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The Global Mangrove Alliance is delighted to be the recipient of one of two $2 million 2022 Food Planet Prizes. This Prize will further work towards our Alliance goal to Halt Loss, Restore Half, and Double Protection of mangroves globally by 2030 and help support on the ground work linked to food security through our National Chapters initiative. The Food Planet Prize awards initiatives that solve the dilemma of feeding a growing world population while saving a planet in peril. Each year, two winners receive $2 million each to rapidly scale up their initiatives. The Food Planet Prize enlisted ten jurors on four continents to ensure the diversity of views needed to evaluate a broad range of initiatives. Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, and Magnus Nilsson, Director-General of the Food Planet Prize co-chaired the Jury . Director, Oceans at World Wildlife Fund, and Global Mangrove Alliance Steering Committee MemberKaren Douthwaite, writes on the Prize: “Conserving and restoring mangroves can not only improve food security for the 4.1 million fishers who depend on healthy mangroves for a critical source of jobs and protein, but also reduce poverty and boost economic resilience by increasing access to sustainable livelihoods. And when securely managed with equitable access, mangrove ecosystems provide coastal protection, support biodiversity, and are highly effective carbon sinks that can benefit people and our planet well into the future. We are thrilled that this Prize will support the livelihoods and food sources of coastal communities as the GMA works towards our 2030 goal.” Representatives of some of the Global Mangrove Alliance’s steering committee organizations, including Conservation International, WWF, and IUCN, receive the Food Planet Prize from the Swedish Ambassador to the United States, Karin Oloffsdotter. © Joy Asico / Food Planet Prize More information on this prize along with a press kit for media is available from the Food Planet Prize here . MANGROVES AND FOOD SECURITY Collecting resources from mangrove ecosystems has been done for thousands of years. Communities depend on the trees and surrounding marine seascape for fish, shrimp, shellfish, honey, cooking fuel and more, and can continue to do so with sustainable practices in place. However, as industrialization and large-scale food production has grown, large swaths of mangrove forests have been cut down, to the detriment of people and biodiversity. The latest mangrove loss data in the Global Mangrove Watch estimates a net loss of 5,245km2 since 1996. Mangrove deforestation has resulted in a steep decline in mangrove crabs and fish, hurting communities’ ability to sustain themselves and their families. With support from our GMA member organizations, communities around the world are taking up mangrove conservation leadership, replanting mangroves, and ensuring that resource harvesting is sustainable. As a result, crabs and fish are returning and mangrove beekeeping and other alternative livelihood programs have arisen in some communities, furthering the benefits community members can receive from the coastal ecosystems. Read more about this work in the Global Mangrove Alliance’s latest report, The State of the Worlds Mangrove’s 2022. Left: Pilar Jacobo, WWF and Yves Paiz, The Nature Conservancy in Mexico’s Marismas Nacionales Biosphere Reserve. In Mexico’s Marismas Nacionales Biosphere Reserve, Global Mangrove Alliance members, World Wildlife Fund and The Nature Conservancy, work with local partners on mangrove conservation and sustainable livelihoods and have recently launched t he Mexico National Chapter of the Global Mangrove Alliance. As part of the application process, the Food Planet Prize produced a story on the work in the Biosphere Reserve and on the Global Mangrove Alliance as a whole.

UNFCCC COP27 and Ramsar COP14. rom November 6th to November 18th, world leaders will be watching and attending two major conference of parties (COPs) under the United Nations; the 27th UN Climate Change Conference and the 14th Convention on Wetlands “Ramsar” Conference. Mangroves, and the actions that decision-makers need to take to protect and manage the coastal trees and ecosystems, will be highlighted throughout the conferences by members and partners of the Global Mangrove Alliance. These events are listed below and more information on outcomes and future work will be shared at a later date. Global Mangroves into 2030/2050 – Ramsar COP14 Time: Monday 7 November 2022, 12:15-13:15 (UTC +1, CET) Lead organization: Mangrove Foundation (MCF), China Partner organizations: National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA), P.R.C.,United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), International Union for Conservation ofNature (IUCN), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Wetlands International (WI), SEEConservation, Vanke Foundation. Description:  This side event will review the progress and challenges on global mangrove conservation, promote consensus among stakeholders in protecting mangrove and blue carbon, and mobilize science-based innovation and synchronized actions in the next decade, under the vision 2050 on biodiversity. It also calls for all parties to support development of international mangrove protection and collaboration mechanism, as well as facilitate the establishment of International Mangrove Center. Blue Carbon in Blue Economy Development and Achievement of Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target – UN Climate COP27 Time: Tuesday 8 November 2022, 10:00 – 11:30 (UTC +2, EET) Location: Indonesia Pavilion Lead Organization: Conservation International Description: Indonesia is actively in efforts to achieve NDC targets with the establishment of Presidential Regulation number 98/2021 concerning the Implementation of Carbon Economic Values for Achieving Nationally Determined Contribution Targets and greenhouse gas emissions reduction in National Development. This event is organized for information exchange from various parties in preparation for Blue Carbon in the implementation of the Presidential Regulation on Carbon Economic Values specifically for the marine sector or Blue Carbon. Global Leadership on Blue Carbon: Keys to Success – UN Climate COP27 Time: Tuesday 8 November 2022, 11:00 – 12:00 (UTC +2, EET) Location: Nature Pavilion Lead Organization: Conservation International Description:  A joint event with the Blue Carbon Initiative (CI, IUCN and IOC-UNESCO) and the International Partnership for Blue Carbon (IPBC) highlighting blue carbon leadership and initiatives globally and sharing best practices that countries interested in engaging in blue carbon projects may wish to follow. Building Resilience in Blue Carbon Ecosystems for Coastal Communities – UN Climate COP27 Time: Tuesday 8 November 2022, 13:00 – 13:55 (UTC +2, EET) Location: Moana Blue Pacific Pavilion Lead Organization: The Commonwealth Blue Charter’s Ocean and Climate Change Action Group Description: The Commonwealth Blue Charter’s Ocean and Climate Change Action Group (OCCAG), championed by Fiji, and the Mangrove Ecosystems and Livelihoods Action Group (MELAG), championed by Sri Lanka, invite you to a panel discussion on approaches to mangrove restoration, local community engagement and innovative financing. This event will provide an overview of the science and policy adopted by different nations for better mangrove management, and will showcase case studies from across the Commonwealth. Panelists will also discuss opportunities for Commonwealth countries to build the resilience of mangrove ecosystems. Speakers: Rizvi Hassen Ocean Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka | Izhaar Ali Climate Change & Int Cooperation Division, Ministry of Economy, Fiji | Elizabeth Francis Lead Project Developer, Fair Carbon | Dan Crockett Development Director, Blue Marine Foundation | Josheena Naggea Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford Centre for Ocean Solution | Heidi Prislan (moderator) Adviser, Commonwealth Blue Charter. Coastal Wetlands in National and Subnational Climate Strategies: Nature-Based Solutions in Practice – UN Climate COP27 Time: Thursday 10 November, 2022, 9:00 – 10:00 (UTC +2, EET) Location: Nature Pavilion Lead Organization : Pew Charitable Trusts Description: Moderated panel sharing key learnings from countries and US states at various stages of implementing current, and developing future, targets for their coastal “blue carbon” habitats – mangrove, seagrass and saltmarsh – as nature-based solutions within national and subnational climate strategies. Accelerating Ocean-based Climate Action for a Sustainable Future – UN Climate COP27 Time: Tuesday 10 November 2022, 10:00 – 11:30 (UTC +2, EET) Location: French Pavilion Lead Organization: Conservation International Description:  This event will feature a dynamic roundtable exploring the topic “from ‘problem’ to ‘solution’, showcasing actionable ocean-based initiatives for a resilient and net-zero future” Launch of the Mangrove Breakthrough – UN Climate COP27 Time: Thursday 10 November, 2022, 10:30 – 11:00 (UTC +2, EET) Location: Nature Pavilion: Media Zone Lead Organization: UN High-Level Climate Champions / Global Mangrove Alliance Description: This event will launch the Mangrove Breakthrough , a joint initiative of the High-Level Climate Champions and the Global Mangrove Alliance with the aim to align the work of Parties and non-state actors on mangrove action under shared targets and ambition, and to drive and unlock public, philanthropic, and private finance for the protection and restoration of mangrove ecosystems. The Future of Blue Carbon Roundtable at the Ocean X Climate Summit – UN Climate COP27 Time:   Friday 11 November 2022, 16:30 (UTC +2, EET) Location: Park Regency Hotel, Grand Ballroom Lead Organization: Fair Carbon Description: Blue Carbon is a key topic at this COP. This discussion will pull together the main issues and provide clarity on what needs to be done to unlock the potential of Blue Carbon. Speakers: Moderator – John Vermilye, Fair Carbon | Dr. Whitney Johnston, Director of Ocean Sustainability, Salesforce | Josheena Naggea, André Hoffmann Ocean Innovation Fellow, World Economic Forum, Stanford Center for Ocean Solutions | Nicholas Hardman‑Mountford, Adviser and Head, Ocean Governance and Natural Resource Management, The Commonwealth Delivering on climate pledges – What does high-quality corporate action look like? High Quality Blue Carbon Principles Launch  – UN Climate COP27 Time:   Saturday 12 November 2022, 10:00-11:00 (UTC +2, EET) Location: We Mean Business Pavilion Lead Organization: Conservation International Description:  Corporate pledges for climate and nature and the voluntary carbon market are both critical tools that, when made and used well, can play an important role in corporate climate action, positively supporting our world’s collective journey to a net zero, nature positive future. To help private sector leaders on this journey, specifically in the fast-emerging space of blue carbon, this session will feature the launch of the High-Quality Blue Carbon Principles and Guidance. Areas for discussion will include trends and guidance in the pursuit of a high-quality carbon market and pragmatic best practices towards the achievement of high integrity corporate action at large. How Climate Change Mobilization Promotes Adaptation & Resilience in Latin America & the Caribbean’s Private Sector  – UN Climate COP27 Time:   Saturday 12 November 2022, 15:00-16:00 (UTC +2, EET) Location: MDB Joint Pavilion Lead Organization: Conservation International Description:  This panel will analyze how an early response and preventive adaptation solutions can be more effective and less costly than a late reaction. Speakers will present examples where adaptation measures to climate change make it possible to curtail negative effects, reduce vulnerabilities and increase the resilience of human and natural systems to climate change. In this direction, IDB Invest will reinforce its work in promoting the incorporation of adaptation and resilience measures for its clients, prioritizing nature-based solutions. “Doing it Better: Unpacking evidence from the field and lessons learned from NbS for Adaptation”   – UN Climate COP27 Time:   Monday 14 November 2022, 14:00-15:00 (UTC +2, EET) Location: Capacity Building Hub Description:  The intent of this panel session is to demonstrate concrete evidence and results from completed and in-progress projects, including lessons learned, return on investment, and impact of projects on the ground – and how this can be taken forward into future projects as adaptation efforts are scaled up around the world. Launch of the International Blue Carbon Institute, and Reception – UN Climate COP27 Time:   Monday 14 November 2022, 16:00 (UTC +2, EET) Location: Singapore Pavilion, Blue Zone Description:  The International Blue Carbon Institute (IBCI) will accelerate and scale blue carbon implementation in Asia and beyond through science, training, and development of essential technical capacity, methodologies, and tools. Based in Singapore, the goals of the IBCI are to: Build multi-disciplinary capacity in Asia and beyond, to research, design, and implement blue carbon related programs, policy, and projects, provide a globally recognized hub facilitating the exchange of blue carbon expertise, knowledge, and learning, and provide regional and international leadership in the translation of cutting-edge science into tools and methodologies for broad application of blue carbon for climate mitigation and adaptation. Partnerships to accelerate action to protect blue carbon ecosystems for mitigation and adaptation – UN Climate COP27 Time: Tuesday 15 November 2022, 13:15 – 14:45 (UTC +2, EET) Location: Thutmose Room, Blue Zone Lead Organization: IUCN, International Partnership for Blue Carbon (IPBC), Australia, and the Pew Charitable Trusts Description: The side event aims at demonstrating how partnerships across different sectors are key to driving credible action for the protection and restoration of blue carbon ecosystems (mangroves, seagrasses, tidal marshes), contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, biodiversity, ocean economies and livelihoods of coastal communities. IUCN will share its experience working in the Blue Carbon space for the last 14 years, and most recently managing the Blue Carbon Accelerator Fund (BCAF). The BCAF was established by Australia and IUCN as a dedicated funding scheme with a vision to help increase coastal blue carbon ecosystems conservation and restoration for the benefits to climate change mitigation and adaptation, biodiversity and livelihoods of coastal communities. Blue Carbon Implementation Lab – Official Ocean Action Day Event – UN Climate COP27 Time: Wednesday 16 November 2022, 15:00-16:30 (UTC +2, EET) Location: Blue Zone, Action Room Description: Over the last decade, Blue Carbon ecosystems have been recognized for their value for climate mitigation and adaptation, as well as their critical value for biodiversity and communities. Climate policy and finance is now beginning to support development and implementation of conservation and restoration of blue carbon ecosystems. This Lab will highlight these successes and identify the key emerging opportunities for scaling. Engineering the vision for climate resilient transport – UN Climate COP27 Time: Wednesday 16 November 2022, 10:30-12:00 (UTC +2, EET) Location: UNFCCC Action Zone Description:  The focus of this event will be progress on and implementation of the adaptation and resilience breakthrough: ‘Transport infrastructure be resilient to climate hazards through adoption of new technology, design and materials.’ The session will bring together transport experts from the global engineering community, including from the private sector, professional associations, academia and key transport industry bodies, alongside representatives from the policymaker and the investor communities. Nature-based Solutions session at Resilience Hub – From gray to green: A lifecycle approach to integrating Nature based Solutions   – UN Climate COP27 Time: Wednesday 16 November 2022, 17:00-18:00 (UTC +2, EET) Location:  Resilience Hub Description:  Making a strong case for Nature-based Solutions (NbS) requires consideration of their whole lifecycle, from concept planning to design and implementation through to operations and maintenance. This includes defining the physical scope of the project, making the case for investment, identifying who owns and maintains the NbS and then measuring how the benefits, costs and impacts of NbS are generated and perceived across the project. This session will showcase real world examples of planning, delivery and management of NbS, with a focus on building the business case, implementing hybrid solutions and their long-term operation and maintenance. Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) and forest restoration for increased resilience – UN Climate COP27 Time: Thursday 17 November 2022, 15:00-16:30 (UTC +2, EET) Location: Thebes Room, Blue Zone Lead Organization: Welthungerhilfe & OroVerde Tropical Forest Foundation Description: Panelists will highlight how the project’s EbA-approach helps to integrate ecosystem conservation, restoration and adaptation to climate change while assuring food security in rural communities, building on multi-actor-partnerships (MAP) at local, regional and national level as a governance model, aiming at creating local ownership about Climate Change adaptation strategies and at replication and up-scaling of EbA measures throughout and beyond the project regions. Further, the threat of climate change impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem functioning will be presented with examples from Hispaniola, along with recommendations for much needed mitigation and adaptation strategies.

9 Ways Mangrove Ecosystems Sustain Communities Mangroves are often touted for their ability to mitigate storm surges and protect communities from hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones, which of course provide value in saving lives and reducing infrastructure damage.  Yet on the flipside of their intrinsic value, these forests also provide benefits and income outside of extreme weather events that don’t require deforestation (mangroves are often used as building materials or fuel). Here are 9 other uses of mangroves that allow communities and coastal ecosystems to thrive. © Green Renaissance / WWF-US 1 Fishing sustainably is a major, and valuable, component to community livelihoods. Fish provide food, tourism opportunities, and income via sales to markets. Because mangrove trees grow around the world, there is a huge diversity of fish species that live among the roots including tilapia, grouper, catfish, mullet, and snappers (especially the aptly named “mangrove snapper”.)   2 While mangroves are often thought of as nurseries for fish, they are also home to a variety of insects, like bees! In 2014, the village of Nai Nang in the Krabi Province of Thailand partnered with Mangrove Action Project, who taught the community how to set up and run a sustainable mangrove honeybee production. The project now involves over 300 beehives that can produce up to 270 liters of raw honey. The produced honey is sold to other communities and visitors and serves as a job source for many local women. Like how the flavor of wine is very dependent on the variety of grape, honey flavor is very dependent on the flower source of pollen. Mangrove honey is said to have a salty-sweet flavor, influenced by mangroves’ saltwater environment 3 Mangrove beekeeping also supports sustainable beauty and skincare products. The huge marketing success seen with other bee-based beauty brands is a testament to the quality and range of products that can be generated from beekeeping. Balms, lotions, soaps, shampoos and conditioners are all skincare products that can utilize honey–which is anti-bacterial, moisturizing, and soothing, and beeswax–which is anti-inflammatory, thickens skincare products, and melts at body temperature. Choosing bee products is great for your skin and the environment. 4 Similar to fish, crustaceans and mollusks are a valuable commodity of mangroves. A different set of skills is needed to finesse a shy mangrove crab or clam out of the thick mud beneath mangrove roots, but the shellfish are highly valued for restaurant markets and as a source of food. 5 A more subtle benefit of mangrove forests is the trees’ contribution to improved water quality. Mangrove root systems hold down sediment–preventing soil from washing out and smothering coral polyps and nearby seagrasses, absorb agricultural fertilizers–like nitrogen and phosphorous that can cause algal blooms and massive fish die-offs, and potentially pull heavy metals like copper and arsenic out of the water–reducing toxicity to humans and the rest of the ecosystem. Coral reefs (and therefore fishers and tourists) are one of the biggest benefactors of water quality improvements because they are highly dependent on mangroves to shelter young fish before reaching maturity, moving out to open water, and becoming a vibrant part of reefs. 6 Not surprisingly, tourism can be a major plus of a well-protected and maintained mangrove forest. Aside from visiting coral reefs, fishing, and purchasing honey products, mangrove forests can be great places to find unique or endangered birds, mammals, and reptiles. Because mangroves thrive along warm saltwater coasts, the unique setting produces extraordinary wildlife and elevated biodiversity. Kayaking through mangroves at different times of day can provide unique experiences, such as birdwatching (daylight) and firefly shows (evening). © Mangrove Action Project 7 Although aquaculture has too often come at the expense of mangrove forests, shrimp farming was not always so destructive. Traditionally, communities in Southeast Asia established shrimp corrals among mangrove trees, allowing the trees to thrive alongside farms. Encouraging this mutualistic farming style is beneficial to both ecosystems and people, and farms can expand to include seaweed, cockles, fish, oysters, and mussels that are sold to markets or consumed. 8 If harvested sustainably, collecting parts of mangrove trees for medicine could prove very useful. Traditionally, tropical coastal communities have looked to mangroves for aid when struck with disease or infection, and scientists have been researching the potential for mangrove’s medicinal properties in laboratory studies. Roots, stems, leaves, and fruits all could bear benefits, such as protection against common pathogenic bacteria (causing a range of problems, like food poisoning, pneumonia, cholera, staph infections and more), use as larvicide against disease-carrying mosquitos, antifungal and antiviral properties, and possibly more. More research and confirmation of traditional knowledge is needed before mangroves are used regularly as medicine, but it is a promising possibility. 9 Governments are increasingly including coastal ecosystems, like mangroves, in climate commitments because of how well these trees capture and store carbon. There is a market for supporting this approach, called carbon crediting, that encourages countries to back each other in their commitments. The credit system allows countries that are heavy carbon emitters to pay countries that are actively working to lower or eliminate carbon emissions. The money earned can then be used towards community initiatives, like clean water pumps and children’s education, lifting the community up as it helps to keep them, and the whole world, safe from the residual impacts of climate change. Kenya’s Mikoko pamoja project is an excellent example of using mangroves towards carbon credits for a coastal community. © Mikoko Pamoja Project © Jürgen Freund / WWF

World Ocean Day 2023 Mangroves are incredible for so many reasons, stemming from their ability to grow and thrive on the boundary of ocean and land. The trees’ unique adaptations to salinity make wherever they grow a vital haven for wildlife and an important resource for the hundreds of millions of people living near these ecosystems. Their importance to people and wildlife could not be any more clear this World Ocean Day as ever-growing impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss threaten our planet. The United Nations theme for World Ocean Day this year is “Planet Ocean: Tides are Changing”. The  Global Mangrove Alliance  could not agree more with this theme; we have to prioritize ocean issues and change the tide on loss. To accomplish that, our Alliance is working on a greater scale than ever before, supporting the Mangrove Breakthrough (see below), building out National Chapters, and looking for collaboration opportunities across sectors. The  Global Mangrove Watch , the evidence base informing our Alliance, was recently the key source of data for a  UNEP report on mangroves and experts around the world are working on new tools to advance our understanding of these trees and improve their management and restoration into our uncertain future. Continue reading our complete newsletter for more about the initiatives underway to protect and restore mangroves across our membership. Spotlight: Learn more about the Mangrove Breakthrough The Mangrove Breakthrough  is a community of action dedicated to sustainably managing and increasing mangrove cover by 2030 by catalyzing a USD 4 billion shared global goal. The Breakthrough is currently convened by the Global Mangrove Alliance and the UN Race to Resilience Climate Champions and coordinated by Systemiq. The Community of Action follows  nine guiding principles  and consists of civil society organizations, governments, and the private sector, all of whom implement action and projects to advance the Breakthrough. To align ambition, these endorsers commit to bold but achievable contributions toward shared science-based and measurable goals. By joining together we can accelerate to the pace needed to reach critical biodiversity and climate targets globally and avoid fragmentation. We can jointly ensure successful interventions that build on the best available science, best practices and lessons learnt, preventing common exacerbations to an already low survival rate by failure to reinstate functionality and connectivity of these vibrant ecosystems.  Read more. For more information on the work being done by our members, read our full newsletter,  available here .

The most important cartographic study on the evolution of mangroves in Madagascar. This study was conducted by Save our mangroves now! It is an international initiative that mobilizes policy makers and supports environmental actors to stop and reverse the loss of mangroves. Save our mangroves now! has a particular focus in the Western Indian Ocean, which includes Madagascar. The WWF, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation (BMZ) and Development and IUCN are the leaders of this initiative and the authors of this cartography, available for download here . Based on cartographic analyzes and aerial photographs , the results of this study are about the evolution of Madagascar’s mangroves from 1995 to 2018. What we learn from these scientific analyzes? For the most part, mangroves are declining everywhere in Madagascar! The total surface of ​​mangroves decreased from 294,387 ha in 2000 to just over 236,400 ha in 2018. Nevertheless, mangroves near marine or terrestrial protected areas are less impacted than others. Another important finding is that although the loss rates decreased over the years, the degradation increased. So, the degradation is the hidden loss. Also, and this is a milestone to this study, most of the areas where mangrove forests are managed by local communities are better in the whole country. In fact, WWF has partnered with local communities to protect and restore the mangroves since 2007, in the Menabe, Melaky and Diana regions. In total, 50,000 ha of mangroves have been successfully protected and over 2 million mangrove trees have been planted from 2007 to 2017. More importantly, sixteen community organizations from these regions are now actively engaged in the conservation of mangroves. They are supported by WWF and other conservation and development organizations within their region. To Nanie Ratsifandrihamanana, director of WWF Madagascar, “Future mangrove conservation efforts can only be sustained if scientific knowledge is kept up to date, adequate policies and legislations exist and best practices are scaled up effectively. ” This mapping provides an up-to-date overview of the extent and current status of mangroves on the island. We hope this will drive greater interest towards this unique ecosystem and strengthen the commitment to its conservation. Download the full study here . More information

Updates on mangroves as a nature-based solution. The threat of severe weather-related events that many countries will and are enduring due to climate change has motivated them to protect their natural defenses (i.e., ecosystems). Restoring ecosystems carries a huge payoff; for example, mangroves help the world avoid around US$80 billion a year in losses from floods and save additional billions in other ways. [1] Mangroves are beautiful, unique, and biologically rich ecosystems. They’re also vital to addressing climate change. Increasingly, countries are acknowledging this by incorporating mangroves in their climate change commitments. Under the Paris Agreement, each party is required to outline and communicate their climate actions, known as their nationally determined contributions (NDCs). [2] The idea behind NDCs is to acknowledge that countries have different resources, abilities, and circumstances. Each party designs its own pledge for meeting the Paris Agreement goals and includes the mitigation and adaptation measures that they will take to face climate change. Mitigation involves reducing the flow of heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, either by reducing sources of these gases or enhancing the “sinks” that accumulate and store them, such as mangroves. Adaptation involves adjusting to actual or future climate to reduce vulnerability of harmful effects of climate change, like sea level rise. NDCs incorporate efforts by each country to reduce national emissions (i.e., mitigation) and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Many NDCs have included “nature-based solutions” (NBS) to tackle the climate crisis; NBS are “actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural or modified ecosystems, that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits.” The mangrove ecosystem is a prime example of a NBS because it stores up to five times as much organic carbon as tropical upland forests and protect coasts from erosion and severe climate events. Consequently, more and more countries have considered conserving and restoring mangroves as part of their NDCs. As of October 2021, 71 countries included coastal and marine NBS in their new or updated NDCs. NDCs submitted so far this year have continued the trend. Since November 2021, 16 countries have submitted new and updated versions of their NDCs and 10 of them have mangrove forests in their jurisdictions (i.e., Argentina, New Zealand, Comoro, Venezuela, Brazil, Guatemala, El Salvador, Mozambique, Republic of Korea, and Cote d’Ivoire). All but Brazil, New Zealand, and Ghana addressed mangroves in their updated NDCs directly or indirectly. Below are some examples of recently submitted new or updated NDCs which use mangrove as a NBS for mitigation and adaptation measures: Argentina’s second NDC includes as a mitigation plan the enhancement of policies to protect carbon-rich ecosystems such as forests, wetlands, and natural grasslands. Comoro’s updated NDC included in its “adaptation actions” the need to monitor and restore marine and coastal ecosystem and to extend its protected areas. Venezuela’s updated NDC submission proposes to restore mangroves to conserve biological diversity and to adapt for climate change events and mitigate its effects. Guatemala’s updated NDC included several goals focused on conserving and restoring the mangrove ecosystem. For example, “by 2025, at least 1,500 hectares of mangrove ecosystems will be restored and reforested, with the full participation of local communities, indigenous and Garífuna peoples, groups of women and youth.” Guatemala’s aim is to increase the adaptive capacity of the marine-coastal areas, contribute to maintaining the habitat and refuge of the biological diversity of fauna, improve food security and tourism, and increase forest carbon stocks and the potential for blue carbon. [14] El Salvador’s updated NDC aims to support sustainable agriculture by restoring mangrove ecosystems, among others. [15] It established as a national priority the conservation of forests and the sustainable management of ecosystems of natural protected areas, including mangroves, with special emphasis on building resilience at the landscape level and evaluating the effects of climate on the habitat of species and the structural and functional connectivity of ecosystems. [16] Mozambique’s NDC included the regeneration of mangroves as part of a goal to build resilience of fisheries. [17] It set a target to expand restored mangrove areas to 5,000 ha by 2025. [18] The updated NDC of the Republic of Korea does not mention mangroves explicitly, but it does include a goal to “maintain and improve its carbon sinks with sustainable forest management, conservation and restoration and increase forestlands by … creating new coastal and inland wetlands as well as vegetation in waterfront areas.” [19] Cote d’Ivore’s updated NDC included as one of its 2030 horizon objectives to consider the destructive action of humans on ecosystems such as mangroves, especially in relation to coastal areas where infrastructure is built. [20] Prior to these submissions, Argentina, Venezuela, Guatemala, El Salvador, and the Republic of Korea had not considered mangroves or NBS in their NDCs. Hence, the inclusion of mangroves and coastal ecosystems in these NDCs demonstrates a growing global recognition of the importance of mangrove forests to combatting climate change, both as an important source of carbon capture and as protection against severe climate-related weather events. It will be important for countries to keep considering them while updating their NDCs and to really commit their resources to protect them. Planting mangroves –or restoring their ecosystem– is much cheaper than building breakwaters, and the trees also improve the water quality, reduce storm surges, prevent coastal flooding, and protect fish habitats. [21] Therefore, the population of coastal countries must lobby for mangrove protection and aim to include them in their NDCs. I believe that there is still hope in the fight against climate change, but such responsibility must not remain solely in the hands of politicians; communities must engage in the enforcement of their NDCs by making sure NBS are at the core of these commitments. [1] BILL GATES, How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need, (Alfred A. Knopf, 2021) at 172-173. [2] UNFCCC, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). Last accessed 13 May 2022. [3] Global Climate Change, Responding to Climate Change, NASA . Last accessed 13 May 2022. [4] Ibid. [5] WORLD WILDLIFE FUND, NDCs – A Force of Nature? (4th Ed., November 2021) at 8. Last accessed 13 May 2022. [6] IUCN, Nature-based solutions . Last accessed 13 May 2022. [7] EMMA BARNES, Mangroves as a Solution to the Climate Crisis, World Wildlife Fund (4 January 2022). Last accessed 25 April 2022. [8] MARK CHATTING ET AL., Future Mangrove Carbon Storage Under Climate Change and Deforestation, Frontiers in Marine Science (10 February 2022). Last accessed 10 May 20222. [9] GLOBAL MANGROVE ALLIANCE, Are mangroves being included in Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement ? Last accessed 10 May 2022. [10] WORLD WILDLIFE FUND, NDCs – A Force of Nature? Op. Cit., at 25. [11] Union of the Comoros, Contribution Determinee Au Niveau National (CDN actualisée), UNFCCC (5 November 2021) , at 9. Last accessed 10 May 2022. [12] Republic of Venezuela, Actualización de la Contribución Nacionalmente Determinada de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela para la lucha contra el Cambio Climático y sus efectos , UNFCCC (9 November 2021), at 151. Last accessed 10 May 2022. [13] Government of Guatemala – Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Contribución Nacionalmente Determinada Guatemala 2021 , UNFCCC (4 January 2022), at 44. Last accessed 1 May 2022. [14] Id., at 44-45. [15] Government of El Salvador– Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Contribuciones Nacionalmente Determinadas El Salvador 2021 , UNFCCC (4 January 2022), at 69 . Last accessed 1 May 2022. [16] Id., at 72. [17] Republic of Mozambique – Ministry of Land and Environment, Update of the First Nationally Determined Contribution to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (period 2020-2025), UNFCCC (27 December 2021), at 40, 41. Last accessed 1 May 2022. [18] Id., at 66-67. [19] R epublic of Korea, Submission under the Paris Agreement of the Republic of Korea’s Enhanced Update of its First Nationally Determined Contribution , UNFCCC (23 December 2021), at 3. Last accessed 1 May 2022. [20] Cote d’Ivoire, Contributions Prevues Determinees au niveau national de la Cote d’Ivoire , UNFCCC (9 May 2022), at 21. Last accessed 10 May 2022. [21] BILL GATES, How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need, Op. Cit., at 172-173.

Research offers guidance on making mangrove conservation investments more sustainable and impactful Mangroves are under threat globally due to land conversion, overexploitation, and other human-induced stressors. Various stakeholders, including governments and NGOs, have been working on the conservation and restoration of mangrove ecosystems for years, yet with mixed results. Lack of sustainable finance, beyond an initial project implementation cycle, is often cited as a reason for long-term project failure.   A new report by the Save Our Mangroves Now! initiative, co-led by WWF-Germany and IUCN and supported by BMZ, provides guidance on making mangrove conservation investments more sustainable and impactful. As part of the study, the authors looked at the common successes and challenges linked to mangrove conservation and the business case for private sector to engage in conservation efforts   Mangroves provide valuable ecosystem services estimated to be worth thousands to tens of thousands of USD per hectare, and play an important role in climate change mitigation and adaptation. Investing in mangroves can deliver a number of environmental and social benefits. This is of great interest to governments wanting to reduce coastal damage and impact investors wanting to ‘do good’ while earning economic returns. Many of the benefits of mangroves are in cost-avoidance, while others can provide financial revenues, such as activities related to fisheries, the carbon market or tourism. Additionally, conservation of these ecosystems has also been shown to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other national and international environmental targets and commitments by sequestering green house gases as “blue carbon”. This can help fulfill the commitments to targets set by Convention on Biological Diversity Aichi targets and UNFCCC Paris Agreement.   Using case studies from on-going projects in Kenya (Mikoko Pamoja), Madagascar (Manambolo-Tsiribihina) and Viet Nam (Mangroves and Markets I), some common successes and challenging factors were identified to provide recommendations for future investments.   For current and future projects, this will mean investing effort in the project planning stages and embracing a longer timeframe to take advantage of the diverse benefits effective mangrove conservation can provide. To sustain mangrove management from a financial point of view, an increasingly promising and innovative option are emerging collaborations between non-profit and impact investors using approaches such as blended finance . In the future, new finance mechanisms and approaches, alongside new partnerships, have to be set up and strengthened to provide proof of concept. Global standards for mangrove conservation have to be improved, implemented and better monitored in the field.   The study and full report is available online alongside a summary brochure .   For more information contact: Raphaelle Flint ( Raphaelle.flint@iucn.org ) and Dorothée Herr (Dorothee.Herr@iucn.org).

Thoughts on the 2018 Ramsar COP from Dorothee Herr, IUCN Global Marine Program The Ramsar Secretary General and the IUCN Director General invited Parties and Delegates to the Ramsar COP13 to a special side event “ UN Ocean Conference Community of Ocean Action on Mangroves: Progress and Opportunities ”. The Ramsar Secretariat and IUCN Director General both serve as focal points for the SDG 14 Mangrove Community of Ocean Action . The event was supported by Save our Mangroves Now!, a joint mangrove initiative from BMZ, WWF Germany, and IUCN.   Opening remarks were made by Ambassador Peter Thomson, UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean, Martha Rojas Urrego, Ramsar Convention Secretary General, , Stewart Maginnis, Global Director – Nature-based Solutions Group(IUCN) . and Elizabeth Marema, Law and Conventions Division UNEP. Left to right: Elizabeth Mrema, UNEP; Peter Thomson, UN Special Envoy for the Ocean; Martha Rojas Urrego, Ramsar Secretary General; and Stewart Maginnis, Global Director IUCN. Photo by IISD/ENB | Francis Dejon Ambassador Thomson highlighted the critical role of mangrove ecosystems for coastal and ocean resilience and described the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands as the heartland to support actions for the Community of Ocean Action on mangroves conservation. He encouraged the submission of new voluntary commitments, and urged countries and other stakeholders to update existing ones.   Government representatives from Australia, Brazil, Fiji and Sweden presented insights from already existing voluntary commitments, including actions on restoration, protection and on blue carbon.   Honduras on behalf of the fourteen countries of the Ramsar Regional Initiative for the Conservation and Wise Use of Mangroves and Coral Reefs (Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, and Venezuela) described this Initiative and intend to submit it as a new voluntary commitment under SDG 14. The main actions of the initiative include the development of policies and regulations to promote the protection and conservation of mangroves and coral reefs and achieve their effective management through integrated management of watersheds and marine/coastal areas.   The Regional Partnership for the Conservation of the Coastal and Marine Zone of West Africa (Cabo Verde, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania, Senegal, Sierra Leone) also expressed the goal to submit their work as a voluntary commitment under the UN Ocean Conference Community of Ocean Action on Mangroves. This partnership works on the mobilization of stakeholder awareness and exchange of good practices on the coastal erosion and coastal risk management and the protection of coastal and marine wetlands.   The event underlined the crucial opportunities that the Communities of Ocean Action provides to follow up on the Voluntary Commitments made during the Oceans Conference in June 2017. The event showcased a lot of action and enthusiasm in terms of mangrove conservation, yet the community has and need to offer more.   A mid-term assessment on the submitted and updated Voluntary Commitments is due end of this year.   Left to right:  Ahmed Senhoury , Regional Partnership Initiative of Mangroves and Coral Reefs for Marine and Coastal Conservation in West Africa (PRCM);  Carolina Montalván , Ramsar Regional;  Ana Paula Leite Prates, Brazil; Michael Löfroth , Sweden;  Sandeep Singh , Fiji; Mark Taylor, Australia See more at http://enb.iisd.org/ramsar/cop13/ Twitter @RamsarConv Facebook: @RamsarConventionOnwetlands Instagram: @ Ramsar_Convention_on_wetlands

Combining local and national initiatives to increase efficiency across an ecoregion. Development of a strategy for the conservation and management of mangroves in the Mesoamerican reef ecoregion, a participatory approach led by MAR Fund and the Smithsonian Institution. Written by María José Gonzalez (MAR Fund) and Steven Canty (Smithsonian Institution) resumen en español. The “Regional Strategy for Mangrove Management, Conservation, Restoration and Monitoring in the Mesoamerican Reef 2020-2025” is a guiding platform for shared actions across the four countries that make up the Mesoamerican reef (MAR) ecoregion, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras. These actions, coordinated and agreed upon between different key stakeholders of the region, will enable the achievement of realistic and effective conservation goals. A strategic framework promotes coordinated and collaborative actions in the MAR ecoregion. The specific objectives of the strategy are: “Manage, conserve, restore and monitor the mangrove ecosystem in the MAR ecoregion.” “Promote sustainable livelihoods that reduce stress on the mangrove ecosystem.” © María José Gonzalez / MAR Fund “Promote the effective application of legal frameworks that protect the mangrove ecosystem through strengthening of institutions and key stakeholders.” “Strengthen the governance and effective participation of all sectors that are linked to the mangrove ecosystem in the MAR ecoregion.” “Develop a knowledge management, monitoring, and surveillance system of the mangrove ecosystem that feeds the decision-making process of stakeholders in the region.” “Ensure financial resources for the implementation of the strategy, including instruments that promote equity and multiculturality in the MAR ecoregion.” The strategy is available in   English  and  Spanish .

World Wetlands Day 2023 Since our formation, the Global Mangrove Alliance has been an ardent advocate of science-based restoration and protection of mangrove ecosystems. It’s why we co-launched the Mangrove Breakthrough with the UN Climate Champions and 30 other endorsers at the UNFCCC COP27 in November and are expanding our active network through National Chapters, Working Groups, and Membership. Today is Wetlands Day and the theme, determined by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, is “it’s time for wetland restoration”. It is always time for restoration, but as 2030 climate and biodiversity targets draw closer, it’s critical that we keep moving forward on existing efforts and scale up new initiatives to reach our lofty, but achievable, goals. To keep up momentum, our Alliance is continually adding to our suite of global and regional best practice materials for restoring and protecting forests. They are freely available and we encourage their use. They include: Tool: Global Mangrove Watch Brief: Integrating Mangroves into NDCs Brief: Supporting implementation under Ramsar through the Global Mangrove Watch For more policy briefs and implementation guides, look through our Knowledge Hub . In the coming months, our Alliance will be sharing more about implementing the Mangrove Breakthrough, furthering action on the ground, and scaling up our work to reach our 2030 goals.

Wetlands Day 2022 Wetlands Action for People and Nature.  Today’s Wetlands Day theme, chosen by the Convention on Wetlands Secretariat, is an apt one. Wetlands around the world are under the threat of destruction from infrastructure development, resource extraction, and climate change. As a result, an incredible range of biodiversity, such as the  tigers in the Sundarbans , and human lives and livelihoods are at risk. Mangrove ecosystems are unfortunately no exception. There are still news stories every month of mangroves being cut down or damaged by extreme weather events, like 2021 hurricanes  Eta and Iota . However, there is reason for optimism. Deforestation and destruction have slowed in recent years and we continue to gain clearer understanding of mangroves, as evidenced in  The State of the World’s Mangroves  report. By protecting these coastal trees, all the benefits of mangroves to people and nature are preserved. Additionally, mangroves’ powerful ability to store tons of carbon out of the atmosphere provides a needed boost towards efforts to slow climate change. Our Alliance has been taking action to protect and restore mangrove ecosystems around the world since 2018 by developing science, policy change, sustainable financing, and local capacity, and by supporting alternate livelihoods. You can take action and help us in our mission to save mangroves this Wetlands Day through the following: Fill out the IUCN Mangrove Specialist Group’s  Mangrove Priority Questions survey  and tell us your priorities in mangrove science and management. For scientists, managers, and policy/decision-makers Visit the  Global Mangrove Watch  platform and learn about the power of mangrove wetlands around the world. Use our  Tools & Resources hub  to discover techniques and strategies for funding and restoring long-term restoration and conservation projects in mangrove forests. Keep up with the latest mangrove news on our  Twitter ,  LinkedIn , and  Facebook  pages. Read our member initiative updates in our full newsletter for more actions you can take and to learn about ongoing projects. © WWF / Martina Lippuner

Governments can do better on climate by making mangroves part of the solution Only 1 in 3 mangrove countries account for them in nationally determined contributions. That’s an opportunity ripe for climate action. The United Nations  calls Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs, “the heart of the Paris Agreement.” These commitments set out how each government will help its people adapt to climate change and what will be done to reduce emissions. And mangroves have a role to play. deforestation of mangroves between 2000 and 2012 emitted as much CO2 as roughly 69 million cars produce annually While it is true that mangrove trees cover a much smaller area than tropical forests, mangroves can sequester up to 3-4 more carbon on an area basis than their terrestrial counterparts. The deforestation of mangroves between 2000 and 2012 emitted as much CO2 as roughly 69 million cars produce annually ( this is my own “back of the envelope” calculation and by no means scientifically robust, just for some perspective ). But of the 110+ countries with mangroves only 28 countries’ NDCs include a reference to coastal wetlands in terms of mitigation , while 59 countries include coastal ecosystems and the coastal zone into their adaptation strategies . According to an article published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America , wetlands offer 14% of the mitigation potential from nature and 19% of “natural climate solutions.” As the world convenes for an urgently needed  Climate Change Conference in Katowice, Poland, government officials have an opportunity to lead the charge toward reversing mangrove declines. It’s part of the climate solution, provides protection for biodiversity, and reinforces the security of millions living in coastal communities.