Conserve Our Mangroves

Mangroves of the World and Southeast Asia (SEA)

Mangroves are specialised plants that have the capacity to tolerate saline environments through root systems that can filter salt. Some 80 species of mangroves grow in tropical and subtropical intertidal areas around the world. Importantly, mangroves are a crucial bridge between marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

Mangroves in Ilha do Cardoso State Park, São Paulo, Brazil

Surveys conducted in 2020 estimated the global extent of mangrove forests in 123 countries to be over 147,256 km2, with about 34% (or 50,000 km2) in SEA. Indonesia alone contains 21% of global mangrove cover.

Not only does SEA have the greatest extension of mangrove forests, their mangrove ecosystems have the highest diversity and species richness. For example, SEA is home to over 50 mangrove species of the 80 found globally.

The Value of Mangroves

Although mangrove forests account for under 1% of tropical forests, they provide extraordinary ecosystem services that also benefit humans. Mangroves serve as nurseries and habitats for many aquatic species. Nutrients from the decay of mangrove leaves flowing to nearshore coastal waters create the basis of the food chain. One third of wild fish landings in SEA are mangrove-dependent species and mangroves provide about 70% of prawns in SEA.

Mangroves are important nurseries for prawns in Darién Province, Panama

Many coastal communities depend on mangroves for food security, income and employment. Fish, prawns, crabs and bivalves harvested from mangroves are important protein sources.  Mangroves also offer many other products: honey, wood for construction and fuel, charcoal, fodder for livestock, traditional medicines and salt. Mangroves are also important sites for tourism, education, science and spirituality.

Mangrove ecosystems house great biodiversity because of their varied conditions (forest, forest floor, mud flats, water), serving as feeding grounds, nurseries and breeding sites for numerous migratory birds, insects and marine species.

Mangroves’ complex root systems help stabilise the shoreline against erosion and sea level rise. They reduce storm surges from typhoons by slowing and redirecting wave energy and may even reduce flood depths by an average of up to 20%.

Mangrove restoration protects human settlement, Cape Florida State Park, Miami, Florida, USA

Climatologically, mangrove ecosystems provide one of our largest blue carbon sinks.  On average, one hectare of mangroves can store 1,000 metric tonnes of carbon; that is over five times the carbon stored in dense tropical rainforests! Globally, mangrove forests store between 6.17 and 6.5 billion tonnes of blue carbon. About 80% of this carbon is stored in the rich organic mangrove soils, depending on the region.

Recent reports from the Global Mangrove Alliance suggest that mangroves in SEA (particularly Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar) have the largest stocks of blue carbon. Mangrove carbon will also play an important role in global carbon markets as a source for financing mangrove conservation.

The Vulnerability of Mangroves

Today half of the world’s mangrove ecosystems are under threat. Various human activities continue to convert mangrove forests, for: coastal development (urban expansion, port and tourism projects), agricultural expansion (rice and oil palm), and aquaculture (particularly shrimp farms).

Devastating mangrove losses due to the widespread introduction of  aquaculture ponds, Indonesia

From 2000 to 2020, about 43% of global mangrove losses were caused by agricultural and aquaculture expansion, aquaculture alone contributing about 27% of the loss. In SEA, aquaculture is the principal driver of mangrove loss accounting for about 35%. In addition to these direct human-related drivers, sea level rise, typhoons and other climate change factors account for about a quarter of mangrove losses.

There is some hope, however. In recent decades, the rate of mangrove loss has slowed significantly. From 2000-2020, the decrease of global mangrove forest was about 2,839 km2. While this loss is certainly of concern, the prior 20 years (1980-2000) experienced over 10 times greater mangrove losses.

Saving Our Mangroves

Although about 40% of the world’s mangroves are located within protected areas, fewer than 5% of mangroves are found in protected areas within Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, and Malaysia.  This indicates the need to establish additional protected areas or Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs).

Thankfully, mangrove restoration projects are gaining acceptance throughout the world, with decelerating losses and decreases in conversion. Great potential exists for community-led mangrove restoration in unproductive and abandoned shrimp aquaculture ponds which globally account for some 2,500 km2.

However, restoration must utilise the best information and practices—particularly traditional ecological knowledge. Community-led restoration projects can empower people, foster leadership skills, recognise communities as mangrove stewards and protect community rights for the sustainable use of mangrove resources.

Representatives from PPCF, Mangrove Conservation Foundation, Shenzhen University and Yagasu at a transplanting site in Probolinggo, East Java, Indonesia

PPCF’s Support of Mangrove Conservation

PPCF supports the efforts of Yayasan Gajah Sumatera (Yagasu) in the conservation and restoration of some 1,200 hectares of mangroves in East Java, Indonesia. Strengthening the link to the locals’ livelihoods, Yagasu’s efforts focus on building capacity in mangrove management and ecotourism, mangrove-related microbusinesses, and women empowerment. Find out more here.