International Mangrove Day: Celebrating and Protecting Coastal Forests

As the tides rise and fall on the world's tropical and sub-tropical coasts, an incredible ecosystem stands quietly at the confluence of land and sea: mangroves. Few ecological communities have as deep a resilience and generosity as a mangrove. To understand why mangroves are so worthy of global recognition, we must first appreciate their properties. Mangrove ecosystems are unique coastal forests of trees and shrubs that thrive on brackish and waterlogged lands between land and sea. Mangroves are not a single species, but rather a diverse collection of salt-tolerant trees and shrubs, thriving in coastal intertidal zones. Its wrinkled roots, often curved dramatically above the tides, serve as an anchor against strong coastal currents and as an important habitat for astonishing organisms. What makes mangroves so irreplaceable? Their environmental services span the ecological, economic, and social spheres, sustaining entire coastal economies and protecting communities from environmental threats. Ecologically, mangroves are hotspots of biodiversity -- spawning grounds for fish, resting and foraging grounds for birds, and a myriad of tiny creatures that are important for marine and terrestrial food webs. In Indonesia alone, there are more than 200 species of fauna that are closely related to the mangrove system, including commercially important fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and even endangered species such as proboscis monkeys. It is estimated that up to 80% of all fish catches in tropical coastal waters are connected, directly or indirectly, to the health of mangroves. 

Although they cover only about 14.8 million hectares globally -- roughly the size of Greece -- mangroves are found along the tropical and subtropical coastlines of over 120 countries. South and Southeast Asia hold the largest areas, and five countries (Indonesia, Brazil, Nigeria, Mexico and Australia) contain nearly half the world's mangroves. Indonesia is the world's mangrove superpower, accounting for nearly a quarter of this total with about 3.5 million hectares (21% of the global total) - stretching across Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Papua, and the countless smaller islands that compose our archipelagic nation, and the richest mangrove diversity in the world. These forests constitute not just a biological marvel, but also a lifeline for more than 200 million people worldwide who rely on mangroves for food, livelihoods, resources, and protection. Mangroves provide a wealth of benefits to people and nature. Their submerged roots shelter juvenile fish, shrimp, crabs and other marine life, making mangroves invaluable nursery grounds that underpin coastal fisheries. Beyond the ecological services, mangroves support local livelihoods: they yield timber and fuelwood, honey and medicinal plants, thatch and charcoal, and they attract eco-tourism. Coastal communities fish in mangrove waters and harvest crabs or molluscs under the forest canopy. 

Mangroves enrich human life in other, sometimes unexpected, ways. Their bark, leaves, and roots are used in traditional medicines; their flowers support coastal beekeeping and honey production; Nypa palm from mangrove forests yields thatch materials and sweet sugar. Non-timber forest products from mangroves contribute to rural incomes, food security, and diverse local economies. Ecotourism centred around mangrove wildlife and landscapes has also emerged as a sustainable livelihood path for many Indonesian communities, from South Sumatra to North Maluku. These forests form dense, tangled thickets at river mouths and estuaries, defining a distinct ecosystem that has adapted over millennia to brackish water, tidal cycles and low-oxygen soils.

By trapping sediments and filtering pollutants, mangroves help keep water clean and coral reefs healthy. These forests also buffer coastlines: the tangled root networks dissipate wave energy and storm surges, reducing the height of waves by 50--99% over a 500-meter-wide mangrove belt. In effect, mangroves act as living breakwaters that protect villages and farms from erosion, tsunamis and hurricanes. They are living shields, reducing disaster risk in a world increasingly battered by extreme weather. By absorbing wave energy, buffering storm surges, and stabilizing coastlines, mangroves offer robust protection for coastal populations against cyclones and tsunamis. Empirical evidence after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, for instance, showed that Indonesian communities behind dense mangrove belts suffered far less destruction compared to those exposed to open coasts.

Importantly for climate mitigation, mangrove soils store extraordinarily high levels of carbon, far more per hectare than most terrestrial forests. Mangroves also play a central role in climate change mitigation and adaptation. Their dense biomass and waterlogged soils make them one of the world's most efficient carbon sinks, sequestering up to four times more carbon per hectare than upland tropical forests. Indonesia's mangroves store at least 3.1 billion tonnes of carbon---an ecological savings bank invaluable for the planet's future. The concept of "blue carbon" has emerged to recognize and value these unique benefits, positioning mangrove conservation as an essential component of national and global climate strategies. UNESCO notes that one hectare of intact mangrove can sequester about 3,754 tonnes of carbon. In Indonesia, mangroves store an estimated 3.14 billion tonnes of carbon (equivalent to 2.5 billion cars' annual emissions). By trapping CO in wood and deep soils, mangroves help stabilize the climate. Beyond these ecological services, mangroves support local livelihoods: they yield timber and fuelwood, honey and medicinal plants, thatch and charcoal, and they attract eco-tourism. Coastal communities fish in mangrove waters and harvest crabs or molluscs under the forest canopy. All told, mangroves underpin food security, disaster resilience, and economic well-being for millions of people.

Despite their importance, mangroves have been vanishing at an alarming rate. In the past half-century, about 50% of the world's mangroves have been lost to deforestation. The chief causes are human: shrimp and fish farming ponds, rice paddies and other agriculture, expanding cities, ports and tourist developments have cleared huge tracts of mangrove along many coasts. Logging for timber, charcoal and construction materials has also taken a toll. UNESCO reports that some countries lost over 40% of their mangroves between 1980 and 2005 to coastal development. In Indonesia, which once had the world's largest mangrove, historical drivers such as the conversion of mangroves into aquaculture ponds (tambak) and agricultural fields, as well as logging for firewood and construction materials, continue to extract a heavy toll. A study found that over one million hectares of Indonesian mangroves have been degraded or lost, mainly to accommodate brackish-water aquaculture. In addition, coastal development---roads, ports, industrial estates, and settling land---puts ever-growing pressure on healthy mangrove stands, often exacerbated by insufficient law enforcement and land tenure clarity. Pollution, upstream deforestation, and the altered hydrology of catchment areas further complicate recovery, and the looming threat of sea-level rise puts low-lying communities at multiplying risk.

Globally, mangroves now disappear 3--5 times faster than other forests. Natural stresses such as sea-level rise, intensified storms, droughts or cold snaps (exacerbated by climate change) compound the problem, often preventing degraded mangroves from adapting fast enough to survive. These losses release enormous stores of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and deprive communities of storm protection, fisheries and clean water. Unless addressed, experts warn that remaining mangroves could largely vanish within this century.

To draw attention to this crisis, and to highlight solutions, UNESCO proclaimed 26 July as the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem. The decision was adopted by UNESCO's General Conference in 2015. The initiative was spearheaded following the tragic death of Haydee Rodriguez, an environmental activist in Mexico, underlining both the vulnerability of mangroves and the people who defend them. The first official observance took place globally in 2016, intending to foster awareness, encourage science-based conservation, and inspire international solidarity for mangrove stewardship. The Day is intended to raise awareness of mangroves as "unique, special and vulnerable" ecosystems, and to promote science-based management, sustainable use and restoration. It underscores the fact that mangroves sit at the crossroads of land and sea, embodying the link between Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Since its inception, International Mangrove Day has become a beacon for creative environmental action. Organizations everywhere have gotten creative in celebrating Mangrove Day. In Indonesia, government ministries, local authorities, NGOs, and universities organize public campaigns, youth education programs, mangrove planting festivals, shoreline cleanups, and participatory art installations. Innovative digital campaigns share stories of local champions, showcase traditional knowledge, and crowd-source support for restoration projects.  These efforts often dovetail with larger initiatives: for example, the Global Mangrove Alliance (Wetlands International, WWF, CI, IUCN and TNC) uses the Day to launch funding appeals. The Alliance has set a bold target of expanding global mangrove area by 20% by 2030, and aims to mobilize roughly $10 billion in investments to improve coastal resilience and benefit 10 million people. The Mangrove Breakthrough initiative has set ambitious goals to protect 15 million hectares of mangroves and secure $4 billion in global funding for mangrove conservation by 2030. Indonesia, through its National Mangrove Movement and the Indonesia Mangrove Rehabilitation Program, has committed to restoring over 600,000 hectares by 2024---one of the world's largest and most ambitious blue carbon restoration efforts. By bringing together diverse stakeholders on World Mangrove Day, partners hope to translate awareness into pledges of action (financial, political and community). The overarching aim is to remind everyone that healthy mangroves are essential to a stable climate, rich biodiversity and human security.

Marking Mangrove Day does have tangible benefits. International Mangrove Day galvanizes partnerships, increases public scrutiny, and attracts essential funding for long-term stewardship. It has also elevated mangroves in policy arenas, integrating their protection into climate action plans, disaster risk reduction strategies, and national development agendas. It provides a focal point for new or renewed commitments -- from government mangrove protection laws to corporate responsibility pledges -- and encourages the public to support conservation. For instance, research and technical guidelines released on this date can improve the success of restoration projects. The global restoration movement, under the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021--2030), explicitly highlights coastal wetlands as nature-based climate solutions. Studies show that well-planned mangrove rehabilitation is not only ecologically effective but can be economically sound: restored mangroves boost fisheries, generate ecotourism jobs and avoid billions in disaster damages. The UN Decade's principles of ecological mangrove restoration, show that local leadership, proper site selection and science-based planning can overcome earlier failures of mass-planting.