The Edge between Land and Sea:  International Day for the Conservation of Mangroves 2025

History

This historic day commemorates Greenpeace activist Hayhow Daniel Nanoto, who died of a heart attack on the 26^th July 1998 during a massive protest to re-establish the mangrove wetlands in Muisne, Ecuador. The local community of Muisne joined forces with NGOs and the Greenpeace crew of its flagship Rainbow Warrior to dismantle an illegal shrimp pond in an attempt to restore this damaged zone back to its former state as a mangrove forest. Since Hayhow’s death, Mangrove Action Project (MAP) joined FUNDECOL of Ecuador in commemorating this date as Mangrove Action Day. As of 2015, 26^th July was declared the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem by UNESCO, also known as World Mangrove Day.

What are Mangroves?

UNESCO Mangroves are rare but spectacular ecosystems that occupy the boundary between land and sea. They consist of trees or large shrubs, including ferns and palms, that normally grow in or adjacent to the intertidal zone. Mangroves have adapted to survive in this environment and grow in saline coastal sediment habitats. 

 The Commonwealth Mangrove forests form a unique wetland ecosystem, inhabiting the edge of land and sea, thriving in seawater. Mangroves – trees and shrubs which live in intertidal zones – are found along tropical and sub-tropical coastlines in many Commonwealth countries.

2025 Theme: Protect Wetlands for Our Future

“The International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem signifies the value of Mangroves as the foundation for coastal life and advocates for support and awareness of the communities dependent on their conservation. The Day also serves as an opportunity to reflect on our personal commitment to climate and biodiversity conservation, and promotes global action by all for a sustainable future.”

—  Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem

Global coverage (Source: World Resource Institute) 

New analysis relies on satellite data to survey the state of these important ecosystems. Using Global Forest Watch(GFW) an online forest monitoring platform, we found that the world lost 192,000 hectares (474,000 acres) of mangroves from 2001 to 2012, a total loss of 1.38 percent since 2000 (or 0.13 percent annually). This is a relatively low rate of loss compared to the rate of tropical rate of tropical deforestation rate which stands at a total of 4.9 percent from 2000 to 2012 (or 0.41 percent annually). The tropical deforestation rate was calculated using the same tree cover loss data as the GFW analysis, and considered forests with more than 25 percent canopy cover.

Species of mangroves in the World ( Source: IUCN)

 Globally, there are 60 true mangrove species in 27 genera and 20 fam

Species of mangroves in Kenya 

In there are 9 species of mangroves in East Africa and Kenya boasts 8 species.

• Bruguiera gymnorrhiza
• Rhizophora mucronata
• Ceriops tagal
• Avicennia marina
• Sonneratia alba
• Lumnitzera racemose
• Xylocarpus granatum
• Pemphis acidula

Importance of mangroves

• Protects coastlines from storms, tsunamis and other natural disasters
• Help in climate change mitigation and regulation. They absorb carbon from the atmosphere five times more than the forests on land.
• They provide habitats for a wide range of wildlife; birds roost in the canopy,

shellfish attach themselves to the roots, and snakes and crocodiles come to hunt.

• Mangroves provide nursery grounds for fish
• They are a food source for many species ; human beings,monkeys, deer, tree-climbing crabs, and a nectar source for bats and honeybees.
• Sea turtles and other creatures use the intricate root system to seek food and shelter from predators.
• They recycle nutrients
• Source of fuel
• Building materials
• Natural water purifiers
• Dye

Ttraditional medicines

• Source of income through eco-tourism

Conservation status of mangroves (source: careourearth.com)

Globally, mangroves are at a high risk of being destroyed altogether.  Exploitation and pollution are important drivers of mangrove loss. According to Global Mangrove Alliance, an estimated 67% of mangroves have been lost or degraded to date, and an additional 1% is lost annually. Overall, mangroves are disappearing 3 to 5 times faster than global forest losses. Thus, it is important to protect or conserve the mangrove ecosystem.

Threats to mangroves 

The loss of our mangrove forest is caused by both natural changes and human factors.

• Diseases, biological pests and parasites e.g. barnacles, leaf eating crabs and caterpillars are some of the natural factors that degrade our mangroves.
• Mangrove forests have been over-exploited and destroyed due to urbanization, cutting mangroves to develop land near the ocean, cutting them for timber, fuel and charcoal as well as pollution.
• The mangrove forests in Kenya have traditionally been used as building poles and firewood.
• tourism in the coastal areas over the last couple decades has led to an increasing demand for construction of restaurants and bars, residential and commercial properties
• Industrial salt production factories, all of which compete and win for space. Industries, agriculture, sewage and oil spills cause much marine pollution. This hinders the growth and distribution of mangroves.

How you can contribute to its conservation?

Advocacy

Help educate others by sharing this blog with your friends, family and the rest of the world.

 Plantand grow mangroves 

Planting and growing mangroves will contribute to ecosystem restoration.

Mangroves hold coastlines in place. Once they are gone, the land erodes, and tides and currents reshape the coastline, making it difficult or impossible for mangroves to grow back in their former habitats.

Sharon Ikeazor