Saving Lamu Mangroves: From Futile Photo Ops To Real Progress |
KENYA - Hundreds flock Lamu County, not only for the beauty of Kenya’s oldest Lamu town but also to be part of something bigger: to save the endangered coastal mangrove forests. Each year, visitors join locals in ceremonial mangrove planting, taking photos with the seedlings before leaving them to their fate. In so doing, guests have ignored the locals’ indigenous or scientists’ technical knowledge on mangrove restoration. Regrettably, this approach has not yielded results. Targeted areas for forestation continue to degrade and are now extending far onto dry lands as rising sea levels rage. The Kitangani mangrove restoration site, where tens of tons of dredged sand were deposited in 2018 and is now a man-made beach, remains a reminder of such efforts, where planning has been done four times, all in futility. To effectively respond to this challenge, a Community-based Ecological Mangrove Restoration (CBEMR) approach is being deployed. This approach, spearheaded by Wetlands International, a non-profit organization, takes into account both the biological and ecological aspects of mangroves. Further, it also seeks first to understand the historical and sociological underpinnings that influence ongoing restoration efforts.
“For our Chukuchu site, we have been taught the importance of assessing the salinity, hydrology, and ecological conditions and getting the right species to transplant, unlike before when we would plant any propagule anywhere,” Husna Bakari, the group’s vice secretary, says as she wades through thigh-high thick mud. |
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Playa Hermosa Wetlands Fall Victim to Unregulated Development |
COSTA RICA - The Costa Rican media Teletica published a report on various environmental irregularities occurring in Playa Hermosa. Neighbors and environmentalists claim that enormous damage is being registered in a wetland located there. The Salvemos Hermosa movement arose in response to the community’s claims that uncontrolled real estate developments are destroying the mangroves and endangering the species that inhabit the area. Environmental lawyer Walter Brenes told Teletica journalists that environmental viability and construction permits are being issued, knowing that this is detrimental to the wetlands in the area. He even pointed out that there is a map that the authorities have not made official, in which it can be seen that the coverage of the wetlands is much greater than what is presented in the maps commonly used by the authorities.“Since 2016, SINAC determined the existence of the wetland in the area. For reasons unknown to me, the Municipality of Garabito and SINAC have not been able to reach an agreement to defend the wetlands. We have an unprecedented landfill, which I call open-pit,” said the lawyer.
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| Mangrove research centre to be established in Bangladesh |
BANGLADESH - Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury said the Bangladesh government will establish a state-of-the-art mangrove research center in the country. He said projects will be undertaken on mangrove forest protection, conservation and restoration in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. He also said the government will sign an MoU for collaboration with UAE state-owned organization DP World in this regard. The environment minister made the comments during a meeting with officials from the United Arab Emirates to discuss the Mangrove Restoration Project at the Bangladesh Secretariat.
The environment minister said collaborative endeavors with esteemed partners like the UAE are paramount for mangrove ecosystem restoration. This strategic alliance seeks to leverage collective knowledge, resources, and innovative solutions to ensure the preservation and revitalization of mangrove habitats. Young people will be sensitized against plastic pollution and mangrove restoration. Priorities will be given for nature-based solutions, he added. Ayla Bajwa, senior vice president of DP World, said his organization will work for enhancing, restoring, and protecting mangroves, fostering capacity building for science and innovation, and empowering communities connected to mangrove ecosystems.
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OECS marks Intl. day of forests, unveils Woburn mangrove documentary |
CARIBBEAN - The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) joins the global community in commemorating the International Day of Forests, 2024. This year’s theme, “Celebrating Forests and Innovation for a Sustainable Future,” underscores the critical role of forests in climate change mitigation, water and food security, and as habitats for threatened and endangered species. The significance of forests in the Eastern Caribbean is magnified due to their vital environmental and socio-economic contributions. In alignment with this year’s theme, the OECS is excited to announce the release of a documentary detailing the restoration journey of the Woburn and Woodlands mangrove area in Grenada. Devastated by Hurricane Ivan in 2004, the area has witnessed monumental restoration efforts. Building on this momentum, the OECS, through the EU-funded BioSPACE Project, is providing assistance in Flood Mitigation Measures within the Woburn and Woodlands Marine Protected Area and its surrounding community.
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| Colombia-Ecuador Border Communities Unite for Climate Adaptation |
COLUMBIA - "The land without a tree is naked and tender," sings Inés Morales as she cradles a small mangrove plant in her hands. She is the leader and elder in the Afro-Ecuadorian Comarca of Northern Esmeraldas, a community living along Ecuador's border with Colombia. "It grows like a child and holds in its memory the hidden songs of the universal soul," she continues. In her community, trees and mangroves are considered sources of life. In the Colombia-Ecuador border area, mangroves - forests that appear to float on water - are threatened by pollution, the climate emergency and violence related to drug trafficking. According to estimates, 10 percent of mangroves have disappeared in the last 10 years at global level. In this particular area, the loss is estimated at 6 percent, corresponding to almost 145,000 hectares. For centuries, these jungles and the tropical forests of the Amazon foothills have been home to Afro-descendant communities and the Awá Indigenous people.
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Global spatial dataset of mangrove genus distribution in seaward and riverine margins |
GLOBAL - Mangroves are nature-based solutions for coastal protection however their ability to attenuate waves and stabilise and accrete sediment varies with their species-specific architecture and frontal area. Hydrodynamic models are typically used to predict and assess the protection afforded by mangroves, but without species or genus distribution information, the results can be significantly different from reality. Data on the frontal genus of mangroves exposed to waves and tides can provide information that can be used in hydrodynamic models to more accurately forecast the protection benefit provided by mangroves. Globally, frontal species were identified from existing mangrove zonation diagrams to create a global mangrove genus distribution map. This dataset aims to improve the accuracy of hydrodynamic models. Data may be of interest to researchers in coastal engineering, marine science, wetland ecology and blue carbon.
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| Jupiter Narrows Conservation Alliance push to restore mangroves |
USA - A nonprofit is on a mission to restore and protect mangroves in northern Palm Beach County. The Ocean Conservancy, the nation's oldest marine nonprofit, announced Friday its support of the newly formed Jupiter Narrows Conservation Alliance. The group will work to save the mangrove islands at Jupiter Narrows, located along the Indian River, as well as its surrounding seagrasses. Conservationists said there's an urgent need to take action. "Mangroves want to live on Florida water ... so if we can create the conditions for them to thrive, they will thrive," Jon Paul Brooker, Florida's director for conservation at Ocean Conservancy, said. "Our aspiration is to help create those conditions for them to bring them back. These mangroves are really at the brink, but that doesn't mean the mangroves don't belong there or can't thrive there, so we're hopeful to make them thrive there."
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Please mention "calendar" in the comments field of our donation page If you would like to separately order calendars, please contact monica@mangroveactionproject.org Want to learn more about mangroves? VISIT MANGROVEACTIONPROJECT.ORG
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Mangrove Action Project Annual Report |
MAP is proud to release a report of our annual accomplishments and financial health for the past year. Check out a global map of the places we're working, and highlights from all of our programs. Thank you to our many supporters who made this work possible, and to all of our friends and partners working to protect mangrove forests, worldwide. |
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MAP News Issue #593 - March 9, 2024 |
Nigeria has Commenced Large-Scale Mangrove Restoraion in Ogoniland Eastern Niger Delta |
NIGERIA - The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) is a Nigerian project of the Federal Ministry of Environment (FME) saddled with the responsibility of implementing the recommendations of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) Report 2011 on the environmental assessment of Ogoniland. One of the report’s recommendations is the cleanup of shorelines impacted by oil spills and the restoration of degraded mangroves in the region. The impact of the oil spill in Ogoni destroyed thousands of hectares of mangrove forest. There is a need to clean up and rehabilitate the impacted areas as recovery is very slow and, if left to recover naturally, would take several decades. HYPREP has mapped out over 3000 hectares of degraded mangrove in Gokana Local Government Area (LGA), one of the four LGAs of Ogoniland, where cleanup and mangrove rehabilitation have started. HYPREP commenced its pilot mangrove rehabilitation project on over 590 hectares in Bomu, a shoreline community in Gokana whose mangrove was degraded by the impact of multiple oil spills years ago. Other mangrove areas and contiguous low intertidal flats requiring remedial action would be cleaned using low-pressure flushing and safe skimming of the released oil from the agitated sediment. The cleanup and mangrove restoration process are guided and evaluated using the Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique (SCAT). In some parts of the Bomu mangrove, natural atenuation that can support mangrove revegetation has occurred, typified by the presence of some volunteer seedlings, but recovery is slow. This is likely due to insufficient propagule stock in the area. Unregulated mangrove harvesting removes propagules before they mature and drop to recharge the system.
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Coastal Indigenous and Minority Women Driving Kenya’s Blue Forest Conservation Efforts |
KENYA - Tsunza Peninsula is a natural wonder that sits just inside the many inlets of Mombasa Island on the border between Mombasa and Kwale Counties—a little-known spectacle of lagoons, islands, and thick mangroves in Kinango Sub-County, Kwale County, on Kenya’s coastal region. This natural paradise is a beehive of activities, with fishers meandering through the creeks and returning to the shores after a dawn harvest. Dhows and motorboats glide from shore to shore, with tourists and locals travelling between the two neighboring counties. What holds these activities together are the efforts of the 45 people, 35 of them women, of the Tsunza Fish Pond and Mangrove Restoration community project. They protect, preserve, conserve, and restore Tsunza’s mangrove forest and the entire ecosystem. Mangroves are not only a critical biodiversity hotspot; they are also coastal superheroes, a first line of defense against climate-induced coastal hazards.
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| Sri Lanka globally recognised by UN for rebuilding Mangrove Ecosystems |
SRI LANKA - In a landmark achievement in the world of conservation, Sri Lanka was declared a UN World Restoration Flagship, in recognition of the nation’s vital efforts to rebuild and restore its mangrove ecosystems. The UN Flagship Restoration Award is a timely recognition of Sri Lanka’s viable, lasting solutions towards the restoration of these essential ecosystems which support countless lives and livelihoods across the island. The nation is slated to receive the award at the United Nations Environmental Assembly which will be held in Nairobi on February 27, 2024. The award signifies the nation’s effective use of the UN’s Principles for Ecosystem Restoration, while highlighting globally significant best practices and methodologies that can potentially serve as a framework for future success across the world. The aftermath of the 2004 tsunami and its destructive impacts on Sri Lanka’s coastline highlighted the importance of mangroves as a coastal protector. Unfortunately, the continued destruction of mangroves and the lack of a formal mechanism impeded effective conservation and restoration.
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Empowering Women for Mangroves Conservation |
THAILAND - Kanit Sookdang, 65 years old, regularly participates in local campaigns and activities to protect community resources, improve livelihoods and support income generation. Originally from Uttaradit province, Kanit has lived in the community for 45 years and has contributed towards planting mangroves to defend her home against rising seas. Despite moving her house over 500 meters inland five times, she still faces the relentless waves and storms that are now becoming more frequent. Sleepless nights fueled her determination to inspire others in her community to take action and promote mangroves restoration. She is leading an initiative to register the area as a mangrove community forest with the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR).Currently, Kanit is the leader of the natural dyeing group, a village committee member, a leading representative of the elderly group, and a member of the school committee. More recently, Kanit was elected by villagers to serve as a Vice President of Khlong Prasong Community Forest Group, an honorable position where she seeks to represent a women’s voices towards conservation.As community-based tourism in Khlong Prasong continues to flourish, attracting visitors from outside, Wanida has been a key driver in fostering local involvement in forest conservation and increasing awareness on resource management to benefit the community. Through this initiative, Wanida aims to ensure a sustainable livelihood for villagers, all while adhering to regulated guidelines and safeguarding biodiversity.
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| Malizia Mangrove Park Achieves One Million Milestone |
PHILIPPINES - Together with the Mama Earth Foundation, Team Malizia created the Malizia Mangrove Park in the Philippines where half the mangroves were lost over the past 100 years. In teaming up with the Davao Oriental State University and local community, the goal of the park was to plant one million mangroves next to the existing ones. “Thanks to donations and help from our partners, we are pleased to announce that we have accomplished our goal of one million mangroves”, said Boris Herrmann. “It seemed like such a big yet achievable number when we created the park in 2020. Through years of enduring efforts and donations, the Malizia Mangrove Park makes an important contribution to the restoration of this coastal ecosystem, provides a better income for local residents, and the mangroves bind large quantities of carbon dioxide. We are not finished and efforts still need to be made to fully restore the local ecosystem, so we are now setting the new goal of two million mangroves.” The Team Malizia skipper added: “Numbers aren’t our most important goal though. Our aim is to restore the coastal ecosystem to a point where the mangroves can reproduce themselves and no further human help is needed. That’s the whole idea of the park: planting mangroves in a sustainable way, with the knowledge of experts from the local University led by Dr Lea Jimenez, and by involving the local community in the restoration process. The million mark is to break down what seems like an impossible task into achievable milestones and push us to continue taking further action to protect an invaluable ecosystem.”
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Blending science and community to support mangrove restoration in Ecuador |
ECUADOR - This past August, in southern Ecuador amidst dense mangrove forests, scientists were at work. As I followed in her footsteps, Julie Shahan, a Stanford University Ph.D. student, navigated the challenging terrain, burdened by the large 25-pound piece of equipment on her back. This equipment, a gas analyzer, collects measurements to unlock the secrets of soil greenhouse gas emissions. This journey was a collaborative effort between Universidad Espíritu Santo (UEES), Stanford University, Scripps Institute of Oceanography and Environmental Defense Fund. With thick mud underfoot and a symphony of scientific measurements being collected around us, Julie deployed the gas analyzer, measuring carbon dioxide and methane emissions from the soil. The data collected during the trip will serve as the bedrock for evaluating the efficacy of the climate mitigation abilities of the impending mangrove restoration projects. Mangroves are hailed for a myriad of ecosystem services, but they face danger from the impacts of human activities. Over the past 50 years, mangroves have declined globally. In Ecuador, many mangroves have been converted to aquaculture ponds to grow shrimp. That, coupled with deforestation, poses significant threats to mangroves in this region.
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| Mangroves Fight Climate Change, but Shrimp Farming Threatens Them |
GLOBAL - Since 1980, between 20 and 35 percent of all mangroves have been destroyed. There are several reasons for this, the biggest one being the shrimp industry. Between 1988 and 2008, global shrimp farming quintupled, with expansions mainly taking place in China, Thailand and Indonesia. Over five million tons of shrimp were produced around the world in 2023, with five countries — Ecuador, China, India, Vietnam and Indonesia — responsible for 74 percent of that production. Unfortunately, this massive expansion has wrought havoc on mangrove forests, which are often degraded or destroyed as a result of shrimp farmers’ efforts. According to Seafood Sustainability, an estimated 238,319 hectares of mangrove across 17 countries have been cleared to make way for shrimp farms. Given the important role mangroves play in trapping carbon, this has been disastrous for the environment. Between 30 and 122 million tons of carbon were released into the air due to mangrove clearing between 2000 and 2015, a 2018 study found. Even mangroves that aren’t completely destroyed by shrimp farms are still damaged and degraded by them. In order to provide water to their shrimp, farmers will often dig channels that divert the natural flow of fresh and saltwater away from mangroves and into shrimp ponds. This is dangerous for mangrove forests, as the reduction in saltwater makes it harder for mangrove saplings to be dispersed, and the lack of freshwater deprives mangrove trees of their life source.
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ORDER YOUR 2024 CALENDAR NOW! Get your free calendar with every donation of $100 or more
Please mention "calendar" in the comments field of our donation page If you would like to separately order calendars, please contact monica@mangroveactionproject.org Want to learn more about mangroves? VISIT MANGROVEACTIONPROJECT.ORG
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Mangrove Action Project Annual Report |
MAP is proud to release a report of our annual accomplishments and financial health for the past year. Check out a global map of the places we're working, and highlights from all of our programs. Thank you to our many supporters who made this work possible, and to all of our friends and partners working to protect mangrove forests, worldwide. |
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The community of adults and youth in Cayman Islands has come together recently to release a series of educational videos. Each is geared to...
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By: Isabel Robinson, MAP Volunteer Intern Some months ago I decided to come to Thailand and do an internship in mangrove conservation, ...
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J.H. Primavera, Ph.D. Among others, Typhoon Yolanda in 2013 and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami have highlighted the importance of m...
Saving Lamu Mangroves: From Futile Photo Ops To Real Progress KENYA - Hundreds flock Lamu County, not only for the beauty of Kenya’s oldes...
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