World Wetlands Day is being celebrated on February 2nd, and this year, we want to bring attention to the often-overlooked hero of our planet’s health: mangroves. These unique and vital ecosystems, located at the intersection of land and sea, play a crucial role in supporting biodiversity, protecting coastal communities, and mitigating climate change.
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), mangroves are disappearing at a rate three to five times faster than overall global forest losses. This has severe ecological and socio-economic impacts, with estimates showing that mangrove coverage has been cut in half in the past 40 years. Some countries have even lost more than 40% of their mangroves between 1980 and 2005.
Despite their importance, mangroves are often undervalued and under threat. Gavin Bruce, CEO of conservation charity International Animal Rescue (IAR), stresses the urgency of protecting and restoring these ecosystems. “Mangroves are in danger, and it has been estimated that more than three-quarters of the world’s mangroves are under threat along with all the aquatic and land organisms that depend on them,” he says.
IAR’s partners in Indonesia, YIARI, are working alongside coastal communities to preserve and restore one of the largest and most diverse coastal mangrove systems in the world. In the past 12 months, YIARI has planted 15,600 seedlings from 33 different genera, covering 30 hectares. Thanks to the dedication and engagement of the local people, YIARI has achieved a remarkable survival rate for the planted seedlings.
Not only do these efforts contribute to the restoration of mangrove ecosystems, but they also highlight the crucial role mangroves play in protecting coastal areas and supporting biodiversity. “We are witnessing catastrophic changes in the weather, with severe flooding becoming a regular event,” says Bruce. “Mangroves are critical in the fight against climate change, stabilising sediments and reducing wave energy to safeguard coastal farming communities.”
On this World Wetlands Day, let’s raise awareness for the conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem and recognize the irreplaceable value of mangroves before it’s too late. Protecting animals, habitats, and our shared future should be a top priority.
For more information, please visit www.internationalanimalrescue.org.
