Despite the world making strides towards ending the loss of mangrove forests, the globe lost an estimated 20% of mangroves over the past 40 years due to human activities and natural retraction, said a new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
The report, titled “The World’s Mangroves, 2000–2020,” released on the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, reveals that the total global area of mangroves in 2020 stood at 14.8 million hectares. While 677,000 hectares were lost between 2000 and 2020, the rate of disappearance decreased by 23% in the second decade.
POSITIVE GROWTH
In a positive development, the study found that mangroves have the ability to spread rapidly under favourable conditions. Approximately 393,000 hectares of new mangrove forests have grown in areas previously devoid of them, offsetting more than half of the global loss in the last two decades.
Asia, home to nearly half of the world’s mangroves, showed a 54% decrease in net mangrove area loss over the past twenty years. Africa also experienced a decline in net loss, while North and Central America recorded a net gain in mangrove area between 2010 and 2020. South America and Oceania reported an increase in net loss in the same period.
THE LOSS
The report highlights the importance of restoring, sustainably using, and conserving mangroves due to their critical role in achieving Sustainable Development Goals. They provide livelihoods for coastal communities, protect coastlines against natural disasters, store carbon, mitigate climate change, and harbour diverse biodiversity.
The study analyzed the drivers of mangrove loss and found that shrimp aquaculture, particularly pond shrimp aquaculture, was one of the main causes of mangrove loss, although its impact decreased between 2010 and 2020. Natural retraction due to climate change impacts, such as rising sea levels and temperatures, was another significant driver. Natural disasters contributed to only 2% of mangrove loss but are expected to worsen, making coastal communities more vulnerable to storm surges, floods, and tsunamis.
RESTORING AND CONSERVING
To address mangrove loss, the report recommends efforts to continue addressing land-use drivers, directing agricultural development to conserve remaining mangrove forests and supporting sustainable use and livelihoods for coastal communities. Restoration initiatives should prioritize creating conditions for natural colonization of suitable habitats. Mangroves’ role in carbon storage should also be emphasized in climate mitigation strategies.
WE ALL BENEFIT FROM MANGROVES
Mangroves, though not a major component of most tropical forests, offer a diverse range of valuable forest products. Their strong and durable wood has historically been used for construction and fuel wood, while other products include tannins, dyes, medicine, thatching material, alcohol, and sugar from the nipa palm’s sap.
Biodiversity flourishes in mangrove ecosystems, making them some of the most productive environments on Earth. They provide essential habitats, breeding grounds, and food sources for various organisms, contributing to the conservation and protection of biodiversity.
The support mangroves offer to fisheries is significant, as they create a suitable environment for numerous fish species. Fisheries associated with mangroves hold substantial economic value, with some locations exceeding $10,000 per hectare per year. Mangrove forests also play a crucial role in aquaculture, providing suitable spaces for farming fish and seafood. However, the expansion of aquaculture, particularly pond shrimp aquaculture, has led to the loss of many mangrove forests.
Nature-based tourism has gained popularity and can provide sustainable income for local communities near mangroves. Activities like boardwalk explorations, wildlife observation, kayaking, and home stays in nearby villages are some of the experiences that nature-based tourism can offer in mangrove forests.
Mangroves significantly contribute to climate change mitigation by effectively storing carbon. Globally, they store over 6.23 gigatonnes of carbon, making them a crucial element in various countries’ plans to reduce carbon emissions. Mangroves can also be protected through programs where people pay to safeguard ecosystems and lower carbon emissions.
Furthermore, mangroves play a critical role in coastal protection, shielding communities from natural hazards such as storms, erosion, and tsunamis. As extreme weather events become more frequent and intense, the importance of mangroves in providing coastal resilience is becoming increasingly recognized.