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By Irene Kingma, Wetlands International Today is World Wildlife Day, an ideal time to reflect on the interconnectedness of wetland ecosystems and the species they support. Among the most fascinating relationships in nature is the one between mangroves and sharks. You might think sharks are only present in the open ocean where they travel vast distances to hunt their prey. However, when sharks are young, they depend on sheltered coastal habitats to grow up.  Globally, 13% of all marine megafauna use vegetated coastal wetlands, and hundreds of sharks and closely associated ray species depend on vegetated coastal wetlands for vulnerable life stages.  One of the most important services that mangroves provide to sharks and rays is as a nursery. Shark species such as the Blacktip Reef Shark, Bull Shark, Lemon Shark, as well as enigmatic ray species such as guitarfishes and critically endangered sawfishes thrive in mangrove forests in their early stages of life. The shallow, protected waters of mangrove forests, found in tropical and subtropical regions, provide a safe haven for young sharks and other marine life, away from larger predators, offering a place where sharks can develop until they are strong enough to venture into the open ocean.    Bluespotted ribbontail ray in the mangroves, Mission Beach, Australia @ Matt Curnock / Ocean Image Bank Mangroves, as well as seagrass meadows, also serve as feeding grounds, with abundant fish, crustaceans, and other small marine life thriving in these nutrient-rich environments. For young sharks and rays, these abundant food sources are vital for their growth and survival. Without healthy mangrove habitats, many shark populations would struggle to maintain their numbers. This impacts the wider marine ecosystem as sharks play a crucial role in controlling the populations of other species and balancing the marine food web.  The small island of  Bimini in the Bahamas  is probably home to the most studied mangrove system with sharks. Every spring, pregnant lemon shark females arrive at Bimini to give birth to their pups near the mangroves and seagrass beds of the island. The lemon sharks are very attached to their specific place of birth. Research shows that when newborn lemon sharks are displaced from their natural habitat, their so-called  homing behavior  kicks in, and the small sharks find their way back to the exact mangrove area where they were born. This even applies when the sharks are displaced to nearby islands with similar suitable habitats. Even after they grow older and leave the mangroves to explore other places, when it is time to pup themselves, they always come back to the same spot.   Bluespotted ribbontail ray in the mangroves, Mission Beach, Australia @ Matt Curnock / Ocean Image Bank    Mangrove and shark conservation goes hand in hand   The problem is that we’re losing mangroves rapidly. Mangroves are threatened by coastal development, pollution, and climate change. On Bimini, a decline in survival of young lemon sharks has been correlated to developments on the island,  causing a 23% decline in first-year survival of the young sharks . In many coastal areas shark and ray populations are also declining due to unsustainable fishing pressure. As we celebrate Wildlife Day, it’s crucial to remember that protection of mangroves and sharks go hand in hand. By preserving mangrove ecosystems, we can both protect the mangroves and help ensure the survival of sharks and countless other species that depend on them.  Wetlands International works in targeted places where high rates of mangrove loss intersect with threatened megafauna. For Example, the Lamu Archipelago is Kenya has been classified by the IUCN as a vital nursery area for the Blue spotted Lagoon Ray ,  as well as important habitat for the critically endangered Halavi Guitarfish and several other  endangered shark and ray species . We are working in this region with local communities on restoring lost mangrove habitat in our Mangrove Capital Africa program.    As part of Wetlands International’s new global strategy, we will increase our work on swim ways, which are migration pathways for fish and marine animals in which coastal wetlands form a vital stepping stone. Many of our priority landscapes, such as the Lana archipelago mentioned above, provide an essential role in the life of migratory shark species and we will continue prioritize safeguarding them.    Check out below resources for more!  Video from Bimini Shark Lab , explaining mature female lemon sharks returning to Bimini to drop their pups in the mangroves that surround the island.    Important Shark and Ray areas by the IUCN shark specialist group: https://sharkrayareas.org/   This blog was also published on https://www.wetlands.org/blog/mangroves-and-sharks-a-vital-connection-for-world-wildlife-day/ . United Nations World Wildlife Day  (WWD) is celebrated every year on 3 March to celebrate wild animals and plants and recognize the unique roles and contributions of wildlife to people and the planet.  Banner picture: Citrus Serenity @ Olivier Clement / Ocean Image Bank More information: Irene Kingma, Wetlands International Irene.Kingma @ wetlands.org

When you think of mangrove conservation, you might picture muddy roots, winding rivers, and field boots — not satellite dashboards. But for the Indonesia chapter of the Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA), the work to protect these ecosystems starts with pixels and data layers. Together, the organizations involved contribute to scaling mangrove conservation and restoration in Indonesia, the opportunities for which are summarized in the Mobilizing the Mangrove Breakthrough in Indonesia report . Indonesia hosts the largest and most diverse mangrove ecosystem . Spanning 2.95 million hectares, they constitute more than 20% of the world’s remaining mangroves . While some areas are still relatively intact, mangroves in densely populated regions such as Java and Bali have been severely degraded. For a nation of islands, mangroves provide essential services, including coastal protection , carbon sequestration, livelihoods, and support for fisheries and other coastal and marine life, all of which directly contribute to social, economic, and environmental well-being. These ecosystems have historically supported key industries such as fisheries, aquaculture, and tourism. However, more than half of Indonesia’s mangrove forests are already degraded. Conversion of mangrove areas for agriculture and aquaculture, forestry plantations, industrial activities, and urban expansion has come at a considerable ecological cost. Widespread mangrove deforestation and degradation have severely undermined these ecosystems’ ability to provide services, threatening not only their ecological integrity but also the substantial economic and social benefits they offer. 60% of Indonesia’s population lives in coastal areas and it is estimated that mangroves contribute USD 1.5billion annually to the Indonesian economy from fisheries alone, making it critical to conserve and restore these habitats. Fortunately, mangrove rehabilitation is a national priority, and organizations working cooperatively – like the Global Mangrove Alliance – are making significant progress. But effective mangrove protection requires accurate and up-to-date spatial data to prioritize actions and monitor progress. This is where Global Mangrove Watch (GMW) comes in, an online platform that provides the remote sensing data and tools for monitoring mangroves necessary for this. It gives universal access to near real-time information on where and what changes there are to mangroves across the world. Mangrove Watch: near real-time monitoring at everyone’s fingertips For Topik Hidayat , a Blue Carbon Analyst at The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Indonesia: Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara, Global Mangrove Watch has transformed how his team identifies both threats and opportunities. “We analyze mangrove restoration potential and deforestation trends year by year,” he explains. “One of the platform’s tools used extensively for patrols by communities is the Mangrove Loss Alerts. It detects in real time areas that are experiencing significant mangrove losses, and we can verify these alerts on the ground.” Topik’s team has trained local communities in several sites to interpret and act on these alerts, including in Bengkalis (Riau Province), Ogan Komering Ilir (South Sumatra Province), Berau (East Kalimantan Province) and Bangka (Belitung Province). The same data powers national-scale work too. “We also use the blue carbon feature of Global Mangrove Watch for feasibility studies,” Topik adds. “A combination of the various layers in the tool helps us assess which sites have the potential for carbon projects throughout Indonesia.” Aji Nuralam , Technical Officer Rehabilitation at Wetlands International Indonesia , adds: “Right now, we use Global Mangrove Watch mainly for preliminary assessments — to identify where rehabilitation and protection should happen. Then we verify the data using local measurements and community input.” Several Global Mangrove Alliance Indonesia members remember what monitoring used to look like before Global Mangrove Watch. Muhammad Miftahul Bayyan , a Remote Sensing Specialist at TNC Indonesia, recalls the painstaking process: “We used to download satellite data manually from Google Earth Engine and other sources, year by year, and analyze it ourselves. It took a lot of time to draw comparisons to past data. But with Global Mangrove Watch, we can easily see deforestation rates from 1990 to today. It’s so much faster to use this with national data sets to analyze mangrove cover.” Arsen Makomi , a GIS and Data Analyst at Konservasi Indonesia (Conservation International), adds that Global Mangrove Watch made carbon analysis in particular more consistent: “Before, we had to compile mangrove biomass and soil carbon data from different sources. Now, we can use globally consistent datasets. It’s really helpful for monitoring and preliminary studies.” As much as Global Mangrove Watch has empowered their work, Indonesia’s mangrove practitioners have ideas for making it even more effective. Topik hopes for a mobile and offline version that communities can use in the field. “We often combine Global Mangrove Watch with Global Forest Watch, which can be used offline and on a mobile app,” he explains. “If Global Mangrove Watch had that too, it would be very powerful.” Additionally, he and Aji use the Mangrove Restoration Tracker Tool but wish for an improvement in terminology used and for MRTT to regularly track monitoring data. “Right now, the restoration potential layer is quite large-scale,” says Aji. “If we could refine it for site-level use, it would help us plan projects more precisely.” This is important because the Indonesian government is very keen to know which areas have restoration potential. Arsen adds one final wish: “It would be great if more of the data could be downloaded for deeper GIS analysis.” Even as the teams juggle field realities, their shared enthusiasm for Global Mangrove Watch is unmistakable. Together, they’ve learned to blend global datasets with local knowledge — something that’s becoming a hallmark of Indonesia’s approach to mangrove conservation and restoration. Global Mangrove Watch is a model for how data-driven tools can power real-world conservation.

The International Day for the Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems, adopted by UNESCO in 2015, is an important commemorative day, not only to recognize the incredible benefits that mangroves provide wildlife and humanity, but also to learn about the coastal trees and better understand their full value. The  Global Mangrove Alliance  is proud to be connecting knowledge and supporting tools required to integrate mangroves and their ecosystem services into mitigation, adaptation, disaster risk reduction and land-use strategies with community and national leaders. A variety of tools and resources are available in our  Knowledge Hub  and are added to regularly. This mangrove day, take a look through the  Global Mangrove Watch  evidence base, read about The State of the World’s Mangroves– globally  and in the  Western Indian Ocean Region –or look through a variety of  principles and manuals  for restoration and management success. The latest updates from our Alliance are below and you can stay connected with news on  Twitter ,  Facebook , and  LinkedIn  to learn about additional projects, international events, and more. If you are part of an organization that is interested in joining the Alliance and getting advanced knowledge and access to data tools, you can find all the information you need  here . Happy International Day for the Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems! © Jason Houston / WWF-US

Mayors from critical mangrove countries send an urgent message to the international community to prioritize and invest in grassroots efforts to protect and restore mangrove forests. While the global narrative around the value of mangroves has centered on their ability to store carbon, for coastal communities like ours, they represent so much more. These extraordinary ecosystems underpin the livelihoods, food security, cultural practices, and climate resilience of millions across the globe. For us, mangroves and associated coastal ecosystems serve as our first line of defense against climate hazards and rising seas, shielding our communities from increasingly powerful and frequent hurricanes and typhoons and protecting us against coastal erosion. They serve as nurseries and habitats for diverse creatures, from crabs to oysters, being critical sources of food and protein for our people and income for our fishers and harvesters. They fuel our local economies, bringing revenue and jobs through tourism, fisheries, and businesses. For us, mangroves and coastal ecosystems are our lifeline, and we must protect them.  Despite their proven value, mangrove protection and restoration remain underfunded and underleveraged. Mayor Alfredo Coro II, Del Carmen, Philippines “When super typhoon Odette (Intl: Rai) and the pandemic struck our municipality in 2021, our efforts for a decade of rehabilitating and preserving our mangrove ecosystems allowed us to prepare for a four-hour super storm, provided a stable food source and the inspiration to be resilient. This led to minimal loss of lives and property and a strong sense of hope. In protecting our mangrove forest, the mangroves protected us back.” Mayor Alfredo Coro II, Del Carmen, Philippines  Mayor Hamilton Brito, Curuçá, Pará, Brazil “Brazil has the largest continuous belt of mangroves in the world — and they sustain our lives, our economy and our culture. We increasingly need partnerships and alternative financing to protect the mangroves and ensure the future of our communities.” Mayor Hamilton Brito, Curuçá, Pará, Brazil As local leaders and members of Coastal 500 we urge the global community to invest in local action that safeguards mangroves and unlocks their immense potential. The tropical, highly biodiverse coastal communities we represent are some of the most climate-vulnerable on the planet, and many are small, rural, poor, and heavily reliant on nature for their livelihoods, food security, and wellbeing. Our countries have some of the highest mangrove coverage on the planet, including Indonesia, Brazil, the Philippines & Mozambique. Mayor Juan Ramon Manaiza, Limón, Honduras “Coastal 500 brings local leaders together to learn from and inspire one another. What we’ve learned from leaders in the Philippines triggered a movement for coastal protection in Honduras. And Honduras now hopes to do the same for others. This network has demonstrated the impact of collective action in safeguarding our future.” Mayor Juan Ramon Manaiza, Limón, Honduras Call to Action We urge the international community, governments, businesses, and philanthropic organizations to prioritize grassroots and bottom-up efforts in protecting and restoring our mangrove forests.    Local leaders are critical changemakers and environmental stewards. Global and national marine conservation and climate targets will never be met without our engagement, commitment and action. Financing must reach frontline communities and local governments, efforts must actively include local communities in the design and implementation of mangrove projects, and access to knowledge, data and best practices must be made accessible to strengthen local adaptation capacity.     We’re already witnessing the power of this approach in our own communities.     In Brazil, Amazonian municipalities are working with local community groups to protect mangroves and ensure communities capture wealth from mangrove-positive bioeconomy businesses.  In the Philippines, locally led efforts to protect and sustainably use mangrove forests and coastal waters are sustaining livelihoods for 1.9 million fishers, while shielding hundreds of frontline communities from the impacts of worsening storms.  In Honduras, mangrove-rich municipalities are leading collaborative projects to restore mangrove forests across their wetlands, helping protect at least 45% of finfish catches for fishers in the area.   We need more efforts like these across the globe.  We celebrate global policymakers convening around The Mangrove Breakthrough and the initiative’s bold plan to mobilize $4 billion to protect and restore 15 million hectares of mangroves by 2030. We welcome the guiding principles of the Breakthrough on empowering people and working in local contexts with best information and practices, as we know this is critical to success.      By bridging global policy ambitions with on-the-ground action, we can leverage mangroves as the gifts they are. Let us act boldly, and locally, to protect them—for our planet, our people, and our future.    Authored by Mayor Alfredo Coro II, Mayor Hamilton Brito and Mayor Juan Ramon Manaiza on behalf of the Coastal 500 network. Learn more about Coastal 500 .    Alfredo Coro II has served as the Mayor of Del Carmen, Siargao Islands, in Philippines since 2010, leading transformative efforts to restore its mangrove forests and earning recognition on the UN Ramsar List. His work has resulted in improvements in health service delivery, education, sustainable fisheries management, community-based tourism development, and enhanced resilience. He is an active advocate for ocean conservation on local, national, and global platforms. Mayor Coro could speak to how his municipality has successfully leveraged mangrove restoration and marine protection as a nature-based solution for coastal resilience and climate adaptation. Under his leadership, Del Carmen’s mangrove forests have become globally recognized for their ecological and economic impact, protecting communities from storm surges while supporting sustainable livelihoods    Hamilton Brito has been the Mayor of Curuçá, Pará, Brazil since January 2025, leading initiatives to protect and restore the region’s unique coastal and mangrove ecosystems. Curuçá, nestled in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon coast, is part of the world’s largest continuous mangrove belt and supports traditional livelihoods such as fishing, agriculture, and extractive activities. Mayor Brito’s administration is part of the shared management of the RESEX (Extractive Reserve) and contributed to the development of the reserve’s Management Plan, and the municipality is also home to the largest oyster production in the state. Brito has also prioritized the local economy of rural and coastal workers—especially artisanal fishermen—through investments in public infrastructure, awareness campaigns, and fish fairs. His administration has bolstered mangrove restoration efforts and launched Curuçá’s first Municipal Coastal Management Policy to strengthen long-term climate resilience.     Juan Ramon Manaiza has served as Mayor of Limón, Honduras since 2022, championing sustainable coastal governance and social development. He has made significant strides in improving local infrastructure, education, and healthcare, while also advancing marine protection for the region’s coastal waters. Afro-Honduran small-scale fishers in Limon have long struggled with the impacts of industrial bottom trawling, threatening their food security and livelihoods. Through Mayor Manaiza Tovar’s leadership, community-led protection of these waters has gained traction, resulting in the establishment of new marine reserves, more sustainable use, and better outcomes for fishers, included strengthened food security. His administration continues to prioritize inclusive, sustainable ocean management to support both environmental recovery and the prosperity of coastal communities.   Coastal 500 members in the Philippines pledge to sustain & support coastal communities in their municipalities. (From left to right) Vice Mayor Dodong Dolar of Santa Monica, Mayor Alfredo Coro Jr of Del Carmen, Mayor Gina Menil of San Benito, Mayor Angie Arcena of Burgos, Mayor Liza Ressurreccion of Pilar, Vice Mayor Gerry Abejo of Dapa, Municipal Legislator Rolando S. Bagaipo of San Isidro, Councilor Bingle Silvosa of General Luna. Location: Siargao, Philippines. Photo Credit: Rare.

Combinando iniciativas locales y nacionales para incrementar la eficiencia en la ecorregión. Desarrollo de una estrategia para la conservación y el manejo de los manglares en la ecorregión del Sistema Arrecifal Mesoamericano. Un enfoque participativo dirigido por MAR Fund y el Instituto Smithsonian. Escrito por María José González (MAR Fund) y Steven Canty (Instituto Smithsonian) summary in English. La “Estrategia Regional de Manejo, Conservación, Restauración y Monitoreo de Manglares en el Arrecife Mesoamericano. 2020-2025” es una plataforma de referencia para las acciones compartidas en los cuatro países que integran la ecorregión del Sistema Arrecifal Mesoamericano (SAM), México, Belice, Guatemala y Honduras. Estas acciones, coordinadas y acordadas entre diferentes actores claves de la región, permitirán alcanzar metas de conservación realistas y efectivas. Un marco estratégico de trabajo promueve las acciones coordinadas y colaborativas en la ecorregión del SAM. Los objetivos específicos de la estrategia son los siguientes: “ Manejar, conservar, restaurar y monitorear el ecosistema manglar en la ecorregión del SAM”. “Promover medios de vida sostenibles que reduzcan la presión sobre el ecosistema manglar”. © María José Gonzalez / MAR Fund “Promover la implementación efectiva de los marcos legales que protejan el ecosistema manglar por medio del fortalecimiento institucional y de actores claves ”. “ Fortalecer la gobernanza y la participación efectiva de todos los sectores que están vinculados con el ecosistema manglar en la ecorregión del SAM”. “Desarrollar un sistema de manejo de conocimiento, monitoreo y vigilancia del ecosistema manglar que alimente los procesos de toma de decisiones de los actores en la región”. “Asegurar los recursos financieros para la implementación de la estrategia, que incluyan los instrumentos que promuevan la equidad y la multiculturalidad en la ecorregión del SAM”. La estrategia está disponible en inglés y en español .

How the Global Environment Facility will set the stage for a serious discussion on mangroves and how these ecosystems can advance SDG 14 Mangroves have a vital role to play in keeping people fed, safe and employed. These forests on the edge of the ocean are also contributors to mitigating the impacts of climate change. A recent poll of leaders from developing countries ranked the UN Sustainable Development Goal on oceans as the lowest priority of all 17 goals, even though SDG 14 has the highest number of voluntary  commitments. Given the prominent role of healthy mangrove ecosystems around the world, it will take action from industry, governments and other institutions. The sixth assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in Da Nang, Vietnam provides a moment when all of these actors have a chance to see how mangroves are an integral part of a “  rescue package for the ocean… from decline to recovery.” “Mangroves are perhaps the most important ecosystem on the plant,” said Dr. Jennifer Howard, Conservation International’s marine climate director. “They provide unparalleled ecosystem services related to climate mitigation, adaptation, sustainable source of healthy protein, and livelihoods just to name a few. Conserving and restoring them is critical for human well-being.” GEF serves as a unique partnership of 18 agencies, working with 183 countries to address the world’s most challenging environmental issues. It also acts as a financial mechanism for five major international environmental conventions; it has provided over $20 billion in grants and mobilized an additional $88 billion in financing for more than 4,000 projects in 170 countries. Finally, GEF remains an innovator and catalyst that supports multi-stakeholder alliances to preserve threated ecosystems, such as the GMA. © WWF-US / James Morgan The GMA will host a side event at the GEF assembly, Tuesday, June 26th, in the form of a panel discussion, to help make the case for increasing coordination, financing, and action on mangroves. Lauren Spurrier , lead organizer for the event, elaborates, “National governments have a lead role to play in zeroing in on solutions that bring the role of mangroves to the forefront, and in helping to identify gaps and opportunities in funding and technical support. National governments also provide fundamental leadership on mangrove conservation and restoration at a local, national and regional level.” The GMA is working to shift priorities at the regional, national, and international levels to include mangroves The audience will be polled before and after the session to determine changed understanding and attitudes towards the threats and challenges that mangroves face, as well as how they are and should be prioritized. This ki nd of conversation on a global stage is necessary for the targets for SDG 14 to be realized , speci fically: 14.2 By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans. 14.5 By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information. Though mangroves aren’t mentioned by name in either the SDG 14 targets nor its indicators, it is clear to those in the conservation space that without serious and focused efforts to salvage these ecosystems, many other SDGs- such as zero hunger, sustainable cities and communities, and no poverty- will never be able to reach their targets. The GMA is working to shift priorities at the regional, national, and international levels to include mangroves in stakeholder policies to deliver on the SDGs and via their own indicators. The event with GEF is an important first step.

Key Recommendations to Drive Global Mangrove Action The 1st International Mangrove Conservation and Restoration Conference (IMCRC), held in Abu Dhabi in December 2024, has released a landmark Outcome Document outlining key global recommendations to accelerate best practice mangrove conservation and restoration. The conference brought together 300 experts from 82 countries, spanning government, academia, civil society, and the private sector. The IMCRC Outcome Report calls for urgent, science based action across three priority areas: Scaling up Restoration Best Practices and Innovation in Restoration Monitoring Enhancing Climate Resilience and Disaster Risk Reduction Scaling Innovation and Strengthening Governance The urgency is clear: the speed of mangrove loss has declined in recent years, but substantial areas are still being converted and climate change will continue to impact coasts and communities, and we stand at a turning point. Yet, the opportunity is equally immense. Leading scientists at the IMCRC conference highlighted that over 800,000 hectares of mangroves are available for restoration globally, including 160,000 hectares of disused aquaculture ponds in Southeast Asia alone, of which at least 100,000 hectares are potentially restorable. Research has provided us with the information to achieve this ambition, from understanding the root causes of loss and degradation to setting clear goals, selecting the right approaches, and implementing long-term monitoring. However, critical gaps remain—including inadequate community involvement, land tenure complexities, misguided restoration targets and interventions, and insufficient funding mechanisms. The discussions over the three days reinforced a crucial truth: mangrove restoration is not just about planting trees—it is about restoring entire ecosystems and the services they provide to people and nature. To ensure long-term success, restoration efforts should follow best-practice principles such as Ecological Mangrove Restoration (EMR) —focusing on restoring natural conditions rather than defaulting to mass planting initiatives in inappropriate locations to achieve scale. Mangrove conservation and restoration is also not just about locking away carbon—it is critical to sustain resilient coastal communities in an uncertain future. Success depends on integrating science, implementation, and people, ensuring restoration efforts are socially just, ecologically sound, and financially sustainable. This document reflects the outcomes of the IMCRC conference and our collective commitment to advancing global mangrove conservation and restoration efforts in alignment with the objectives of the  Mangrove Breakthrough ,  The Abu Dhabi Mangrove Initiative  and  The Global Mangrove Alliance . The IMCRC was hosted by the UAE under the leadership of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi in partnership with The Global Mangrove Alliance, the IUCN Mangrove Specialist Group, ZSL, Wetlands International, Mangrove Action Project, Emirates Nature-WWF, University of Cambridge, The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), University of St. Andrews and the Global Ocean Decade Programme for Blue Carbon.

A photo journey through Hong Kong's remaining mangrove stands. Nestled deep within one of the many bays of the Pearl River delta, a rare patch of mangrove forest can be found hidden between the towering skyscrapers on the Hong Kong–Shenzhen border. Egrets laze in the sun as small crabs scuttle at their feet, a mountainous skyline of construction cranes looming behind them. Mangroves are small trees that grow along the coastlines of more than 100 countries in tropical and subtropical regions. They were once widespread on the Pearl River delta and around the inlets and islands of the neighboring Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR). Now there are only about 60 small patches remaining in Hong Kong – the largest is at Mai Po, at the head of Deep Bay (also known as Shenzhen Bay). Protected by the Mai Po Nature Reserve, this mangrove forest and the surrounding mudflats has been designated as a Wetland of International Importance under the  Ramsar Convention  since 1995. It is part of a Hong Kong success story, albeit a limited one. After years of degradation,  a recent survey  conducted by Dr Stefano Cannicci from Hong Kong University’s Integrated Mangrove Ecology Lab found that mangroves are now making a recovery in the region. A single mangrove colonises the muddy edges of Hong Kong’s Kam Tin River. A new channel for the river was constructed along Nam Sang Wai in 1997. To compensate for the disruption this caused to the area’s wetlands, and to strengthen the riverbanks, species of mangrove were planted along the channel. © Katherine Cheng / China Dialogue This goes against the general trend. Over the past 50 years, 50% of the world’s mangroves have been lost. This is due to a combination of factors, including coastal reclamation, urbanization, unsustainable aquaculture practices and pollution. A decade ago, the rate of loss was between  1% and 2%  every year. Things have improved slightly since then – the rate is now between  0.3% and 0.6%  a year – thanks to stronger recognition of the ecological benefits of mangroves and expanded management and protection. But Associate Professor Daniel Friess from the National University of Singapore  cautions against  being overly optimistic, telling Science Daily that “conservation gains are not evenly spread, nor guaranteed in the future”. This caution should apply to Hong Kong as well. With space limited, urban development looms ever on the horizon. This is clearly in evidence in Starfish Bay in the New Territories, where a new housing development towers over the beach. Long-time resident Mr So is only too aware of the issues: “There’s too much pollution, and look at all these new buildings that have been built nearby. It’s changed so much.” Mr So untangles a fishing net on Starfish Bay beach. Fish haven’t been easy to catch since the new tower blocks behind him were built. © Katherine Cheng / China Dialogue The loss of mangroves means more than just the loss of another species of plant. Walking through the Mai Po Nature Reserve at low tide, it’s clear how important this ecosystem is. The tangled, gnarly roots are teeming with life, a haven between fish ponds and exposed mudflats. But the benefits of mangrove forests go much wider. As Eddie Leung, assistant manager of WWF’s Mai Po Habitat and Infrastructure program, explains, when seen as a nature-based solu tion , the ecosystem “addresses coastal erosion, prevents typhoon damage, provides a rich nursery for biodiversity, and more recently, is known for storing carbon”. For people who live in low-lying areas, this means the trees not only help protect their homes from flooding, but also provide a source of income through the fish stocks they nurture. On the western side of Hong Kong’s New Territories in Yuen Long, a man steps over sandbags protecting a mall escalator following a typhoon warning. Flooding is common in this low-lying area during typhoon season. This is in part due to the removal of mangrove forests directly to the north, where the high-rise buildings meet the wetlands at the head of Deep Bay. © Katherine Cheng / China Dialogue To conserve mangroves, protected areas and restoration projects are vital. But for Hong Kong’s mangroves to continue to recover, and for these coastal forests to start making a comeback elsewhere – including on the Chinese mainland  – best practice needs to be followed. Reserves need to be properly monitored and policed. And planting should only occur in areas suitable for mangroves, using only suitable local species. To this end, the exchange of scientific knowledge is key – a cooperation established in 2012 between the Mai Po Nature Reserve and the Shenzhen Futian Mangrove Ecological Park is a good example of this. What’s happening in Hong Kong shows there is hope for mangroves. But much more needs to be done if we want to prevent this vital coastal ecosystem from  disappearing  by the end of the century. A barrel float used by local fishers is caught in a tangle of mangrove branches in Three Fathoms Cove on the eastern side of the Hong Kong SAR. Protected as a site of special scientific interest, the mangroves here remain vulnerable to overfishing and pollution from aquaculture due to limited capacity for monitoring and enforcement. © Katherine Cheng / China Dialogue A floating fish farm in Three Fathoms Cove, home to one of Hong Kong’s few remaining areas of mangroves. If practised sustainably, aquaculture can benefit from the ecosystem services mangroves provide. A richly biodiverse habitat, these intertidal forests offer a safe haven for fish to breed and raise their young, and also help clean the water of pollutants. © Katherine Cheng / China Dialogue Bartosz Majcher, a tropical ecologist at the University of Hong Kong, points to a mangrove sapling growing in Three Fathoms Cove. With its mangroves, mudflats and sandy shores, this is one of Hong Kong’s most ecologically diverse locations. Hong Kong has lost almost all of its mangroves due to coastal development. © Katherine Cheng / China Dialogue Not far from Three Fathoms Cove at Starfish Bay, a newly built housing complex towers over the beach. At high tide, the water reaches the thin strip of mangroves providing a buffer between the beach and the buildings. Originally named after its rich biodiversity, starfish are no longer easy to find in the bay due to rapid urban development. © Katherine Cheng / China Dialogue Directly north of Three Fathoms Cove at Lai Chi Wo, a remote part of the Plover Cove Country Park, a patch of unprotected mangroves thrives in mudflats, seen here exposed at low tide. Hong Kong University researcher Brian Morton has described this patch as “the most intact mangrove in all of China”, recommending it be protected as a World Heritage Site. © Katherine Cheng / China Dialogue This elderly resident of Tai O, a fishing village on the western side of Hong Kong on Lantau island, sells traditional salted fish for a living. A decline in the number of tourists over the past year due to Covid-19 means she’s only able to sell about a third of what she used to on a good day. “But I have enough to eat,” she says. Fishing around Tai O benefitted greatly when a new patch of mangroves was planted on abandoned salt pans next to the village between 2005 and 2007. © Katherine Cheng / China Dialogue By Katherine Cheng | China Dialogue This article was originally published on China Dialogue under a  Creative Commons license. Click here to read in Chinese

Recommendations from The High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy You may not consider mangroves as part of the ocean, but the coastal, salt-tolerant, trees support a vibrant ecosystem that is highly connected to tropical and sub-tropical ocean regions worldwide. Seagrass and coral reef ecosystems depend on mangroves as a shelter for juvenile fish and to hold back sediment and nutrients that would otherwise smother the underwater systems. Without mangroves, the ocean would be a much emptier place! Mangrove’s vital connection to the ocean couldn’t be clearer when reading through the newest report from The High Level Panel for a Sustainable Ocean Economy, a group of representatives from 14 countries around the world dedicated to protection and sustainable use of the ocean and its resources through global policy change. The report, titled “Ocean Solutions that Benefit People, Nature and the Economy,” addresses how the ocean and its ecosystems, including mangroves of course, are being under-utilized as a tool to help mitigate climate change, protect people, and source resources for livelihoods. The following quotes are from the executive and full report and present the panel’s view of mangroves’ strengths and how the coastal forests fit into the larger ocean agenda. Coastal habitats, such as mangroves, provide protection for hundreds of millions of people, nurture biodiversity, detoxify pollutants flowing off the land, and provide nursery areas for fisheries, increasing the supply of food and providing livelihoods. They are also a source of revenue. Mangroves and seaweed can provide food, fuel and fiber while mitigating climate change and boosting biodiversity. Mangroves reduce annual flooding globally by more than 39 percent per year for 18 million people, and reduce annual property damage by more than 16 percent, or $82 billion. Similarly, the value of coastal ecosystems in terms of nursery and habitat for fishes and other marine species, regulation of water flow and filtration, carbon sequestration, and contaminant storage and detoxification has also been calculated for coastal habitats, ranging from $100 to $10,000 an acre. Investments in a sustainable ocean economy are not just good for the ocean. They represent an excellent business proposition. Investing $2.8 trillion today in just four ocean-based solutions—offshore wind production, sustainable ocean-based food production, decarbonisation of international shipping, and conservation and restoration of mangroves—would yield a net benefit of $15.5 trillion by 2050, a benefit-cost ratio of more than 5. Figure ES.2 from the Oceans Solutions Report Key coastal habitats such as mangroves are being lost at an alarming rate: global mangrove cover has declined by around 25–35 percent (up to about 57,000 km2 from 1980 to 2000), largely due to land reclamation and conversion to aquaculture ponds and rice paddies. This loss has resulted in reductions in fisheries and coastal food production, and increasing threats to species with a fragile conservation status. These coastal habitats help protect communities against life-threatening storm surge during tsunamis, typhoons, cyclones and hurricanes. Mangroves, sea grasses and saltmarshes are labelled ‘blue carbon’ ecosystems because they actively sequester and store organic carbon from the environment, meaning their loss increases emissions Currently, [ocean-based] solutions are delivering significantly less than their full mitigation potential…Alarmingly, not only is the carbon sequestration and storage potential of coastal and marine ecosystems not fully being captured through efforts to protect and manage these ecosystems but the degradation and loss of these ecosystems—mangroves at 0.21 percent per year, saltmarshes at 1–2 percent per year and sea grass at 2–5 percent per year—is releasing significant emissions back into the atmosphere. Fig 1.4 from the Oceans Solutions Report The 2019 UN emission gap report states that the world is currently on course for 3.2°C global warming over pre-industrial levels—presenting a stark contrast to the 1.5°C limit now commonly recognized as critical for ocean health. Establishing a regenerative ocean economy, focused on restored and protected ‘blue sinks’ (e.g. mangroves, sea grass, saltmarshes) and zero- or low-carbon production of food, energy and transportation, is essential to that goal. In a 2050 sustainable ocean economy, the economic value of restoration of ocean and coastal natural capital would be recognized and turned into action, with carbon finance and coastal protection funds playing a major role in large-scale restoration projects. Restored and protected natural blue assets would then be able to deliver ecosystem services for coastal populations, especially in ensuring human safety by helping to mitigate the impacts of storms and sea level rise. For instance…a study has found that a ‘100-meter-wide belt of mangroves can reduce wave heights between 13 and 66%, and up to 100% where mangroves reach 500 meters or more in width’. Read the report here for more in depth solutions as well as a feature of Kenya’s innovative Mikoko Pamoja c arbon-credit mangrove project on pages 18-19.

The Food Planet Prize In 2022, the Global Mangrove Alliance was delighted to be the recipient of the $2 million Food Planet Prize . The Curt Bergfors Food Planet Prize awards initiatives that solve the dilemma of feeding a growing world population while saving a planet in peril.  Following the receipt of the Prize, the Global Mangrove Alliance Steering Committee has been carefully considering where these funds will be best used to support food security and our goal to Halt Loss, Restore Half, and Double Protection of mangrove forests globally.  A selection committee was organized to determine a distribution process and they had this to say about their decision: The GMA’s National Chapters hold much promise in making our goal a reality. We saw the support of a Chapter-driven project centered on both food security and the advancement of the GMA’s goals as a unique opportunity. The Indonesia National Chapter’s proposal impressed us on all fronts, and we are very excited to see the project’s implementation.”  The Funded Initiative With the Food Planet Prize funds, the GMA-Indonesia National Chapter will implement its first collaborative project for mangrove conservation and improved food security for communities. Working across five districts in Indonesia, they will focus on four major components: mangrove rehabilitation, mangrove protection and management, integrated mangrove aquaculture and sustainable use, and policy advancement. By working across these components the Chapter expects to broadly improve coastal communities’ livelihoods, ecosystem services, and ultimately food security.  Apri Susanto Astra, Wetlands International and GMA-Indonesia National Chapter Lead, had this to say about the Chapter and utilizing these funds: “Working as a team gives us more strength to achieve something greater. The Global Mangrove Alliance Indonesia chapter, which was born on November 4th, 2022, has started doing that by collaborating in the implementation of GMA programs in Indonesia. With this support from the Food Planet Prize, we can continue our dreams for better protection and management of mangrove ecosystems in Indonesia, since mangroves also play a major role in food security, especially for communities in the coastal area”.  Participants of a Community-Based Ecological Mangrove Restoration workshop in Indonesia. Led by the Mangrove Action Project and including members of the GMA-Indonesia National Chapter. To demonstrate success at scale, the Chapter has set targets for both mangrove forest health and sustainable livelihoods and food security:  For mangrove forests, the goal is to achieve a 20% increase in mangrove canopy cover across 185 ha of mangroves, a 40% increase in natural regeneration, rehabilitation of 170 ha of pond-integrated mangroves, and effective management of 27,000 ha across the five project sites.  For community livelihoods and resilience for food provisioning, the goal is to increase income from mangrove-related livelihoods by 20%, increase commercial fish catch by 20%, advance six livelihood enterprise chains, and achieve a first cohort of nearly 40 farmers who implement best practices for integrated mangrove aquaculture.  Indonesia has the largest swath of mangroves of any country in the world, yet those mangroves face a variety of human pressures. The country is therefore a well-suited priority for mangrove conservation and building up sustainable mangrove livelihoods. The Global Mangrove Alliance Steering Committee is thrilled that the Food Planet Prize will strengthen the GMA-Indonesia National Chapter, allow it to showcase the success of our collaborative approach, and demonstrate progress towards halting loss, restoring half, and doubling protection of mangroves.

With Global Mangrove Watch With the currently occurring UNFCCC COP27 and Ramsar COP14,  the Global Mangrove Alliance and Global Mangrove Watch teams have launched three policy briefs that detail how national policymakers can integrate mangrove ecosystems into climate and wetlands policy frameworks. These briefs lay out specific, actionable opportunities to apply the Global Mangrove Watch as a tool for target-setting, monitoring, and reporting on mangrove ecosystems. The Global Mangrove Watchis an online platform that provides remote sensing data and tools for global monitoring of mangroves, in scientific collaboration with Wetlands International, Aberystwyth University, soloEO, TNC, JAXA, NASA and a host of partners. Integrating Mangrove Ecosystems into NDCs with the Global Mangrove Watch , available  here This brief explores how the Global Mangrove Watch can support countries in the process of implementing, updating or revising their Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement and move towards ratcheting up national and collective ambition on the potential of blue carbon ecosystems for climate action. Supporting the implementation of the Ramsar Convention through the Global Mangrove Watch , available  here . This brief details how the Global Mangrove Watch can be used to support Ramsar Contracting Parties, in particular those lacking their own national mangrove monitoring system, through data on their mangrove resources in support of national wetlands inventories, developing Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands (RISs), monitoring sites ecological character, mangrove management, and restoration, and reporting to Ramsar and other international agreements as part of National Reports. Integrating Mangrove Ecosystems into NBSAP’s with the Global Mangrove Watch , available  here This policy brief explains how Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity can use the Global Mangrove Watch to integrate mangrove commitments into their NBSAP’s revisions and national reports, collectively catalyzing ambition and action on mangroves and other coastal ecosystems. Please reach to Luz Gil ( luz.gil@tnc.org ) and Susanna Tol ( susanna.tol@wetlands.org ) with any questions.

Global Mangrove Alliance Policy Brief : Legal and policy frameworks from around the world and recommendations to support international goals on mangroves. Mangroves and other coastal ecosystems are gaining attention in the international agenda, including as part of the UNFCCC COP28 presidency priorities , where a coalition of parties and non-state actors are building momentum to direct increased action for mangroves in support of the Mangrove Breakthrough . As of 2023, 97 countries have included coastal and marine ecosystems, including mangroves, in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the Paris Agreement, and 61 countries have included conservation or restoration of blue carbon ecosystems as mitigation and/or adaptation measures. Mangroves are highly relevant to the implementation of multiple goals and targets across the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) (Targets 1, 2, 3, 8, for instance), and Parties are expected to update their National Biodiversity Strategy and Adaptation Plans to align with the GBF goals by COP16 in 2024. Globally, 305 Ramsar sites contain mangrove ecosystems, and Parties under the Ramsar Convention are to pursue policies and regional initiatives to conserve and restoral coastal wetlands, including mangroves. Countries can implement international policy frameworks synergistically by aligning national commitments and plans, such as NDCs, NBSAPs, and National Wetlands Inventories. This can accelerate the conservation and restoration of mangroves and other blue carbon ecosystems. In fact, a growing number of countries are adopting laws and policies specifically aimed at the conservation or restoration of mangroves. As of 2023, at least 75 jurisdictions explicitly consider mangroves in their national laws. Among these, 64 have explicit mangrove cutting or clearing regulations, including at least 19 that ban all uses (with potential exceptions for traditional or subsistence use). In this policy brief , we bring some of these examples of national policies and frameworks from Global Mangrove Alliance partners to inform and inspire the international community. You will learn from the different policy approaches and strategies used in Belize, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Seychelles, and the Western Indian Ocean Region to advance stronger frameworks supportive of mangroves. Belize’s National Mangrove Action Plan , to be completed in 2024, finds its foundation in land tenure analysis, which will help to identify mangrove areas that could be targeted for restoration within the Plan in an integrated way, highlighting nature values such as blue carbon and linking with Belize’s NDC targets . Costa Rica case study gives a snapshot of the country’s newly launched Blue Carbon Strategy , the first in the world, which will use economic incentives and markets to reverse the loss and degradation of blue carbon ecosystems and wetlands, promoting a model that “benefits communities who depend directly on the ecosystem services they provide” and supporting the implementation of Costa Rica’s updated NDC . Ecuador case study illustrates the experience of a Constitutional court case where the protected nature of mangrove ecosystems versus economic activities in the beach and bay areas were in conflict. It also highlights the effectiveness of the government-ancestral user agreements for the sustainable use and custody of the mangrove ecosystem (AUSCEM), which primary purpose is the protection of the mangrove forest in exchange of traditional, sustainable and preferential use of mangrove resources. Indonesia’s Bio-rights program showcases the success of small loan schemes to promote mangrove conservation and restoration through green-grey infrastructure while generating alternative livelihoods and the primordial role of the government to support implementation through program allocations and/or funding to community groups -with potential of scaling up as part of established government incentives . Mexico’s case study showcases its Monitoring System for Mangroves (SMMM) which by providing baseline and monitoring data has triggered government responses towards mangrove legal protection, through court orders and new legislation that establishes higher levels of protection for threatened mangrove ecosystems. Panama’s case study highlights GMA partners efforts under the Blue Natural Heritage Initiative including work on policies relevant to mangroves: legislation pieces that promote the “Reduce your Footprint” program for low carbon economy and social development and establish the basis of a national carbon market aligned with the country’s Low Carbon Economic and Social Development Strategy and NDCs, as well as two executive decrees under consultation that regulate the conservation and sustainable use of mangroves and that regulates blue carbon projects . In 2021, Parties of the Nairobi Convention of the Western Indian Ocean (WIO) region agreed to develop a WIO Regional Mangrove Vision and Regional Mangrove Action Plan by 2024 to create a framework for regional policy dialogues around mangroves to enhance mangrove-related policies and sustainable management in the Western Indian Ocean. Based on this and other case studies from around the world, this case study explores selected national-level legal and policy options for mangrove conservation, restoration and sustainable use: incentives and financial mechanisms such as blue carbon measures, Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) programs, fiscal incentives and subsidies, and product certification community management of mangrove areas, including tools for community management (such as conservation agreements and concessions) and the legal context for community management, particularly issues around rights, tenure, and legal pluralism specific national mangrove policies such as national mangrove management plans and strategies integrated planning laws and regulations which can incorporate consideration of mangroves. The brief ends with key considerations and recommendations for developing and implementing mangrove laws and policies. Further reading:  For more information on the legal and governance approaches and enabling conditions relating to mangroves Webinars on Policies for Mangroves (November 2023) Session 1: Policies for Mangroves: Indonesia, Costa Rica, Belize and Seychelles | The Global Mangrove Alliance – YouTube Session 2: Policies for Mangroves: Mexico, Panama, Ecuador and W. Indian Ocean | The Global Mangrove Alliance – YouTube Contacts IUCN Adriana Vidal , Senior Policy Advisor, Climate Change, Email:  Adriana.vidal@iucn.org