Mangroves are an incredible species of saltwater tree, with mangrove forests being one of the most threatened ecosystems on the planet. We have lost a devastating 25% of mangroves in the past 40 years, yet conservation and restoration efforts have thankfully helped slow the decline in recent years.

However, the IUCN’s global assessment in 2024 showed that 50% of mangrove ecosystems are now at risk of collapse. This is a red flag not just for biodiversity, but for climate resilience, ocean health, and the wellbeing of coastal communities globally.

The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, adopted in 1971 and in force since 1975, recognizes mangroves as vital components of wetland ecosystems. It promotes their conservation and sustainable use, encouraging international cooperation for their protection. As the 15th Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP15) of the Ramsar Convention takes place from 23–31 July 2025 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe—and as we mark International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem on 26 July—it’s time to champion these extraordinary ecosystems. 

What Makes Mangroves So Special?

Mangroves are unique in every sense. Unlike most trees, they grow in the intertidal zones of tropical and subtropical coasts, where land meets sea. Their root systems are their defining feature: complex, aerial, and capable of drawing oxygen even in waterlogged, low-oxygen environments through small pores called lenticels.

These roots not only anchor the trees in unstable, silty terrain—they also trap sediments, build up shorelines, and serve as vital buffers against erosion and extreme weather events. Mangroves thrive in salty or brackish water and can tolerate regular tidal submersion. They are amphibious architects of coastal resilience.

Despite their vast global importance, mangroves are rare—covering just 0.1% of the Earth’s surface, and about 15% of the world’s coastlines. Yet they are among the most productive and biologically complex ecosystems on the planet. There are about 80 species of mangrove trees and shrubs, including Red Mangroves (Rhizophora), Black Mangroves (Avicennia), and White Mangroves (Laguncularia), which collectively support rich and varied coastal food webs.

Mangrove forests span over 100 countries, with Indonesia having the largest area of coverage. However, many regions are under severe threat. According to the Global Mangrove Alliance’s 2024 report, the most critically endangered mangrove areas include parts of South India, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and the Southeastern United States.

Why Are Mangroves Disappearing?

Mangrove loss is driven by a combination of human activity and climate-related pressures (which are referred to as Natural drivers in the World’s Mangroves report).

Historically, large areas have been cleared for agriculture, aquaculture (especially shrimp farming), tourism development, and urban expansion. Pollution, sedimentation from upstream land use, and poorly planned infrastructure also damage mangrove ecosystems.

Graphs from The State of the World’s Mangroves 2024, by Maricé Leal and Mark D Spalding

Different regions are affected in different ways, as we see from the graphics above, and when it comes to breaking down human drivers of mangroves loss, we can see that it is also very different in each region. Therefore, there is no “one size fits all” approach to mangrove conservation or restoration, it is nuanced, complex, and site-specific. But by teaming up with local stakeholders and working with local ecological knowledge (LEK) to develop management efforts, there is greater potential for reaching long -term outcomes.  

Today, climate change impacts mean that sea-level rise is a growing threat to mangroves, globally. While mangroves have adapted to tidal changes over millennia, the rapid pace of sea-level rise from the climate crisis is outstripping their natural ability to migrate inland. Under current emissions trajectories, 25% of global mangrove area is projected to be submerged in the next 50 years. Certain regions—including the Northwest Atlantic, the Red Sea, and parts of the Indian Ocean—face particularly severe risks.

What Mangroves Support

Mangroves support a wide range of critical ecological functions and human needs, making their protection vital for both nature and people. Conserving and restoring mangroves is one of the most effective nature-based solutions to tackle some of the biggest problems humanity is facing: the climate crisis, biodiversity loss and food security.

Mangroves provide a suite of ecosystem services that sustain coastal communities, economies, and the health of our planet. Here’s how: 

1. Climate Change Mitigation:
   Mangroves are a powerhouse of blue carbon—the carbon stored in coastal and marine ecosystems. Per hectare, they can sequester up to four times more carbon than tropical rainforests. This makes them critical natural allies in climate change mitigation.
2. Biodiversity:
   Mangroves act as nurseries for thousands of marine species. Fish, crustaceans, mollusks, and even sharks depend on these root systems for shelter and breeding grounds. Birds, reptiles, and mammals also find refuge in mangrove canopies.
3. Pollution Control:
   Their dense root systems filter sediments and absorb pollutants, including heavy metals and nutrients, improving water quality for ecosystems and nearby communities alike.
4. Coastal Protection:
   Mangroves reduce wave energy and buffer storm surges, providing natural protection against erosion, cyclones, and flooding—services that are increasingly vital in a warming world.
5. Local Livelihoods:
   From timber and honey to fish and fuelwood, mangroves provide essential goods and services. They also support eco-tourism and small-scale aquaculture in many parts of the world.

With all of this in mind, the Global Mangrove Alliance, in collaboration with the UN Climate Change High-level Champions identified the need for a unified global approach towards mangrove conservation. In 2022, they launched the Mangrove Breakthrough at COP27 in Egypt as part of the Sharm El‑Sheikh Adaptation Agenda. Its core mission is to tackle climate, biodiversity, and coastal resilience by mobilising US $4 billion in funding to protect and restore 15 million hectares of mangrove forests by 2030.

By shifting from short-term fixes to systemic, long-term investment, the Mangrove breakthrough ensures mangroves are financed, protected, and fully integrated into global economic and climate frameworks.

A Local Perspective: Mangrove Restoration in the Philippines

The Philippines is among the world’s most mangrove-rich countries, ranking 15th globally in terms of mangrove forest distribution. Yet, this Southeast Asia country, with over 7000 islands and 18,000 km’s of coastline, has lost approx 50% of its mangroves since 1900—largely due to land conversion for aquaculture and development.

In response, Oceanus Conservation, a local nonprofit, is working across multiple provinces—including La Union, Negros Oriental,  Zamboanga Sibugay, and Surigao del Sur—to restore and protect mangrove ecosystems. Their community-based approach involves converting abandoned aquaculture sites back into mangrove forests, and training local stakeholders in restoration techniques.

“Mangroves are not just trees. They are homes, they are barriers, they are hope. When communities care for mangroves, they’re also investing in their own future,” 

• Camille Rivera, Founder and Director of Oceanus Conservation.

To date, Oceanus and its partners are supporting the protection of 260ha of mangrove forests and rehabilitation of over 18 hectares of disused aquaculture ponds to mangrove forest—a testament to the power of grassroots-led action in collaboration with communities.

“One of the best practices I can share is that mangrove rehabilitation is not just scientific, there is a social context and understanding to it. What made our initiative successful is that we train, and mobilize community members from the start. This also includes laying the foundation with local government partners ensuring that what we do is coordinated and contributing to their Local Government Coastal Management plans, and Coastal Land Use plans. This fosters long-term engagement when we collaborate with these stakeholders in the shared landscape. In addition, we ensure that what we implemented, and conducted research are shared to the local community partners and local Government. We have also made sure that we equip our partners with equipment, tools, and knowledge to ensure they can do their work efficiently and effectively especially in coastal areas where there are illegal activities.

We believe that science must be shared and giving access to opportunities and resources is part of conservation so communities feel they are part of a bigger picture.”

• Camille Rivera, Founder and  Director of Oceanus Conservation (see the photo gallery below of some of the work by Oceanus).

The Blue-Green Frontier

Mangroves thrive where the shore meets the sea—where blue blends with green. These “turquoise” habitats embody the deep interconnection between land and ocean, people and planet. Yet, despite their richness and resilience, mangroves have long been overlooked, their ecosystem services undervalued, and their fragility exposed by the escalating impacts of climate change.

They allow us to access nature-based solutions in action by supporting livelihoods, buffering climate impacts, and maintaining biodiversity. They are quiet powerhouses in addressing the triple planetary crisis—climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution and are quite simply the guardians of our coasts. But they need our help. 

This International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, let’s advocate louder than ever for mangrove protection. 

Let’s support local custodians like Oceanus, amplify global frameworks like Ramsar and continue to push for more signatories to join the Mangrove breakthrough, securing critical finance for restoration efforts. 

We need to press for stronger action at COP15 (Wetlands in Zimbabwe), COP30 (Climate Change in Brazil), COP17 (Biodiversity in Armenia) and beyond.

Because when we protect mangroves, we protect our collective future.

If you’re working in mangrove management, conservation or protection, especially at the grassroots level, we invite you to join RISE UP’s Ocean and Climate cluster. The cluster is a collaborative, justice-centred platform grounded in lived realities, frontline knowledge, and collective action towards a more inclusive and impactful approach to ocean–climate governance. 

Sign up here.