Mangrove Ecosystems and the Pathway to Coastal Resilience

Recognizing the vital role of mangroves in the well-being of coastal areas, the UN established July 26th as the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem. To emphasize their importance and pivotal role in adaptation efforts against the effects of climate change, UNESCO designated this day to raise global awareness about the properties, potential, and threats faced by these essential trees.

With coastal hazards becoming increasingly frequent and impactful on coastal communities due to climate change, a growing number of research studies have been undertaken to analyze and develop strategies to cope with these rising threats. Projects implementing nature-based solutions along coastlines are on the rise, particularly to mitigate the effects of phenomena like coastal erosion and tsunamis.

Mangrove ecosystems have emerged as preferred nature-based solutions for preserving and enhancing coastal resilience in areas subject to frequent and disruptive events. These ecosystems possess the capacity to recover quickly from hazardous events like storms, demonstrate resilience across various timescales, and play a crucial ecological role in coastal environments. However, mangrove forests have experienced a high rate of deforestation in recent years. During the first decade of the new millennium, an average of 0.18% of mangroves was lost every year to make way for aquaculture, and they are disappearing three to five times faster than the overall global forest losses.

The UN Ocean Decade has become an important platform for fostering programmes and projects dedicated to better understanding and expanding the role of mangroves in coastal ecosystems. Teams of ocean researchers are striving to apply novel technologies and cutting-edge knowledge to preserve these ecosystems and investigate their potential in coastal areas to increase resilience.

Among many projects is MANCOGA, a UN Ocean Decade Action jointly led by the Helmholtz centre Hereon in Germany and the University of Ghana. This initiative aims to harness the power of mangroves as resilient and participatory Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for mitigating coastal hazards. By actively involving stakeholders, the project thoroughly examines current infrastructure and identifies areas that require additional resources and improved implementation. Additionally, MANCOGA incorporates the creation of scenarios through a Digital Twin, which accurately replicates local conditions, enabling predictions regarding the future implications of mangrove conservation efforts.

Healthy mangrove ecosystems also rely on effective governmental and community management approaches for conservation. Valerie Hagger, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Queensland, has demonstrated the positive impact of community forestry efforts on mangrove growth. Now, she aims to explore the influence of community forestry and indigenous co-management on mangrove forest conservation worldwide, supported by the AXA Research Fund programme dedicated to Coastal livelihoods and endorsed by the UN Ocean Decade. Dr. Hagger's research will investigate the implementation of community forestry in various settings and how different socio-economic contexts influence these conservation efforts. In this video, you can hear Dr. Valerie Hagger talking about her project.

As we celebrate the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, projects like MANCOGA and the one led by Dr. Hagger stand as bright examples of the dedication and collaborative efforts being made to safeguard these vital ecosystems. The Decade Collaborative Centre for Coastal Resilience, alongside other contributions and actions of the UN Ocean Decade, remains committed to promoting awareness and advocating for sustainable solutions that ensure the well-being of our coasts. Through these collective efforts, a wealth of knowledge is being generated to foster greater care and appreciation for the natural ecosystems in coastal regions, forging a path towards healthier, more equitable coasts, safeguarding the invaluable mangrove habitats for future generations.