Mangrove loss represents a growing threat to coastal ecosystems and the livelihoods of millions of people around the world. These marine-coastal ecosystems, critical for biodiversity conservation, climate change protection and food security, are disappearing at an alarming rate due to urban sprawl, deforestation, pollution and pressure from unsustainable industries.
Mangrove degradation not only weakens the natural capacity of coasts to resist storms and erosion, but also compromises the local economy, especially in communities that depend on fishing and the ecosystem services that these forests provide. Faced with this scenario, the protection and restoration of mangroves becomes essential to promote sustainable, resilient, and inclusive development in the coastal regions of the planet.
Ecosystems on the Brink: A Threat That Grows With the Tide
On the fringe where the land meets the sea, mangroves emerge as coastal forests. Their twisted, exposed roots support much more than trees: they sustain coastlines, biodiversity and entire communities. In recent decades, however, this critical ecosystem has begun to fade under increasing pressures.
In the Tropical Northwest Atlantic region – which stretches from Mexico to Colombia – mangroves have lost more than 5.4% of their cover since 1996. If this trend persists, a 13.1% reduction is projected over the next 50 years.
In some coastal areas, the loss of mangrove forest has intensified erosion processes, causing the coastline to recede. Deforestation, extraction of materials, and changes in land use have left these areas exposed to stronger storm surges, affecting fishing, drinking water, and housing. This type of situation is evidence of the critical role that mangroves play as natural barriers to coastal dynamics.
More Than Trees: Sustaining Life and Food Security
Mangroves are not only highly biodiverse habitats; they are also pillars of food security and local economies. More than 800 billion juvenile fish and crustaceans depend on mangroves to complete their life cycles. Artisanal fisheries, the economic and food base of many coastal communities, are weakened when these key habitats disappear.
Mangroves also act as natural flood barriers, reducing storm impacts by up to 70%. Despite these benefits, mangroves continue to disappear in silence. Few headlines, little investment, and a misperception that they are “unproductive” spaces.
The Blue Economy: A Development Model
The concept of the blue economy – a development model that seeks to harness the ocean’s resources in a sustainable manner – has gained prominence in international forums over the past few years. It is estimated that by 2030, this development model will generate trillions of dollars in services such as coastal tourism, fishing, marine energy, and transportation.
The good news is that the blue economy can also be an ally of mangroves, if articulated with conservation, restoration and participatory management policies. Investing in mangroves is, in effect, investing in coastal resilience, sustainable jobs and climate adaptation. Some countries have already understood this: they incorporate mangrove protection in their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and promote nature-based solutions as an adaptation strategy.
Blue Carbon: The Hidden Jewel of Mangroves
Among the many ecosystem services provided by mangroves, one stands out for its special global relevance: carbon sequestration. Mangrove soils store up to 10 times more carbon per hectare than terrestrial forests. This carbon, known as blue carbon, can remain stored for centuries or millennia due to the anaerobic conditions of the soil.
When mangroves are destroyed, that carbon is released into the atmosphere, aggravating climate change. Therefore, conserving them not only protects biodiversity, it also mitigates greenhouse gas emissions.
The International Blue Carbon Partnership (IPBC) works to reverse this situation by promoting conservation and restoration policies in more than 40 countries. In this context, MarAlliance, in order to safeguard these priceless ecosystems, we have launched an innovative project: Mangrove Habitat for Juvenile Fish Recruitment: Developing Local Knowledge and Capacity. This initiative aims to equip local communities with the knowledge and tools needed to protect and restore Belize’s mangroves. Funded by the Blue Social Challenge Fund (BSCF) of the UK Government’s Sustainable Blue Economies Program, this project is part of a broader effort to improve climate change resilience and economic sustainability in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) through better ocean management, poverty reduction/livelihood improvement and greater use of nature-based solutions.
Cutting-edge research methodologies, such as environmental DNA analysis, are also being employed. This advanced technique allows scientists to detect the presence of fish species simply by analyzing water samples, providing a non-invasive way to study biodiversity in mangrove habitats. The data collected will be instrumental in strengthening Belize’s fisheries management strategies and in shaping future conservation policies in other countries.
A Call From the Roots
Mangroves don’t ask for much: just space to grow, clean water, and time. In return, they offer coastal protection, biodiversity, food security, employment, and climate mitigation.
The crisis they face is silent, but deeply visible in every eroded coastline, every displaced community, and every loss of biodiversity. But so is the response: community-led restoration initiatives, emerging public policies, and international partnerships such as the Global Mangrove Alliance recognize the strategic value of these ecosystems.
If we want a truly sustainable economy, we must start with firm roots. The roots of the mangrove.
