The International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem is observed every year on 26 July to raise global awareness about the ecological, climatic, and socio-economic importance of mangroves. The day was proclaimed by UNESCO in 2015 during its 38th Session, and the first observance took place in 2016.The observance highlights the urgent need to conserve mangrove ecosystems, which are disappearing at a rate three to five times faster than overall global forest losses. Current estimates indicate that nearly 50% of global mangrove cover has disappeared over the last few decades.
Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees and shrubs that grow in tropical and subtropical intertidal coastal zones, mainly between land and sea. These ecosystems survive in low-oxygen, saline, and waterlogged soils, making them highly specialized coastal vegetation systems.Mangroves are often called:
because they regulate coastal ecological balance and improve coastal resilience.
Mangroves are among the most productive ecosystems in the world and perform multiple ecological functions.
Mangroves act as natural bio-shields against:
Their dense root systems absorb wave energy and stabilize coastlines. Studies indicate that mangroves can reduce wave height by 50–99% over 500 metres.
Mangroves are major Blue Carbon Ecosystems.They:
Globally, mangroves are estimated to store nearly 11 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide.Although they cover only 0.7% of tropical forests, they contribute nearly 10–11% of terrestrial carbon input into oceans.
Mangrove ecosystems support:
They function as:
Mangroves support coastal communities through:
They also improve water quality by trapping sediments and filtering pollutants.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations report “The World’s Mangroves 2000–2020”, the total global mangrove area in 2020 was approximately 14.8 million hectares.Nearly 44% of the world’s mangroves are concentrated in:
Major mangrove-holding countries include:
Together, these countries contain nearly 47% of global mangrove cover.
Despite conservation measures, mangroves continue to decline due to:
The annual rate of mangrove loss declined from:
showing some improvement due to conservation interventions.
Climate change poses a major threat through:
The International Union for Conservation of Nature warns that nearly 50% of mangrove ecosystems may collapse by 2050 without urgent action.
Human-induced threats include:
UNESCO promotes mangrove conservation through:
UNESCO also works on restoration of:
as part of global Blue Carbon Ecosystem Conservation.
The MangRes Project supports mangrove restoration in:
It focuses on:
The Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA) is a coalition of:
Targets by 2030:
Mangrove restoration is a key component of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, focusing on:
Oman launched an ambitious project to plant:
Expected outcomes:
The programme supports Oman’s Net Zero 2050 strategy.
Under the Saudi Green Initiative (2021), Saudi Arabia aims to:
Major initiatives include:
Mangroves along the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf:
Bahrain aims to plant:
Key restoration activities are taking place in:
with support from:
Launched in 2021, the MERS project focuses on:
It plans to plant:
The UAE launched:
The UAE is also implementing large-scale marine restoration in Abu Dhabi involving:
According to the India State of Forest Report 2023, India’s mangrove cover is:
| State/UT | Status |
|---|---|
| West Bengal | Largest mangrove cover |
| Puducherry | Smallest mangrove cover |
The Government of India launched:
India is increasingly using:
to detect:
Experts emphasize that mangrove conservation requires:
Community-driven restoration improves:
Mangroves are among the most critical ecosystems for ensuring coastal protection, biodiversity conservation, climate mitigation, and livelihood security. Their role as powerful blue carbon sinks makes them indispensable in combating climate change and sea-level rise.Despite increasing international and national conservation efforts, mangroves continue to face severe pressure from climate change and human activities. Long-term protection requires a combination of:
The observance of the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem serves as a reminder that protecting mangroves is essential for ensuring ecological stability and sustainable development for future generations.