The International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem is celebrated every year on 26 July as a unique opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of mangroves as a “unique, special and vulnerable ecosystem” and to promote their sustainable management, conservation and use. This year, the Nairobi Convention has released Guidelines on Mangrove Restoration for the Western Indian Ocean Region and which for the first time for the region, analyzes risks and challenges to mangrove restoration projects and suggested potential solutions.
This day is a reminder of the pivotal role of mangroves in preserving ecosystems. Taking care of the nature that surrounds us has become even more critical as the world grapples with the ongoing COVID- 19 pandemic.
An ecosystem like none other
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), mangroves are commonly found along sheltered coastlines in the tropics and sub-tropics where they provide crucial socio-economic and environmental functions. They provide provision a variety of wood and non-wood forest products and protect coastlines from wind, waves and water currents. Mangroves also conserve biological diversity – including several endangered mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds. They protect coral reefs, sea grass beds and shipping lanes against siltation while providing habitat, spawning grounds and nutrients for a variety of fish and shellfish.
In peril
In the latest report by Global Mangrove Alliance, an estimated 67% of mangroves have been lost or degraded to date, and an additional 1% is lost each year. This puts mangroves at a risk of being destroyed altogether. In order to increase a comprehensive global approach to large-scale mangrove conservation, restoration, and sustainable use, a number of organizations including the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, Conservation International, and Wetlands International have come together to form the Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA). This alliance brings together NGOs, governments, industry, local communities and funders to not only stop mangrove degradation, but also to increase mangrove cover by 20% by 2030. The alliance in addition has defined underlying objectives of utilizing mangroves as a nature-based solution to enhance climate adaptation and mitigation, food security, and human well-being.
“In addressing mangrove loss, wider planning regimes are needed that acknowledge the true complexity of marine and coastal ecosystems and incorporate them into a network of protected areas,” Levis Kavagi, the Africa Coordinator of Ecosystems and Biodiversity Programme at UN Environment Programme said. “We must understand that sustainable mangrove forestry and aquaculture practices can reduce pressure on mangroves and provide a steady income for local communities.”
High population pressure in coastal areas has, however, led to user change in many mangrove areas to infrastructure, aquaculture, rice and salt production. While numerous case studies describe mangrove losses over time, information on the status and trends of mangrove area coverage globally level is scarce.
Changing lifestyles have altered our environmental use, especially land and other natural resources. Forests and other natural areas have been cleared to create spaces for urban areas and settlements, agriculture and industries. This has reduced the overall space for wildlife and led to the degrading of natural buffers between humans and animals.
Nature-based solutions
Investing in nature-based solutions will be essential to prevent future outbreaks. Mangroves are among the most productive nature-based solutions. Not only do they protect shorelines from eroding, shielding us from floods, hurricanes, and storms, but they also provide nursery areas for fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and more, while supporting many threatened and endangered species. Mangroves are also an important tool in the fight against climate change. They take up to five times more carbon out of the atmosphere than forests on land. Globally, mangroves provide goods and services estimated to be worth billions per year.
“Successful mangrove management interventions need to be backed up by the right economic and political settings, and incentives, including payments for ecosystem services and incentives to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation,” Dr. Juliette Biao Koudenoukpo, Director and Regional Representative of UN Environment Programme in Africa says.
Mangroves in Africa
In Africa, the main hot spots of mangrove loss are in Mozambique and Western Africa. In East Africa, pollution, exploitation and extreme weather are important drivers of mangrove loss, while conversion to agriculture or aquaculture has been significant in Mozambique, Madagascar and in West Africa.
Mangrove restoration also offers the possibility to reverse patterns of mangrove decline and rebuild lost biodiversity and ecosystem services. To bring everyone on board and ensure an essential buy-in, it is vital that beneficiaries of mangrove services are integrally involved in mangrove management and restoration planning. Appropriate and more specific national laws, regulations and policies that are enacted and enforced are key to improved mangrove management.
For more information, please contact:
Mohamed Atani, Head of Communications and Outreach for Africa, UNEP
E-mail : mohamed.atani@un.org Tel. +254 (0)727531253
