Celebrating 10 Years of International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, the importance of mangroves has become an undisputed fact. Mangroves inhabit the intertidal zone in tropical and subtropical regions. They are thought to cover just 0.1% of the Earth’s surface and represent less than 0.4% of the global forest estate, but are highly significant ecosystems. They provide vital benefits in terms of ecosystem functions and services to coastal communities. Their value is particularly relevant in the face of climate change. It has been noted that they can store, in some cases, up to 10 times more carbon than terrestrial forests, and can provide an important natural barrier to coastlines from storm surges and extreme events. They can also act as sinks for contaminants and retain as well as filter sediments. They support detrital food webs and provide important nurseries for coastal fish populations. Because they are in the intertidal zone, they are sensitive to a rise in sea level. But, since they can support vertical soil growth, they can help to reduce the impact of a rise in sea level, meaning that they have the potential to be an important natural weapon with which to protect coastal communities. This ability does, however, mean that in some coastal environments there can be detrimental impacts on other coastal species, as increases in sediment support mangrove population growth; however, in most locations they are under substantial threat from human activity, with global mangrove stocks considered to have halved in the last 40 years. Recent recognition of their important role through conservation programs and effective restoration work means that declines have been potentially slowing in some areas, but more action is needed if protection is to be given to the three-quarters of the world’s mangroves that are at risk.

In response to the challenges facing mangroves, the UN International Day for the Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems has been celebrated on 26th July since 2015. It aims to raise awareness of the role that mangroves can play in the mitigation of and adaption to climate change, as well as offering other benefits for coastal species and inhabitants. This Special Issue commemorates 10 years of this international day by calling for papers focusing on important aspects of mangrove research. It aims to highlight important work directed at the restoration and rehabilitation of mangroves, as well as the promotion of mangroves as a natural tool in sustainable coastal management.

Contributions are welcome on, but not limited to, the topics below:

1. Restoration and rehabilitation of mangroves.
2. Quantifying current vulnerabilities and fragmentation of mangrove habitats.
3. Sedimentation and the expansion of mangrove habitats.
4. The ecosystem functions and services provided by mangroves.
5. The socioeconomic value of mangroves.
6. The role of mangroves in climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Prof. Dr. Diane Pearson
Guest Editor

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• rehabilitation
• restoration
• fragmentation
• carbon sequestration
• ecosystem functions
• ecosystem services
• climate adaptation
• coastal protection