New Agriculturist: News brief - Mangroves report reveals considerable losses

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Mangroves report reveals considerable losses

Mangroves report reveals considerable losses

Mangrove forests act as natural coast defences
Shigeyuki

Mangrove forests are being lost at a rate up to four times higher than land-based forests despite restoration efforts by some countries, a new report states. World Atlas of Mangroves estimates that one-fifth of mangrove forests have been destroyed since 1980, and warn that any further destruction will cause significant economic and ecological decline. "Mangrove forests are the ultimate illustration of why humans need nature," explains Dr. Mark Spalding, lead author of the report and a senior scientist with The Nature Conservancy. "Mangrove forests help prevent erosion and mitigate natural hazards from cyclones and tsunamis - these are natural coastal defenses whose importance will only grow as sea level rise becomes a reality around the world."

Covering 120 countries, the report is the most comprehensive assessment of mangrove forests to date. In addition to providing flood defences, mangrove forests store carbon, prevent erosion, act as nurseries for fish and provide rot-resistant timber. "Given their value, there can be no justification for further mangrove loss," adds Emmanual Ze Meka, executive director of the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO). "What's urgently needed is for all those working in fields of forestry, fisheries and the environment to work together and communicate their worth."

Many countries, such as Mexico, Belize, Tanzania and Mozambique, have established general legal protection for mangroves, controlling destructive activities by means of strict licensing systems. Globally, restoration efforts cover 400,000 hectares of mangroves, and 1,200 protected areas now safeguard one-quarter of the remaining forests. "These are robust and resilient ecosystems," says Mark Terceck, CEO of The Nature Conservancy. "Get things right for them and the payback will be immense: security for rich biodiversity and a lifeline to many of the world's most vulnerable people."

Date published: July 2010