalities are working with local community groups to protect mangroves and ensure communities capture wealth from mangrove-positive bioeconomy businesses. 

In the Philippines, locally led efforts to protect and sustainably use mangrove forests and coastal waters are sustaining livelihoods for 1.9 million fishers, while shielding hundreds of frontline communities from the impacts of worsening storms. 

In Honduras, mangrove-rich municipalities are leading collaborative projects to restore mangrove forests across their wetlands, helping protect at least 45% of finfish catches for fishers in the area.  

We need more efforts like these across the globe.  We celebrate global policymakers convening around The Mangrove Breakthrough and the initiative’s bold plan to mobilize $4 billion to protect and restore 15 million hectares of mangroves by 2030. We welcome the guiding principles of the Breakthrough on empowering people and working in local contexts with best information and practices, as we know this is critical to success.   

By bridging global policy ambitions with on-the-ground action, we can leverage mangroves as the gifts they are. Let us act boldly, and locally, to protect them—for our planet, our people, and our future.  

 

Authored by Mayor Alfredo Coro II, Mayor Hamilton Brito and Mayor Juan Ramon Manaiza on behalf of the Coastal 500 network. Learn more about Coastal 500. 

 

Alfredo Coro II has served as the Mayor of Del Carmen, Siargao Islands, in Philippines since 2010, leading transformative efforts to restore its mangrove forests and earning recognition on the UN Ramsar List. His work has resulted in improvements in health service delivery, education, sustainable fisheries management, community-based tourism development, and enhanced resilience. He is an active advocate for ocean conservation on local, national, and global platforms. Mayor Coro could speak to how his municipality has successfully leveraged mangrove restoration and marine protection as a nature-based solution for coastal resilience and climate adaptation. Under his leadership, Del Carmen’s mangrove forests have become globally recognized for their ecological and economic impact, protecting communities from storm surges while supporting sustainable livelihoods 

 

Hamilton Brito has been the Mayor of Curuçá, Pará, Brazil since January 2025, leading initiatives to protect and restore the region’s unique coastal and mangrove ecosystems. Curuçá, nestled in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon coast, is part of the world’s largest continuous mangrove belt and supports traditional livelihoods such as fishing, agriculture, and extractive activities. Mayor Brito’s administration is part of the shared management of the RESEX (Extractive Reserve) and contributed to the development of the reserve’s Management Plan, and the municipality is also home to the largest oyster production in the state. Brito has also prioritized the local economy of rural and coastal workers—especially artisanal fishermen—through investments in public infrastructure, awareness campaigns, and fish fairs. His administration has bolstered mangrove restoration efforts and launched Curuçá’s first Municipal Coastal Management Policy to strengthen long-term climate resilience. 

 

Juan Ramon Manaiza has served as Mayor of Limón, Honduras since 2022, championing sustainable coastal governance and social development. He has made significant strides in improving local infrastructure, education, and healthcare, while also advancing marine protection for the region’s coastal waters. Afro-Honduran small-scale fishers in Limon have long struggled with the impacts of industrial bottom trawling, threatening their food security and livelihoods. Through Mayor Manaiza Tovar’s leadership, community-led protection of these waters has gained traction, resulting in the establishment of new marine reserves, more sustainable use, and better outcomes for fishers, included strengthened food security. His administration continues to prioritize inclusive, sustainable ocean management to support both environmental recovery and the prosperity of coastal communities.