Mangroves are critical ecosystems, bridging land, freshwater, and sea. They host tremendous diversity and protect and provide for countless coastal communities around the world. This 2024 edition of The State of the World’s Mangroves highlights the tremendous advances that have been made on multiple fronts to safeguard these ecosystems. It showcases progress in: science and understanding; collaboration and information sharing; practical management interventions; and the many policy, legal, and financial tools that will help to secure a better future for these ecosystems.
We have reached a critical moment in the history of our planet. Recognizing both their importance and their resilience, there is increasing investment in the opportunities that mangroves present. The GMA represents a phase-shift in conservation opportunities for mangroves. With our global vision, we are providing a catalyst for accelerating change and building a host of opportunities for coastal peoples and biodiversity around the world.
Current State of Mangroves
- Improved mapping: The latest Global Mangrove Watch (GMW v4.0) provides a sixfold resolution improvement (10m vs. 25m), enhancing conservation efforts.
- Total mangrove coverage: As of 2020, 147,256 km² of mangroves have been mapped, with new data from six additional territories.
- Ongoing threats: 43% of mangrove loss (2000–2020) is due to aquaculture, oil palm plantations, and rice cultivation, with climate change further accelerating decline.
- Threatened ecosystems: 50% of the world’s mangrove provinces are now classified as threatened due to past and projected future losses.
- Climate resilience role: Mangroves play a crucial role in flood mitigation, reducing storm surge impact in extreme weather events.
- Vital carbon sinks: They store 394 tonnes of carbon per hectare, with some areas exceeding 650 tonnes, making them key to climate mitigation.
- Biodiversity hotspot: Over 5,700 species rely on mangroves, highlighting their importance in ecosystem connectivity.
- Limited protection: 40% of mangroves are in protected areas, but this varies—some nations protect over 75%, while others safeguard less than 5%.
- Declining loss rates: FAO and GMW data show mangrove loss rates have slowed since 2010, but challenges remain.
- Conservation momentum: The Mangrove Breakthrough initiative seeks to mobilize $4 billion to protect 15 million hectares, emphasizing restoration and sustainable financing.
