Save the mangroves
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Mangroves are particular trees that grow in intertidal regions of tropical and subtropical coastlines. There are 69 different species of mangroves around the world, each adopting unique strategies to adapt to extreme territorial conditions such as salinity and insolation.
They are among the planet’s best carbon stores. Carbon fixed by mangroves (blue carbon) would help sequester CO2 emissions and subsequently slow rapid climate change.
The ecosystem hosts a variety of species, including 174 species of marine megafauna. Mangrove swamps protect coastal areas from erosion, storm surge (especially during hurricanes), and tsunamis.
References:
- FAO: https://www.fao.org/3/ai387e/AI387E06.htm
- The Royal Society: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2018.0251
- Global Mangrove Alliance: https://www.mangrovealliance.org/news/study-reveals-important-connections-between-mangroves-and-marine-megafauna/
- IUCN Mangroves: https://www.iucn.org/content/mangrove-forests-worldwide-decline
- Scientific Report (2018): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-31683-0
The problem
Only half of global mangrove areas have adequate data, but within those studied, 35% have been lost in the last two decades. Shrimp farming, responsible for a quarter of mangrove destruction, and other factors like salinization and urbanisation have caused 10-25% of mangrove-dependent species to be listed on the IUCN red list. Their disappearance heightens coastal vulnerability to sea rise and biodiversity loss, impacting local populations who rely on them for storm protection and ecosystem stability. Climate change exacerbates these issues, reducing rainfall and increasing salinity, further threatening mangrove survival
WSO Friend of the Sea initiatives and conservation projects
The World Sustainability Organization’s Friend of the Earth project provides financial support for Associação MarBrasil, an ONG located in the Paranà Brazilian region from 2004 to seek alternatives and solutions for the conservation and rational use of the marine-coastal ecosystem.
By raising funds and awareness, we are helping MarBrasil to support biodiversity conservation initiatives through scientific research, education, and Sustainable management of the Guaraqueçaba UNESCO area.
Our collaboration will help to continue the mangrove forest biomass and the associated invertebrate’s assessment and to start a carbon stock evaluation thanks to innovative technology.
Call to action
- Choose only Friend of the Sea certified shrimps and prawns to save mangroves.
- Sign Friend of the Sea Change.org petition to make it mandatory for shrimps to be verified Mangrove Safe.
- Contribute to Mangroves reforestation initiatives making donations.
