Member Spotlight BEDS joined the Global Mangrove Alliance in early 2020 and is dedicated to solving problems that impact both people and the environment in Bangladesh. The non-profit NGO was founded in 2010 with the vision to “promote ecological balance and create harmony between humans and their environment.” They have eight areas of focus including Environment and Ecosystem, Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation, and Wildlife Conservation and Protection and have recently completed a Communication, Education, Participation and Awareness-raising (CEPA) program, the details of which are available in the PDF linked below. BEDS works extensively with communities that live within and alongside the Sundarbans forest, which is one of the largest mangrove forests in the world and contains a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of BEDS’ current, ongoing, projects involves working with locals to provide fresh drinking water, sustainable farming, and more efficient cooking stoves. Supplying these resources reduces human pressure on mangroves and educates the community on the value of the ecosystem. More detail on the Sunderbans Mangrove Biodiversity Conservation Education project is available from the BEDS website here . BEDS also produces educational publications for local communities and youth that builds a greater connection and understanding with their local mangroves. Regular updates on BEDS’ projects can be found on their facebook page .   BEDS Experts: Md. Maksudur Rahman Saumitro Chakrabarti   Contact: info@bedsbd.org chief@bedsbd.org saumitrobedsbd@gmail.com

Researchers find that 13% of all marine megafauna are connected to coastal wetlands. Mangroves are bursting with biodiversity; it’s well known that their matrix of roots are one of the great nurseries of the sea, and their branches teem with birds, reptiles, insects, crabs, and mollusks. But it doesn’t stop there. A new study from The Global Wetlands Project reveals important connections between coastal wetlands and marine megafauna. Marine megafauna are some of the ocean’s most iconic large creatures: sea turtles, manatees, dolphins, seals, and sharks. While we typically don’t associate these animals with coastal wetlands, the study shows that these habitats play a role in some of their most significant life processes. Researchers examined how marine megafauna rely on coastal wetlands for shelter, grazing, foraging and hunting, and breeding. For example, mangrove fruits have been found in sea turtle stomach samples and juvenile lemon sharks congregate in the safety of mangrove-fringed lagoons. Many species rely on prey that has spent some portion of its life cycle in coastal wetlands, as identified by isotopic analyses. In total, researchers found that 13% of all marine megafauna are connected to coastal wetlands, and brought the total number of wetland-associated marine megafauna to 174, an increase of 59% from what was previously known. The results indicate that these marine habitats are important in supporting and sustaining megafauna populations. They also pointed to the valuable functions that megafauna perform for coastal wetlands – in other words, it’s a mutual relationship. They link aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems by transporting nutrients across boundaries, from the deep waters to the shallow, and species with large ranges or that migrate can disperse nutrients and plant propagules across wide areas. When herbivores graze and predators hunt, they keep each other and the wetland vegetation in balance, optimizing a wetland’s ability to store blue carbon. To protect marine megafauna, the coastal wetlands they depend upon must be protected too. This means including them in species assessments and conservation planning. It is particularly important for threatened species, like dugongs, sea turtles, and river dolphins. A future for mangroves means a future for some of our most emblematic and important marine animals.

Scientists highlight blue carbon, mangrove restoration as nature-based solutions. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate  finds that the ocean is experiencing dramatic change, and mangroves are both at-risk and part of the solution. According to the panel of more than 100 scientists from more than 30 countries: “ Coastal ecosystems are affected by ocean warming , including intensified marine heatwaves, acidification, loss of oxygen, salinity intrusion and sea level rise, in combination with adverse effects from human activities on ocean and land (high confidence). Impacts are already observed on habitat area and biodiversity, as well as ecosystem functioning and services (high confidence)” “ Changes in the ocean have impacted marine ecosystems and ecosystem services with regionally diverse outcomes , challenging their governance (high confidence). Both positive and negative impacts result for food security through fisheries (medium confidence), local cultures and livelihoods (medium confidence), and tourism and recreation (medium confidence). The impacts on ecosystem services have negative consequences for health and well-being (medium confidence), and for Indigenous peoples and local communities dependent on fisheries (high confidence)” Clams fisherman in the mangroves in Isla Escalante, Ecuador. © Antonio Busiello / WWF-US “ Coastal communities are exposed to multiple climate-related hazards , including tropical cyclones, extreme sea levels and flooding, marine heatwaves, sea ice loss, and permafrost thaw (high confidence). A diversity of responses has been implemented worldwide, mostly after extreme events, but also some in anticipation of future sea level rise, e.g., in the case of large infrastructure” “A decrease in global biomass of marine animal communities, their production, and fisheries catch potential, and a shift in species composition are projected over the 21st century in ocean ecosystems from the surface to the deep seafloor under all emission scenarios (medium confidence).” “ Risks of severe impacts on biodiversity, structure and function of coastal ecosystems are projected to be higher for elevated temperatures under high compared to low emissions scenarios in the 21st century and beyond . Projected ecosystem responses include losses of species habitat and diversity, and degradation of ecosystem functions. The capacity of organisms and ecosystems to adjust and adapt is higher at lower emissions scenarios (high confidence). For sensitive ecosystems such as seagrass meadows and kelp forests, high risks are projected if global warming exceeds 2°C above pre-industrial temperature, combined with other climate-related hazards (high confidence). Warm water corals are at high risk already and are projected to transition to very high risk even if global warming is limited to 1.5°C (very high confidence).” T he report also outlines how the world can respond to the findings. “ The far-reaching services and options provided by ocean and cryosphere-related ecosystems can be supported by protection, restoration, precautionary ecosystem-based management of renewable resource use, and the reduction of pollution and other stressors (high confidence). Integrated water management (medium confidence) and ecosystem-based adaptation (high confidence) approaches lower climate risks locally and provide multiple societal benefits. However, ecological, financial, institutional and governance constraints for such actions exist (high confidence), and in many contexts ecosystem-based adaptation will only be effective under the lowest levels of warming (high confidence).” “Key enablers for implementing effective responses to climate-related changes in the ocean and cryosphere include intensifying cooperation and coordination among governing authorities across spatial scales and planning horizons. Education and climate literacy, monitoring and forecasting, use of all available knowledge sources, sharing of data, information and knowledge, finance, addressing social vulnerability and equity, and institutional support are also essential. Such investments enable capacity- building, social learning, and participation in context-specific adaptation, as well as the negotiation of trade-offs and realisation of co-benefits in reducing short-term risks and building long-term resilience and sustainability. (high confidence)” Access the complete Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate here .

Mangrove ecosystems are threatened by the impacts of rising temperatures but are also a powerful tool in mitigating warming and disasters, experts say. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a report on October 7 detailing the global impacts of rising temperatures and urging accelerated efforts to meet the Paris Climate Agreement goal of limiting warming to 1.5°C. It encourages the development of large-scale “negative emissions” systems to sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. While the basic technologies for this are still developing, IPCC experts highlight the role of nature – particularly mangroves – in helping to meet this goal while providing a suite of other ecosystem services that are vital for communities adapting to a changing climate reality. Carbon Storage Mangrove forests are one of the most impactful carbon-trapping ecosystems, outpacing even tropical rain forests. They are effective at locking away vast amounts of “blue carbon” and the IPCC report encourages the protection of coastal vegetative ecosystems as part of integrated coastal resource management. But more potent than their sequestration powers is how their destruction would actually contribute to global warming. Mangrove loss releases ancient carbon and methane that was stored in the waterlogged peat beneath the forest. Preventing deforestation in these ecosystems is a bigger climate win than in many other places. Coastal Adaptation The IPCC report encourages integrated coastal zone management that recognizes the importance and economic expediency of using natural ecosystems such as mangroves to protect coastal communities. In some cases, restoration of coastal habitats and ecosystems can be a cost-effective way of responding to challenges from rising sea levels, intensifying storms, coastal inundation, and salinization. Mangrove protection and restoration are ecosystem-based adaptation measures that reduce the risk of warming-induced coastal disasters. When incorporating mangroves in community protection the report underlines that considerations must be made to allow mangroves to adapt to changing tides. They must be able to shift inland as sea levels rise, or else they can face “coastal squeeze” where they are trapped between changing ocean conditions and coastal infrastructure. Local watersheds must also maintain sediment supply that enable mangroves to make this shoreward move. Threats to Mangroves These adaptations do have their limits, however. The report states that current ecosystem services from the ocean will be reduced at 1.5ºC, with losses being greater at 2ºC. Rising sea levels, increasingly damaging tropical storms, and temperature extremes threaten mangroves. Secondary effects from community responses to climate change — including changing agriculture systems, reduced freshwater runoff, and deforestation — are also potential risks.

Identifying where mangroves provide the most protection benefits to people and property. Using approaches from engineering and insurance sectors to quantify the protection benefits of mangroves TNC scientists and partners at the  Environmental Hydraulics Institute IH Cantabria  have produced a ranking of countries that receive the greatest risk reduction benefits from mangroves, relative to their vulnerability. The Global Value of Mangroves for Risk Reduction – available in both a Summary Report and a Technical Report – uses rigorous hydrodynamic and economic models to value the coastal flood protection services of mangroves globally, and then identifies the places where mangroves provide the most benefits to people and property. This work applies an approach that is commonly used in engineering and insurance sectors, and quantifies protection benefits of mangroves as the amount of flood damages avoided because of the presence of mangroves. Mangroves prevent erosion and reduce the force of waves, storm surge and flooding. These results demonstrate that mangrove conservation and restoration can be an important part of the solution for reducing risks to coastal communities. Here are some of the key findings from this work: Mangroves reduce annual flooding to more than 18 million people Without mangroves 39% more people would be flooded annually, and flood damages would increase by more than 16% and US $82 billion annually Vietnam, India, Bangladesh, China, and the Philippines receive the greatest benefits from mangroves in terms of avoided flooding of people China, USA, India, Mexico, and Vietnam receive the greatest benefits in annual flood damages to property The countries that receive the greatest overall risk reduction benefits from mangroves are Guinea, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone, and Madagascar. By providing ranked value of the protection benefits provided by mangroves globally, this work enables mangroves to be better managed as natural coastal infrastructure within policy and management decisions worldwide. This map shows where mangroves provide the greatest flood reduction benefits for property. The values represent the difference in annual expected damages in US $ millions with and without mangroves per 100 km of coast. Original story from The Nature Conservancy Coastal Resilience

On March 1 the United Nations General Assembly approved a massive global target for the next decade: restore the world’s deforested and degraded ecosystems. Worldwide there are more than 2 billion hectares that could potentially be restored. This could support and improve the wellbeing of 3.2 billion people. Priority ecosystems include wetlands and aquatic ecosystems like mangroves, which are disappearing faster than terrestrial ecosystems. This “Decade on Ecosystem Restoration” emphasizes scaling-up restoration activities to increase the larger impact on severely degraded areas. The goal has the potential to raise political will and unlock funding for restoration work in many countries, while increasing awareness within the public about the importance of restoration in combating climate change, biodiversity loss, and human wellbeing and livelihoods. It builds on commitments in existing goals, like the Bonn Challenge, which aims to restore 350 million hectares of ecosystems by 2030. Implementation of the Decade will be led by UN Environment and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN. Read more from the Global Landscapes Forum.

“Restoring mangroves is restoring solidarity between communities” “ Come and replant !” This was the message that villagers from Manambolo Tsiribihina’s deltas heard repeatedly on local radio stations early in the year. The message, sent by the presidents of several local communities, called upon citizens to join the efforts of the 2018 mangrove restoration campaign. And the plea was well received. Nearly 1,500 people joined throughout the campaign that ended in May, during which a total of 267,418 seedlings were planted in the Melaky and Menabe regions. The village of Andapotaly alone planted nearly 36,000 seedlings. Zezely Andriarimalala is the president of FIVOI , a network of nine community organizations in the Tsiribihina Delta. To him, “restoring mangroves also help to restore solidarity between villages and communities.” He cites this example: “When the village of Andapotaly launched restoration in its area, communities from surrounding villages joined them spontaneously. With the villages of Mavohatoky and Antanandahy, they planted their 36,000 mangrove plants. The next day, they planted nearly 27,000 propagules in Mavohatoky together.” Preparation of mangrove propagules before they are planted. © WWF Madagascar / Rindra Randriamanga “Our mangrove forests are the reason why tourists come to see our village,” says Justin Rakotomanahira, president the Kivalo community. Justin and his neighbors managed to plant no less than 17,500 propagules. “Our mangroves are home to birds, lemurs and fish; it makes sense that we work hard to multiply them,” he said. “We produce a honey of very good quality. And it is mangrove honey! This is one of the many reasons that motivates us in the restoration,” says Saïd Jacquit, president of the Kaday communities. For the communities of Tsiribihina Delta, the message is clear: alone they are doing well, but together they can accomplish more! Youth from the village of Ampatoky © WWF Madagascar / Prisca Zandry Original article from WWF-Madagascar.

Mangroves feed the world. October 16 is World Food Day , an opportunity to appreciate the often overlooked systems that bring food to our tables each day. Mangroves are one of the breadbaskets — or fish baskets — of the coast. They are integral to many fisheries, but also support the production of fruit, honey, flour, oils, and fuel to cook food. With 60% of the world’s population living on coastlines, mangroves underpin local nutrition while also feeding the global community.   Fish Mangroves are important to fisheries on both local and global scales. They are described as a “nursery” because their tangled roots block large predators and provide shelter and food in the form of trapped organic matter and nutrients for young fish. Mangroves are utilized by coastal fish and some pelagic and reef fish. Commercially-valuable species include shad, anchovy, mangrove red snapper, catfish, tilapia, and barramundi. There are also many locally-valuable species that sustain small-scale fisheries and villages. Protecting mangroves also boosts the productivity of regional fisheries, both in the form of population growth and prey sources. Shellfish  Mangroves support a pantry-full of shellfish. This includes shrimp, crabs, gastropods like snails and giant mangrove whelks, and bivalves like oysters and clams. These play a vital role in the diets and livelihoods of local communities and are also sold at internationally. Other products All mangrove trees and shrubs produce flowers, many of which develop into fruits. Some of these fruits are edible.  Sonneratia caseolaris, also known as the crabapple mangrove, yields a green fruit that is persimmon-like in appearance. It is used in different dishes in Sri Lanka and Maldives. Mangrove fruits and seeds can be consumed directly or processed into cooking oils and flour. Mangrove flowers also attract bees, which convert the flower nectar into honey. Honey can be harvested wild or local people can practice beekeeping. The honey can be consumed directly within the community or sold regionally and internationally, providing sustainable livelihoods. Mangrove wood is harvested in some areas to produce charcoal and fuel-wood for cooking. It is possible for this traditional practice to be done at a sustainable level, although overexploitation is common.   Food Fight Coastal land is highly valuable, and mangroves come into competition with other forms of food production. They are deforested for shrimp aquaculture, rice, palm oil, and coconut plantations. This demand must be balanced with the conservation and sustainable use of mangrove forests, for the health of the local communities and the coasts.

The most detailed study to date of carbon storage in the soils of mangrove forests shows the high-resolution impacts of these ecosystems. A new study of carbon sequestration in mangrove forests declares that these coastal soils store more than 6.4 billion tons of blue carbon globally. According to researchers, this is about 4.5 times the amount of carbon emitted by the U.S. economy in one year. The high-resolution remote sensing data also indicated that destruction and degradation of mangrove forests resulted in upwards of 122 million tons of carbon released from 2000 to 2015. A map from the study showing carbon storage in 2000 for the upper meter of soil. View full map here . (source: Woods Hole Research Center) “Protecting, enhancing and restoring natural carbon sinks must become political priorities,” said Dr. Jonathan Sanderman of the Woods Hole Research Center , who was the lead author on the paper. “Mangrove forests can play an important role in carbon removals because they are among the most carbon-dense ecosystems in the world, and if kept undisturbed, mangrove forest soils act as long-term carbon sinks.” The research was completed at the Woods Hole Research Center in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy. You can read more here .

Global Mangrove Alliance marks World Mangrove Day 2017 The world is losing its mangrove forests at an alarming rate. Scientists estimate that 50 percent of our mangroves have disappeared during the last five decades. And every year we lose roughly another 1 percent. At this rate all unprotected mangroves could disappear in the next century. The Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA) is rallying the world around a target of increasing mangrove coverage by 20 percent over current extent by 2030. It’s an ambitious goal – one that requires collaboration among partners from all sectors in every corner of the world with mangroves. We’re doing our part to increase that collaboration. Today, as the world celebrates the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, we are proud to announce that the GMA is growing. The International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ) officially joins Conservation International ( CI ), The Nature Conservancy ( TNC ), and World Widlife Fund ( WWF ) as a founding member. We also welcome  Wetlands International ,  Rare ,  Blue Ventures , Zoological Society of London ( ZSL ), and the  Mangrove Action Project . All of these organizations bring new talent, insight, resources, and expertise to the table, which will be needed if we’re to meet our target. “Despite the gains made in recent years, we know that we must urgently step up our game if we are to reverse a rate of global destruction that has already deleted half of our planet’s mangroves. Ultimately, this will mean organisations working together. This is why IUCN is delighted and deeply proud to be part of the Global Mangrove Alliance – an alliance that represents a renewed spirit of collaboration and one that will help the international community achieve our target to expand mangrove habitat by 20% by 2030,” said Inger Andersen, IUCN Director General. © Conservation International/ photo by Sarah Hoyt IUCN has an extensive portfolio of global mangrove work and a history of engaging governments, civil society organizations, experts, and local communities to enable the creation and implementation of solutions to a wide range of environmental challenges. Notably, IUCN comes to the GMA with experience in developing and co-chairing  Mangroves For the Future , a partner-led initiative in Asia and the Pacific that promotes coastal ecosystem conservation in 11 member countries at present. IUCN has been driving the restoration movement through the  Bonn Challenge , a global effort to bring 150 million hectares of degraded and deforested landscapes (including mangroves) into restoration by 2020 and 350 million hectares by 2030. Currently, 44 governments, private associations and organisations have committed 156.05 million hectares to the Bonn Challenge. The need for collaboration and new partnerships is increasingly urgent as human activity continues to  destroy mangroves , while the countless communities protected by these forests face ever-growing threats due to  climate change , coastal migration, and unsustainable development and fishing practices. “Wetlands International has been working for decades with communities, government partners, CSOs and the private sector on the conservation of mangroves across the tropics. By joining the Global Mangrove Alliance, we believe we are able to step up these efforts and work with CI, IUCN, TNC, WWF and many others to stop the degradation of mangroves and bring back some of the values that were lost,” said  Jane Madgwick, CEO Wetlands International. Although mangroves are in the spotlight for today’s celebrations, it will take more than an annual event to save them. To protect the lives and economic security of the millions who rely on mangroves for coastal protection, food, jobs, and carbon storage, we must continue to work together to address the threats to mangrove forests and enable governments and communities to sustainably manage these precious coastal ecosystems. Join the Global Mangrove Alliance and help us realize a target of restoring 20 percent of mangrove cover by 2030. The Global Mangrove Alliance thanks  BMZ  for their support for the GMA website and their commitment to the overall GMA target.

Global Mangrove Watch User Story In the lush, coastal landscape of Lamu, the unique practice of selective mangrove harvesting has posed a significant challenge: identifying and addressing illegally degraded mangrove areas.  60% of Kenya’s mangroves are found in the Lamu-Tana region . These mangroves contribute nearly USD 85 million per year to the national economy and sustain the livelihoods of about 800,000 artisanal coastal fishermen. Kenya’s mangroves store up 3% of the country’s total fossil fuel emissions each year. Mangroves in Lamu @Wetlands International East Africa Lamu county, unlike any other in Kenya, grants local communities the right to harvest mangroves for income through structured licensing from the Kenya Forest Service (KFS). Despite the existence of these regulations, illegal harvesting still occurs. Without proper monitoring, these illegal activities can go unchecked. To combat this, the KFS established a national forest alert system, that sends bi-weekly updates on mangrove disturbances in protected areas. However, verifying these alerts (i.e. differentiating legal from illegal harvesting), especially in dense mangrove regions, is tricky without on-the-ground confirmation. This is where the  Global Mangrove Watch  (GMW) platform steps in, offering a game-change solution. With its high-resolution planetary imagery, GMW offers a detailed view of mangrove changes, allowing forest managers to scrutinize alerts before sending patrols to investigate potential instances of illegal harvesting. Furthermore, the new  mangrove alerts functionality  now provides  disturbance alerts , enabling detection and verification of changes in mangrove cover in near-real time. Changes in mangrove covers as seen through Global Mangrove Watch In addition to this, Wetlands International supported KFS in setting up a first-of-its-kind alert command center. This center will benefit from the monthly GMW alerts, supplementing the national alert system and ensuring a more comprehensive monitoring approach. The goal is to reduce patrol costs by verifying alerts before dispatching teams to the field. With the success of this alert system, KFS will look to replicate and upscale this in the five coastal counties with mangroves. Because of this innovative collaboration, Lamu’s mangrove ecosystems now stand a better chance of being preserved and sustainably managed, safeguarding both the environment and the livelihoods of the local communities who depend on these vital forests. “The collaboration between Kenya Forest Service’s national forest alert system and Global Mangrove Watch’s mangrove alerts will reduce costs and improve verification of mangrove loss.”  Dr Benjamin Kinyili, ACTG Manager, Forest Survey and Information Management Department Opening of the Lamu Alert Centre. Edmund Kuto, Wetlands International East Africa This work is implemented by Wetlands International, with support from WWF and IUCN (Mangrove Capital Africa and Save Our Mangroves Now projects)  .

As global attention on mangrove restoration grows, adopting effective, science-based approaches is essential. Held in Abu Dhabi, this unique three-day international event will connect cutting-edge mangrove science with best practices in conservation and restoration. The goal is to align practitioners, NGOs, governments, scientists, industry, communities, and funders around shared, inclusive standards for mangrove restoration. The conference is being jointly organised by the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Global Mangrove Alliance, the University of St. Andrews, the IUCN Mangrove Specialist Group, the Zoological Society of London, Wetlands International and Emirates-Nature-WWF. The conference is centred around four themes: Restoration Best Practices and Innovation in Restoration and Monitoring Integrated Seascape Approach and Habitat Connectivity Mangroves in the Arabian Peninsula; a Regional Focus Climate Mitigation and Adaptation through Conservation and Restoration Many of GMA’s partners and member organisations will contribute with keynote speeches and parallel workshops to the conference, see the three-day programme agenda on the conference website . As strategic partner, the Global Mangrove Alliance will contribute with several workshops: Global Mangrove Watch and the Mangrove Restoration Tracker Tool 10 December, 15.30-18.00 This workshop will introduce the Global Mangrove Watch and Mangrove Restoration Tracker Tool, provide participants with real-life examples of its use across the world and give hands-on experience on working with the platforms and the data. Data plays a key role in efforts to conserve and restore the world’s rapidly declining mangrove forests. Without easily accessible, up-to-date information on mangrove conditions and threats, it is a challenge for governments, investors and conservation groups to plan effective mangrove conservation and restoration efforts. Global Mangrove Watch provides universal access to near real-time information on the location, extent and status of mangroves across the world, as well as data highlighting why they are valuable. The Mangrove Restoration Tracker Tool (MRTT) is an application to record and track outcomes from mangrove restoration projects. The MRTT will allow decision-makers, practitioners, and site managers to access information essential in making informed, evidence-based decisions on restoration interventions to maximize impact and success. Community-based Ecological Mangrove Restoration and the GMA Best Practice Guidelines 10 & 11 December, 15.30-18.00 With growing interest in large-scale mangrove restoration, understanding what works—and what doesn’t—is more important than ever. The conference will highlight the importance of moving away from mass monoculture mangrove planting towards Community-Based Ecological Mangrove Restoration, built upon the latest scientific insights. This interactive session, hosted by Wetlands International and Mangrove Action Project provides step-by-step project guidance as outlined in the “Best Practice Guidelines for Mangrove Restoration” , developed by the GMA and the BCI. Participants will assess real cases of successful and failed restoration projects, gaining practical knowledge on overcoming challenges like high salinity, aquaculture, and disrupted hydrology. Video series on Effective Mangrove Restoration: Watch all 4 videos, available in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Bahasa on YouTube here . Mangroves and Finance: Strong Roots to Bear Fruits, Identifying Value Drivers Beyond Carbon and Nature 11 December: 15.30-18.00 Recognizing the need to establish a steady pipeline of mangrove-positive businesses capable of leveraging available resources, the Mangrove Breakthrough Financial Taskforce has designed a workshop to support project developers go beyond mangroves when structuring their projects, enabling them to showcase the true value of their initiatives and secure long-term financing. Understanding the critical role financiers play at different stages of this mission, the workshop also equips them to identify and capitalize on opportunities within existing mangrove projects and potential mangrove-positive businesses. Laying the Foundations for a Regional Learning Hub in the Arabian Peninsula 12 December, 15.30-18.00 National and regional stakeholders have been identified as the driving force of the GMA in achieving improved management, conservation and restoration of mangroves at local and national levels. GMA has therefore facilitated the establishment of national / regional chapters across several countries. This workshop will discuss the formation of a Regional Mangrove Learning Hub to address priorities of the Arabian Peninsula: to drive awareness on science-led conservation best practices, enable sharing of knowledge and best practices , and effective policies. The Mangrove Breakthrough 12 December, 18.30-20.00 Closing remarks by the Mangrove Breakthrough: Scaling Best Practices to Deliver Global Action on Mangrove Restoration