29 September 2014: On the occasion of the 16th Global Meeting of the Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has issued a report, titled ‘The Importance of Mangroves to People: A Call to Action.’ The report details the economic and environmental importance of mangroves, as well as tools and policy measures available for protecting them.

The publication aims to relay the economic benefits and ecosystem services provided by mangrove forests with a view to bolstering their conservation. It contains chapters on tropical mangrove ecosystems, mangrove ecosystem services, threats and drivers of change, conservation and management, and data and knowledge gaps.

The report underscores that “in spite of the mounting evidence in support of the multitude of benefits derived from mangroves, they remain one of the most threatened ecosystems on the planet, being lost at a rate greater than coral reefs and tropical rainforests.” It notes that the destruction of mangroves results in some US$6-$42 billion in economic losses every year. The report projects that, from 2000 to 2050, Southeast Asia alone will lose 35% of its mangroves, which will threaten the continued provision of mangrove ecosystem services including carbon sequestration, fisheries and protection from extreme weather events.

The publication further delineates the economic value of mangrove-related ecosystem services, noting that: 30% of the total fisheries catch in Southeast Asia is mangrove-dependent; mangroves provide coastal protection saving an estimated US$7.3 million a year in dyke maintenance costs in Viet Nam; and, in Brazil, mangroves capture heavy metal sediments that would otherwise cost US$13 million to treat.

With regard to conservation, the report suggests the adoption of protocols under the Regional Seas Conventions for the protection and sustainable use of mangroves. It also recommends the establishment of a Global Mangrove Fund, the inclusion of mangroves in REDD+, the development of payments for ecosystem services (PES) mechanisms, and the inclusion of mangroves in marine spatial planning and related policies. [UNEP Press Release] [Publication: The Importance of Mangroves to People – A Call to Action] [IISD RS Coverage of the 6th Global Meeting of the Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans]