A new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (“UNEP”) highlights the global changes in mangroves and the impact of this on biodiversity, climate change and local livelihoods. The report notes that an estimated 51% of mangrove forests occur in Asia-Pacific, 29% in the Americas and 20% in Africa, and that the threat of extinction of mangrove-associated mammals is 50%, with 16% of plants similarly impacted.
Amongst the recommendations of the report, are to move away from siloed thinking, and to consider the socio-ecological system contributions of mangroves. This approach considers the impact on communities, gender and rights, and the dependencies between closely situated habitats and mangroves. Coherent policies and governance that align towards a common purpose and coordinated conservation and restoration funding mechanisms are also key suggestions.
This aligns with the recommendations of the report on the Diverse Values and Valuation of Nature by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (“IPBES”), to go beyond short-term economic and monetary considerations by understanding and recognising the various ways through which nature is valued.
From carbon sink to carbon source
The report characterises mangroves as a type of tropical forest occurring across tropical and sub-tropical coastlines. These forests assist with the long-term storage of carbon over centuries, however the report notes that due to changes in mangrove forests there was a reduction in 139 mega tonnes of carbon stocks between 1996 and 2020. An estimated 24 million tonnes of CO2 is released annually with the loss of mangroves. It is further noted that a restored mangrove could potentially sequester carbon within 5 years however, it would take up to 25 years for the levels of carbon stored to be comparable to natural ecosystems.
Importantly, the report emphasises that the often low rate of success of mangrove restoration projects can be improved by using scientific and local knowledge, decreasing the factors that cause degradation and loss, and including gender equality within projects.
Livelihoods and coastal protection
As assessed in the report, mangroves are also crucial to the livelihoods of small-scale fishers, especially in Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Nigeria and Gabon. In addition to food, they provide building resources and coastal protection to people living along the coast. The socioeconomic consequences arising from changes to mangroves include inequalities and risks of resource-based conflicts, which will potentially impact millions of people.
The report concludes with a reminder that a preventative approach is necessary, which requires an urgent transformation in the relationship with nature.
For students and researchers, the report refers to various knowledge gaps that need to be filled, and may aid in developing research proposals.
The full citation of the report is: United Nations Environment Programme (2023). Decades of mangrove forest change: what does it mean for nature, people and the climate? UNEP, Nairobi. It can be accessed on the UNEP website here.
The IPBES report citation is: IPBES (2022). Summary for Policymakers of the Methodological Assessment Report on the Diverse Values and Valuation of Nature of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, and can be accessed here.
Sustainable Capabilities 