The world’s mangrove ecosystems are under threat, with more than half at risk of collapse and one-third facing the impacts of climate change, according to a recent global assessment.
Mangroves, which store around 11 billion tonnes of carbon, are crucial habitats that provide essential services to people, including coastal disaster risk reduction, carbon storage, and support for fisheries. However, deforestation, development, pollution, and dam construction pose serious threats to these ecosystems.
The study, led by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with the involvement of over 250 experts in 44 countries, classified the world’s mangrove ecosystems into 36 different regions and assessed the threats and risk of collapse in each region.
Climate change and sea-level rise are expected to result in the loss of 1.8 billion tonnes of carbon stored in mangroves by 2050, valued at least USD 13 billion in voluntary carbon markets. Additionally, one-third of the world’s mangrove ecosystem provinces are predicted to be severely affected by sea-level rise, with 25 percent of the global mangrove area expected to be submerged in the next 50 years.
The Northwest Atlantic, North Indian Ocean, Red Sea, South China Sea, and Gulf of Aden coasts are projected to be particularly severely affected by sea-level rise. Mangroves play a crucial role in protecting 15.4 million people and USD 65 billion worth of property per year from coastal disasters, a number that could rise to 15.5 million people and USD 118 billion by 2050.
Maintaining mangrove ecosystems across the globe will be essential for mitigating the impacts of climate change, as healthy mangroves can better cope with sea-level rise and provide protection from the impacts of hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones. The findings of this assessment highlight the urgent need for coordinated conservation efforts to protect these vital ecosystems.