2025 Success Stories

Nature needs us and we need nature.  

This year we have faced unprecedented challenges - increasing levels of decline in nature while emissions are on the rise. All while our climate warms, sea levels rise and storms hit with more frequency and severity. Yet, there have been major wins.

• Renewable energy sources overtook coal as the world's leading source of electricity this year.

• The UN released a report detailing how annual deforestation rates were 38% lower globally over the past ten years compared to the previous decade.

• In September, the High Seas Treaty was formally ratified by 60 countries after decades of negotiations. It will go into force in January 2026.

  
  

There is more work to do and our community is committed to action. We work across sectors to halt loss, restore half and double protection of mangrove ecosystems across the world. Without mangroves we would have fewer fish nurseries, less protection from storms and global temperatures would rise at faster rates. Together, we influence policy, deepen local partnership, leverage financing and elevate science-based solutions. Our publications, panels and reports showcase the necessity of mangroves in protecting our coastlines and biodiversity.

Interested in what we have been up to? The top 10 highlights from 2025 include: 

1. Regional Readiness Reports: With support from Bezos Earth Fund, we have launched three Regional Readiness Reports to accelerate mangrove action across Asia, West Africa and the Americas. These reports spotlight where work is needed and how funding can deliver the most impact.

2. First Member Funding Opportunity: This year marked the first GMA opportunity to directly fund and support the work of members in key geographies. 24 applicants across 19 countries applied for 2 grants of USD 1.5M. These grants will support incredible, community-based conservation projects founded in science and best practices. 

3. We launched a new National Chapter in India: The GMA India Chapter officially commenced its activities with a kick-off meeting this June, convened by SaciWATERs and Wetlands International South Asia. This inaugural gathering brought together over 35 participants from member organizations, the global GMA team and representatives from the Kenya and Philippines National Chapters. The total number of chapters now stands at fourteen, with two additional national chapters expected in early 2026 (Costa Rica and Sierra Leone), as well as two State Chapters in northern Brazil.

4. Global Mangrove Watch launched seven tutorial videos this year that deep dive into the navigation, data capabilities and new features of the platform. They also improved their widget functionality, streamlining user experience, and highlighted their data at conferences across the globe, from NYCW and SER to UNOC and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands COP.

5. The Mangrove Breakthrough has taken huge strides in 2025! The Breakthrough has now been endorsed by 46 national and subnational governments, representing approximately 40% of the world’s total mangrove coverage. From launching their new website and announcing the Mangrove Catalytic Facility (MCF) to taking center stage at COP30 in Belém where they hosted a Mangrove Ministerial, they have mobilized over $750.1 million in mangrove-positive investments since 2020. 

6. The first ever GMA Public Webinar took place this year. Scientists, local practitioners and funders joined us in September to discuss the importance of mangroves, GMA projects and the impact we are making. 771 registrants, including prospective members and donors, joined us to explore successful restoration projects, global community engagement approaches and the need for collaboration and funding to meet conservation goals.

7. Representatives from GMA coordination and leadership teams, National Chapters and partners at the Mangrove Breakthrough came together at international conferences across the globe. We hosted events and panel sessions at UNFCCC COP30, IUCN World Conservation Congress, NY Climate Week, the UN Oceans Conference and the Society for Ecological Restoration World Congress. Our presence at these conferences amplified our impact, allowing us to reach broader audiences while sharing our tools and resources with the global mangrove community.

8. The GMA unveiled a newly designed and streamlined website this year. The new website has been cleaned, audited and refreshed to better articulate why our work matters while spotlighting our resources, toolkits and trainings. The Initiatives Map now showcases current, relevant work of members and national chapters and new pages have been developed including a webinar library and a guide to our National Chapters. 

9. We reached 100+ members across the globe and over 100 country chapter members across 45 countries.

10. Our members and partners are continually moving the needle on global mangrove protection and restoration.

Interested in learning more about our work? Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media (X and LinkedIn). 

 We are so thankful for all of your support this past year! Our work would not be possible without our community and your dedication to mangrove restoration and conservation. It is a joy to work alongside such a committed group of people who are protecting our natural world.