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The report from the GMA India Strategic Visioning and Goal-Setting Workshop , held from 10–12 November 2025 in Goa, is now live. This first in-person gathering of the India Chapter was a truly special moment for the new GMA Chapter, bringing members together to connect, reflect, and jointly shape a shared direction. The workshop was deeply participatory, with members leading sessions, exchanging perspectives, and collectively identifying priorities and next steps aligned with the GMA 2030 goals. The video messages and words of encouragement shared by the Global Team were warmly received and truly appreciated. They helped ground our discussions in the larger global vision, reinforcing a strong sense of connection with the Alliance as a whole. The workshop surfaced a set of shared priorities that will shape the Chapter’s direction in the months ahead. One of the strongest messages to emerge was the importance of investing in capacity from field skills and restoration science to institutional readiness and interdisciplinary expertise. Participants recognized that meaningful progress will depend on linking scientific research, policy frameworks, local knowledge systems, community practice and financing in a way that reinforces each part. The workshop also made clear that India cannot rely on a one-size-fits-all solution, strategies must respond to the distinct realities of the east and west coasts while still contributing to a unified national agenda. Members endorsed a governance structure built around Working Groups, a careful and thoughtful approach to membership, and a commitment to transparency and accountability. The attached report captures the key conversations, outcomes, and the initial six-month roadmap that emerged from these three days of dialogue and collaboration. It provides a clear sense of both the substance of the discussions and the spirit of collective ownership that characterized the workshop. Read the full report here.

A Call to Action. The ability of mangroves to provide food, extreme weather protection, and livelihoods, while harboring incredible biodiversity, building coastal resilience, and acting as immense carbon sinks makes mangrove conservation and restoration an effective strategy to have in our arsenal to combat climate change and the biodiversity crisis. While progress has been made in recent years to slow the rate of loss, coastal communities already facing the impacts of a changing climate. Mangrove restoration and protection is also drastically underfunded compared to the benefits they bring, receiving only ~1% of climate finance. We urgently need to invest in conserving and restoring mangroves now as nature-based solutions to adapt to this changing planet. The Mangrove Breakthrough: accelerating action and investments The Mangrove Breakthrough is a call for accelerate action and investment from governments, the private sector, and non-state actors for one of the most under-protected and threatened ecosystems on the planet. The Mangrove Breakthrough provides a framework for State and non-State Actors to work together towards a global science based target of securing the future of over 15 million hectares of mangroves globally by 2030, underpinned by $4bn of sust ainable finance. It  supports the implementation of the Paris agreement, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework ecosystem conservation and restoration goals, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, 30×30 targets, the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and the UN Decade of Ocean Science. Collective action will focus on: Halting mangrove loss Restoring half of recent losses Doubling the protection of mangroves globally Ensuring sustainable long-term finance for all existing mangroves The Mangrove Breakthrough: from pledge to action The Mangrove Breakthrough was launched at UNFCCC COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, spearheaded by the United Nations High Level Climate Champions and the Global Mangrove Alliance, together with an alliance of early supporters and partners. In 2023 we further designed and mobilized the initiative. By COP29, we leveraged support from a total of 31 governments, and a formal partnership between the Mangrove Alliance for Climate and the Mangrove Breakthrough which has 23 country members. These countries represent around 60% of the world’s mangroves to implement a large-scale global mangrove programme towards halting mangrove destruction by 2030, alongside 57 non-state actors.  Community of Action Endorsers of the Mangrove Breakthrough will join a Community of Action made up of civil society organizations, governments, and the private sector, working together to achieve the Breakthrough’s goals through various actions and projects. By being part of this Community of Action, stakeholders collaborate towards successful mangrove interventions that build on the best available science, best practices, and lessons learned. The Mangrove Breakthrough works with the non-state actor network of the Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA) to build capacity locally and develop pipelines of mangrove projects with GMA national chapters, as well as developing tools that governments can use to enhance their efforts. Six Guiding Principes Countries and other stakeholders endorsing to the Mangrove Breakthrough commit to science-based mangrove restoration in a fair and equitable way. The Mangrove Breakthrough Guiding Principles serve as guardrails, and are guiding endorsers towards sustainably and effectively conserving and restoring mangrove ecosystems in a way that benefits biodiversity and communities and promotes equity: 1. Safeguarding nature and maximize biodiversity. 2. Employing the best information and practices 3. Empowering people 4. Aligning to the broader context – operate locally and contextually 5. Designing for sustainability 6. Mobilising high-integrity capital Read more about the Mangrove Breakthrough Guiding Principles.  Key milestones: In recent months, the Breakthrough has: ●   Launched the NDC Task Force to help countries develop NDCs that prioritise mangrove protection and restoration as essential nature-based solutions within climate commitments to the UNFCCC Paris Agreement. ●  Established an Advisory Counci l, a consortium of representatives from key stakeholder sectors to guide the strategic direction and governance of the Mangrove Breakthroughs. The Council convened for its Inaugural Council Meeting in London last April. ●  Established the Mangrove Breakthrough Secretariat, being hosted by Ambition Loop , an international NGO based in Santiago, Chile. ●  To fill data and knowledge gaps and promote science-based approaches , the GMA developed the Best Practice Guidelines on Mangrove Restoration , the Mangrove Restoration Track Tool and updates of the Global Mangrove Watch to support the Mangrove Breakthrough Community of Action in scaling up their mangrove interventions and addressing implementation challenges. ●  Development of Regional Roadmaps and Country Proposals to mobilise large-scale funding to achieve the Breakthrough targets by supporting locally led action on the ground and address impediments to scaling conservation and restoration efforts. Mangrove Breakthrough: Financial Roadmap Endorsements The Mangrove Breakthrough is endorsed by a growing list of leading non-profit organizations, governments as well as businesses, finance institutes and research organizations. To date, the Mangrove Breakthrough is endorsed by the following stakeholders: Governments: Australia, Atlántico (Colombia), Baranquilla (Colombia), Bolívar (Colombia), César (Colombia), Sucre (Colombia), Belgium, Burundi, Costa Rica, Colombia, Cartagena (Colombia), Cordoba (Colombia), Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Gambia, Germany, Guinea Bissau, Jamaica, Liberia, Mexico, Mozambique, Norway, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Philippines, Quintana Roo (Mexico), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Korea, Spain, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Yucatán (Mexico). Through the Partnership with the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC) , the following member countries are connected: Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brazil, Costa Rica, Chile, China, Cuba, El Salvador, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Kuwait, Liberia, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Mozambique, Mauritius, Mexico, Nicaragua, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Peru,  Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Sierra Leone, Spain, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Venezuela Non profit and research organizations: 1t.org , Bangladesh Environment and Development Society, Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory, Blue Forest, Blue Marine Foundation, Blue Ventures, Conservation International, Earth Security, Fair Carbon, Friends of Ocean Action, Gallifrey Foundation, Global Wetlands Project, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Invemar, IUCN Mangrove Specialist Group, Ivy Protocol, Makom ma matanda,  Mangrove Action Project, Marsh McLennan, MèreMer, National Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance, Oliver Wyman, People Carbon, Pew Charitable Trusts, University of Queensland, Rare, Salesforce, Shenzhen Mangrove Wetland Conservation Foundation, Smithsonian Institution, Sustainable Ocean Alliance, Vlinder, Wetlands International, World Economic Forum and Friends of Ocean Action, World Wildlife Fund, The Zoological Society of London. Finance Institutes: AXA Climate, Bank of America, Barclays, Bezos Earth Fund, Blue Carbon Action Partners, CAF – Development Bank of Latin America & the Caribbean, GAEA at the World Economic Forum, Earth Security, FSDAi, Global Ocean Trust, HSBC, Marsh McLennan, Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance (OORRA), Oliver Wyman, Ørsted, Pegasus Capital Advisors, Salesforce, SouthBridge, Standard Chartered, UBS, World Economic Forum, WTW  Join the Mangrove Breakthrough Please indicate your interest in joining the Mangrove Breakthrough by contacting: Ignace Beguin at ignace.beguin@ambitionloop.earth and Mangrove Breakthrough ambassador Carlos Correa at ccorrea@conservation.org

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

The GMA had an active presence at COP30 this year and oceans were a key priority on the agenda. What were the outcomes? We are so glad you asked. The ocean community made significant progress to place the ocean as a central pillar of ambition and implementation at COP30, with strong political signals, new commitments and a coordinated push from governments and Non-State Actors (NSA) to scale ocean-based climate solutions. From enhanced NDCs to the Action Agenda and thematic programming, this COP marked a significant step forward in positioning the ocean as indispensable to achieving the Paris Agreement’s goals.    Key Outcomes     Global Mutirão:  Ocean was explicitly recognized in the Global Mutirão text as a critical carbon sink and contributor to global climate stability.   Enhanced Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs):  Through the Blue NDC Challenge, countries were encouraged to integrate more ocean-based climate measures into their NDCs. At COP30, six new countries (Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Indonesia, Portugal, and Singapore) joined the initiative.   Global Goal on Adaptation:  The text encourages countries to disaggregate indicators by ecosystem types, explicitly referencing the ocean and coasts, which opens the door to more consistent monitoring of ocean resilience.   Baku-to-Belém Roadmap:  The Roadmap highlights marine protected areas, blue carbon ecosystems, coastal community resilience and more transparent ocean governance. The Standing Committee on Finance announced that its 2026 Forum will focus on water systems and the ocean, providing an opportunity to add clarity to the current state of climate finance for ocean solutions and issue concrete recommendations.  COP30 Action Agenda:  Built around six thematic pillars, including one focused on nature and coastal/marine ecosystems, the Action Agenda elevated the ocean through coordinated showcases, announcements and multi-sector collaboration. The ocean community delivered the Plan to Accelerate Ocean-based Climate Solutions: A Blue Package and participated in two Showcase Events and a high-visibility Implementation Workshop.    Ocean, Forests & Biodiversity Thematic Days: Elevating Ocean Action     Week 2 of COP30 featured two full thematic days dedicated to oceans, forests and biodiversity, representing one of the strongest ocean profiles in a COP to date. These sessions highlighted implementation, equity, and system-wide collaboration. Key events included:    Global Mutirão for the Ocean: Accelerating the Ocean Breakthroughs featuring ocean-centered solutions around the Ocean Breakthroughs adding the dimensions of planning and management, indigenous people and local communities and blue entrepreneurship.   Tides of Transformation: Advancing Equitable Coastal Climate Solutions , exploring how inclusive and equitable coastal solutions, from mangrove to saltmarsh restoration, are transforming ambition into action, driving climate resilience, and advancing gender equality across ocean-climate governance.  Coastal Resilience in Action: Nature-based Solutions for National Adaptation , bringing together governments, funders and practitioners to showcase cutting edge approaches to coastal resilience, like the novel Coastal Resilience Methodology developed by The Nature Conservancy, as catalyst for scaling investment and meeting adaptation targets. Marine Protected Areas and Blue Economy: Pillars of Climate Action in Latin America and the Caribbean , highlighting how MPAs and the Blue Economy can become pillars of a new ocean climate governance for Latin America and the Caribbean.     Mission to Marsh: Integrating Saltmarshes into Coastal Resilience and Climate Action, exploring untapped potential of saltmarshes and the role of the Saltmarsh Breakthrough in accelerating restoration and conservation efforts for the benefit of the people, nature, and resilience. Overall, COP30 demonstrated unprecedented alignment around ocean-based climate solutions, from enhanced NDCs and adaptation metrics to integrated governance and mobilizing finance. The momentum generated in Belém sets a strong foundation for COP31 and beyond, signaling that the ocean is central to global climate action.  Contribution by Luz Gil, The Nature Conservancy

Collaborative Mangrove Conservation Actions Gain Momentum in Kenya Kenya Forest Service  has just approved a new 10-Year mangrove management Plan for Lamu County and Kenya’s Kiunga Marine National Reserve, a UNESCO Man and Biosphere (MAB) Reserve! This is a key step for sustainable management of 64,500 ha of mangroves in the region. These wins reflect top-down and bottom-up approaches to drive mangrove conservation and restoration goals, contributing to climate mitigation and ocean health. Harvesting operations will be restricted to the designated utilization zone (10,766 ha) as prescribed in the national mangrove ecosystem management plan (2017-2027), excluding the proposed blue carbon project areas, conservation, protection, and development zones. The National Mangrove Ecosystem Restoration Guidelines have also been approved, streamlining mangrove restoration activities in Kenya. These wins strengthen the management of the 27,000 Ha Marine Protected Area (MPA) which includes about 300 Ha of mangrove forest co-managed by the Kenya Wildlife Service and the Kenya Forest Service. The MPA is a UNESCO Man and Biosphere (MAB) Reserve, an Important Bird Area and biodiversity hotspot. The inclusive, collaborative approach used in developing the Plan is being replicated for other MPAs. This reflects top-down and bottom-up approaches to drive mangrove conservation and restoration goals, contributing to climate mitigation and Ocean health. They are complimented by other wins this year, including: Signing the GMA National Kenya Chapter MoU. Inclusion of Blue Carbon Ecosystems into Kenya’s NDCs. Development of the Kenya Mangrove Ecosystem Management Plan. The establishment of six Mangrove Community Forest Association in Lamu and Tana River Counties. Check out the guidelines below to explore the best practice approaches streamlining mangrove restoration activities in Kenya. 🌊   Blue Carbon Solutions for Climate Action 🍃   National Mangrove Management in Kenya 🌏   Mangrove Management in Lamu County Acknowledgements to partners including, including TNC, GMA-Kenya Chapter, KFS, CFAs, KMFRI, KEFRI, UNEP, County Governments of Tana River and Lamu, NRT and others.

11 November 2025, Belém  - The Mangrove Breakthrough hosted its flagship Ministerial Event at COP30, highlighting leaders across governments, businesses, and civil society who are placing mangroves at the heart of their actions to build resilient communities and economies. The event also marked a significant step forward for the Breakthrough’s progress in deploying the instruments necessary to scale up mangrove-positive investments. Remarkable advancements toward the mangrove Breakthrough 2030 targets are underway. The Mangrove Breakthrough has tracked more than 40 large operations (over $ 1 million) that have mobilized over $750 million in mangrove-positive investments since 2020. And the landscape is expanding, our partners at Capital for Climate  have tracked over USD 840 million in nature-positive investments through 56 projects that include mangrove ecosystems. Together, the 44 governments that have endorsed the Mangrove Breakthrough represent approximately 40% of the world’s total mangrove coverage   — a remarkable testament to growing global leadership and collaboration.  Several of these countries — including Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, Brazil, Australia, Costa Rica, Panama, and Pakistan — have set ambitious targets in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement. For example, Jamaica’s NDC 3.0 aims to protect about two-thirds of the island’s mangrove forests by 2033 and restore 7,000 hectares by 2027.  “These bold commitments reflect years of dedicated engagement with governments around the world, and the tireless efforts of the Mangrove Breakthrough’s NDC Task Force,” s aid Carlos Eduardo Correa Escaf, Global Ambassador for the Breakthrough and former Minister of Environment of Colombia. “With COP30 marking the third anniversary of the Mangrove Breakthrough, now is the time to turn ambition into action — and tangible results are already emerging. These strengthened NDCs mark a true turning point for the initiative.” Papua New Guinea, the 40th government to endorse the Mangrove Breakthrough and co-host of today’s event, launched its Blue Carbon Policy Roadmap — a guiding framework to strengthen the conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of blue carbon ecosystems.   “The launch of Papua New Guinea’s Blue Carbon Policy Roadmap reaffirms our commitment to protecting the blue carbon ecosystems that sustain our people and economy. This roadmap positions Papua New Guinea as a regional leader in harnessing nature for climate and community resilience,” said Minister for Environment, Conservation and Climate Change Hon. Simo Kilepa. Introducing the Mangrove Catalytic Facility To bridge critical financing gaps and enable systemic transformation, the Mangrove Breakthrough is building a comprehensive financial architecture designed to unlock investments for mangrove-positive actions and businesses. This includes the Mangrove Catalytic Facility (MCF), which serves as the Breakthrough’s engine for investment readiness. The MCF supports actors across the value chain in developing investable solutions for mangrove ecosystems, from small and medium enterprises to financial institutions and national governments. The MCF is set to radically transform how mangroves are financed by mobilizing the expertise and capital of financial institutions and corporations. Ultimately, the objective is for mangrove value to be integrated into investment decisions for mangrove-adjacent businesses (infrastructure, ports, coastal agriculture, aquaculture, etc.). “The Mangrove Catalytic Facility has the potential to be a turning point in how mangroves are valued and financed,” said Ignace Beguin Billecocq, Executive Director of the Mangrove Breakthrough. “By strengthening the capacity of financial institutions and policymakers, and developing a global mangrove monitoring platform, the Mangrove Breakthrough is paving the way for mangroves to become indispensable to building resilient communities and economies.” With a USD 80 million fundraising target, the Facility is designed to multiply the impact of every dollar invested in mangroves, serving as a catalytic structure for achieving the overarching goal of mobilizing USD 4 billion for mangrove ecosystems. Building a Global Pipeline The Mangrove Breakthrough is working with global partners on various fields of work, from technology to finance, and on-the-ground work. The Breakthrough is partnering with Restor  to launch the most comprehensive mapping and monitoring platform that centralizes geospatial data, project performance, and investment needs, helping connect verified projects with philanthropic, public, and private sources of capital. The use of AI-powered models will accelerate implementation by supporting, at speed and scale, local financial institutions, governments, and project developers to make science-based decisions in coastal areas, allowing us to efficiently track progress against the 2030 Mangrove Breakthrough target. The Breakthrough has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with investment‐management firm Regia Capital  to advance investment in nature-based solutions in Brazil. This agreement paves the way for collaboration on impact funds focusing on mangroves as a key nature-based solution for resilient coastal communities. Furthermore, as part of the Mangrove Breakthrough, the Global Mangrove Alliance has released three Regional Readiness Reports —for Asia, the Americas, and West Africa—identifying the most effective pathways to accelerate mangrove action and guide alignment among funders, governments, and NGOs. Targeted propositions for Mexico, Guinea-Bissau, and Indonesia outline opportunities to mobilize concessional capital. “The Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA) is proving that collaboration works,” said Emily Landis, The Nature Conservancy’s Global Climate Adaptation & Resilience Director and Member of the GMA Steering Committee. “By bringing together governments, scientists, practitioners and local leaders we’re turning shared goals into coordinated action, accelerating mangrove conservation and restoration from West Africa to Southeast Asia and the Americas.” Initiatives like those in Brazil are already demonstrating tangible progress toward protecting and restoring 15 million hectares of mangroves worldwide. On Marajó Island, in the state of Pará, Brazil, the community associations ACCS  and ASSUREMAS  are leading the development of a nature-positive, community-managed crab processing and distribution cooperative within the Marine Extractive Reserve (RESEX) — a federally protected area spanning over 7,400 hectares of mangroves. As a member of the Global Mangrove Alliance, Rare   is supporting these local organizations in strengthening governance, market access, and sustainable management practices.  Casa do Ucides , named after the mangrove crab ( Ucides cordatus ), is building a sustainable value chain for one of the Amazon Coast’s most emblematic species. With support from Rare and in collaboration with local partners, the initiative has already mobilized over 100 crab extractivists for training. Participation in this cooperative is contingent on sustainable harvesting practices, embedding mangrove conservation directly within the local economy. About the Mangrove Breakthrough The Mangrove Breakthrough is pioneering how we, as a global network, protect nature to build resilient communities. It is a global movement to value, finance, and safeguard mangroves. The ambition is to mobilize USD 4 billion to protect and restore 15 million hectares of mangroves by 2030, fostering radical collaboration, advancing science-based financial and regulatory decisions, and investing in local leadership. The Breakthrough’s Secretariat (“the Hub”) drives this mission by sustaining multistakeholder partnerships and building the infrastructure for lasting impact. The Hub is legally hosted at the Chilean NGO Ambition Loop.

The Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA) is hosting two events at COP30 in Belém! Mangrove Ministerial Official UNFCCC Side Event This high-level ministerial event will be the main global platform to showcase ambitious, tangible mangrove action, bringing together governments, civil society and the private sector. 📅 Date: Tuesday, November 11 📍 COP30, Blue Zone, Room 4 🕐 Time: 13:15 – 14:45 Register here. Partner organizations include: The Nature Conservancy , The Pew Charitable Trusts , Rare , Government of Papua New Guinea and the Climate High-Level Champions . Coastal Resilience in Action: Nature-Based Solutions for National Adaptation This COP30 session will bring together governments, funders, and practitioners to spotlight innovative approaches that strengthen coastal resilience, support national adaptation goals, and scale investment in resilient ecosystems.   🗓 Date: Tuesday, November 18 📍 Location: Nature Hub, Blue Zone 🕐 Time: 16:00 - 17:00 Register here. Partner organizations include: The Nature Conservancy , The Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance  and Vanuatu.

We know thriving mangroves are key to combating climate change and supporting thriving communities and biodiversity. We also know how challenging the lack of information around effective mangrove restoration efforts and best practices can be. That’s why the Global Mangrove Alliance is very pleased to announce the launch of the Mangrove Restoration Tracker Tool (MRTT) and accompanying User Guide . The tool invites mangrove practitioners to record and track their restoration projects across its lifetime while ensuring best practice towards sustainable long-living mangroves globally. Built into Global Mangrove Watch platform – the pre-imminent and most widely-recognized mangrove mapping tool – the one-of-a-kind MRTT will 1) significantly benefit mangrove restoration results by identifying and tracking success from past, present, and future mangrove restoration activities and 2) enable learning and information exchange between practitioners. The second edition of the State of the World’s Mangroves report shows that 8,183km2 of mangroves are considered restorable globally. Restoring half of these mangroves would build habitat that generates over 25 billion commercially important fish and shellfish every year and continue to support 4.1 million small-scale fishers and countless communities that rely on mangroves for their livelihoods. Restoration could safeguard carbon in soil and aboveground biomass equivalent to 1.27gigatons of CO2 as well as mitigate damages from storms and reduce flood risk to some 15 million people every year. The need for urgent and effective mangrove restoration is evident, as is the need to monitor mangrove restoration projects to ensure their success. Knowing this, the MRTT was designed to underline the success of inclusive and ecological mangrove restoration approaches over mass tree planting; improving mangroves’ rates of survival and function. All different restoration approaches and projects covering single or multiple outcomes across the full array of ecological and socio-economic benefits of mangroves can be added to MRTT. The tool has a flexible structure designed to capture field and desk-based data on mangrove restoration projects in a standardized format and multiple and ongoing entries are possible within the Tool. For each project, there are three critical components integrated to report across the project lifetime: Pre-restoration site baseline, Restoration interventions, Post-restoration monitoring. Each section consists of several questions with multiple choice responses, with the intention that data providers can rapidly and comprehensively describe their project. This means that the conservation community will be able to quantify how specific conservation actions lead to outcomes for biodiversity, mangrove resilience, management effectiveness, communities, and governance. In turn, this will help improve mangrove conservation implementation and build a community to support more effective mangrove restoration projects. Join us in building a shared and effective mangrove conservation and restoration community. The Mangrove Restoration Tracker Tool is a Global Mangrove Alliance product developed by the University of Cambridge, Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, Wetlands International, and WWF in collaboration with 80 conservation practitioners and scientists from around the world. Learn how to use the MRTT:

Nine ways to effectively protect and conserve mangrove ecosystems C limate change, COVID-19, food insecurity… as ever-growing challenges pile up in front of us, the need for effective, nature-based solutions to repair our broken relationship with nature becomes more pressing. In this vital year for our planet, all eyes are on policy makers to deliver real change. To shine the light on possible solutions, global mangrove experts launched the Mangrove Principles at this year´s IUCN World Conservation Congress – a document presenting a comprehensive and strategic approach to effective mangrove conservation. Why mangroves? Because protecting them provides answers to many societal challenges, as well as to the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. They are our roots of hope! “Mangrove forests sequester more than 4 times the carbon that their terrestrial cousins, trees, sequester. Yet people regard mangroves as a nuisance or something to be used for firewood. We have to turn that around.” (Ambassador Peter Thomson, United Nations Special Envoy for the Ocean) Scientists, policy experts, business leaders and professionals from around the globe came together at the IUCN World Conservation Congress in Marseille to set the global conservation agenda for the next four years. The launch event of the Mangrove Principles took place on the 7th of September with high-level speakers providing compelling insights into the importance of mangrove conservation, particularly in the Western Indian Ocean. The entire session can be accessed here . “We believe that for the success of this mangrove conservation and restoration programme, coordination and inclusive activities are critical. In this context, harmonised mangrove principles are key to guide the achievements of global goals of conservation and maintain mangrove ecosystems at the local, national or international levels”  (Ms. Ivete Maibaze, Minister of Land and Environment, Government of Mozambique) The Guiding Principles on Sustainable Mangrove Ecosystem Management are designed to provide guidance for national policy decision-makers responsible for conservation, restoration, protection and sustainable management of mangrove ecosystems. They have been endorsed by the following organisations: •   Save Our Mangroves Now! •   The Global Mangrove Alliance •   The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) •   The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) •   WWF •   Wetlands International

The Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA) had a strong presence at New York Climate Week, showcasing the critical role of mangroves in climate action and building momentum ahead of COP30 in Belém. Flagship Event: Turning Collaboration into Impact – The Mangrove Breakthrough Implementation Agenda  The GMA, alongside the Mangrove Breakthrough, convened a flagship session that featured Secretary for Environment and Natural Resources of Mexico, Alicia Bárcena and a diverse group of global leaders. This was a dynamic multi-stakeholder panel that brought together government leaders, financial institutions, private sector and local communities to share commitments and real-world examples of impact. This event showcased progress and momentum behind the Mangrove Breakthrough, building political, financial and technical action toward the COP30 milestone. It also marked the launch of the Regional Readiness Reports, offering clear regional pathways for scaling mangrove action and unlocking finance. Speakers included Alicia Bárcena (Government of Mexico), Ignace Beguin (Mangrove Breakthrough), Irene Kingma (Wetlands International), Pilar Jacobo (WWF Mexico), Karen Sack (ORRAA), Tony Lent (C4C), Kate Schweigart (Rare), Michael Wear (Tidal Moon) and Jen Morris (TNC).   High-Level Roundtable – From New York to Belém: Enhancing Mangrove & Coral Reef Action through Climate Policy  The GMA also participated in a high-level roundtable with governments, agencies, funds and the COP30 Presidency team to highlight the ecological and functional connections between mangroves and coral reefs. Discussions emphasized the role of mangroves and corals in climate resilience. Coral reefs buffer waves and sustain biodiversity offshore, while mangroves stabilize coasts, store carbon and support fisheries. They also dove into the urgency of integrating these ecosystems into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), with countries updating their commitments at COP30 in Brazil. A critical conversation surrounded mobilizing finance and proposing concrete actions to protect and conserve these ecosystems as pillars of food security, livelihoods and coastal protection.  Speakers included Ligia Noronha (UNEP), Marinez Scherer (COP30 Brazil Special Envoy for Oceans), Roger-Mark De Souza (Pew), representatives from the Global Fund for Coral Reefs, ICRI, the High-Level Champions, and the GMA.  Philanthropy Roundtable The round table session hosted by the GMA and the Mangrove Breakthrough Hub on Philanthropy’s Role in Mobilizing the Mangrove Breakthrough was a strong success, drawing representatives from 15 donor organizations. Ignace Beguin and Pieter van Eijk presented an overview of the Breakthrough plans, with a deep dive into the large-scale propositions for transformative action developed by the GMA Chapters in Mexico, Guinea-Bissau and Indonesia. This was followed a dynamic discussion on aligning different funding and finance streams to achieve impact at scale. The thoughtful questions raised will help refine our messaging and open doors to further conversations.

Anelise Zimmer, Pew Charitable Trusts This week mangrove stakeholders from around the world convened at New York Climate Week to drive policy and finance to achieve the ambitious goals of the  Mangrove Breakthrough , a global initiative that seeks to protect and restore 15 million hectares of mangroves worldwide by 2030. As coastal wetlands, mangroves provide countless benefits to society and nature. They enhance coastal resilience in the face of flooding and storms, they sequester and store more “blue” carbon than any other ecosystem (per unit area), and they provide critical habitat for biodiversity, including economically important fish species. Mangroves are one of the most threatened ecosystems on the planet. Deforestation, development, and pollution all threaten mangrove ecosystems, as do climate change impacts, including sea level rise and the increased frequency of intense storms. In fact, more than half of all mangrove ecosystems are at risk of collapse, according to a  recent global assessment by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and more than 250 experts . This means more than 50% of mangrove ecosystems assessed are classified as either Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered by the  IUCN Red List of Ecosystems , a globally recognized standard for the health of nature. Despite that grim news, governments and other stakeholders can reverse the trend of mangrove loss. The  Mangrove Breakthrough  lays out science-based targets and a financial roadmap to secure the future of 15 million hectares of mangroves globally by 2030 by: •    Halting mangrove losses, •    Restoring half of recently lost mangroves, •    Doubling the protection of mangroves globally, and •    Ensuring sustainable long-term financing for all existing mangroves by securing an investmentof $4 billion by 2030 to conserve and revitalize these coastal ecosystems. To date, 29 governments and more than 50 non-state actors have endorsed the Mangrove Breakthrough. Those endorsements must now lead to action. The  “Breaking Silos: Uniting Policy, Finance, and Action for Mangroves”  event on September 23rd hosted by  The Nature Conservancy  at New York Climate Week sought to bridge the gap between policy, finance, and on-the-ground action to catalyze transformative change in mangrove conservation and restoration. Key takeaways from the event: The importance of national policy action and local community buy-in:  Dr.  Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo , Executive Director and CEO of Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency highlighted the importance of communicating national ambition to conserve mangroves within Liberia’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to the Paris Agreement to catalyze policy action and attract investment. Dr. Yarkpawalo also emphasized the importance of engaging local communities on mangrove action with the reminder that “if Liberians protect mangroves, then mangroves will protect Liberians.” Innovative finance solutions:  Jenny McInnes , Global Head of Policy and Partnerships at  HSBC , noted the importance of innovative finance solutions, like blue bonds, that address the root causes of mangrove degradation, such as polluted wastewater runoff, to ensure lasting conservation outcomes. Thoughtful grantmaking:   Emily Averna , Program Officer for Land Restoration at  Bezos Earth Fund , emphasized the importance of funders designing grant programs that support ecologically appropriate and locally led mangrove projects at various scales. To support the success of the Mangrove Breakthrough,  Pew Charitable Trusts , in collaboration with partners from the  Global Mangrove Alliance  and the UNFCCC  High-Level Climate Champions , leads the  Mangrove Breakthrough NDC Task Force . This initiative assists Mangrove Breakthrough governments in transforming their endorsements into ambitious mangrove conservation targets in their revised NDCs, which are due to the UNFCCC in 2025. By providing technical policy and data guidance, the NDC Task Force helps governments enhance their mangrove-climate action through clear, ambitious, and science-based NDC targets. Ambition Loop's Nigel Topping moderated a panel featuring representatives from Liberia, the United Arab Emirates, HSBC, Bezos Earth Fund, and Rare at New York Climate Week. (Photo credit: Ambition Loop

WWF-India has compiled a sweeping study of the rich, yet highly threatened, biodiversity in the world's largest mangrove ecosystem -- the Indian Sundarbans. This novel report is a tool to help balance the human and ecological needs of this spectacular ecosystem. The Sundarbans forest is the planet’s largest mangrove forest ecosystem. It straddles the border between India and Bangladesh, spreading over 10,000 square kilometers along the Bay of Bengal. Threatened and endangered wildlife – like the Bengal tiger, Irrawady river dolphin, finless porpoise, and estuarine crocodile – live here. It is also a nursery for 90% of the aquatic species on the East coast of India and serves as a bio-shield for the fierce waves and winds of coastal storms. And now we have a better understanding of biodiversity in the region. A  new report from WWF-India, with support from the World Bank, reveals how important the ecosystem is for South Asia’s fantastic biodiversity. The report’s comprehensive baseline of biodiversity in the Indian Sundarbans is the first of its kind and provides a critical evaluation of the current state of biodiversity in the area. Like the mighty rivers that meet in the Sundarbans, the area is also a confluence of many pressing environmental threats: population growth, habitat destruction, and climate change. Rising sea levels and expanding human communities press in on the Sundarbans from all sides, threatening the future of the forest’s biodiversity and ecological services. Amidst these pressures, however, there are major opportunities for sustainable development that incorporate healthy mangrove and delta ecosystems. State of the Art Report on Biodiversity in Indian Sundarbans combines its detailed biological assessment with a set of policy recommendations and can serve as a tool for decision-makers in the governments of India, West Bengal, and the People’s Republic of Bangladesh to identify and prioritize options for addressing these threats and securing the future of the Sundarbans. For more information, please contact Vinod Malayilethu . This post originally appeared on the WWF-India website.