International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem |26 July 2022
Why are mangroves important
Did you know that mangroves are some of the most important carbon sinks on earth? This may probably not come to you as a surprise, with the constant documentaries and ever so frequent awareness activities all year round. Despite the many efforts put in preventing loss and restoration of mangroves, the population of mangroves in many countries are still at critically low levels.
Today, July 26, is the International Day for the conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem. Founded by Unesco in 2015, the day aims to raise awareness on the importance of mangrove ecosystems as “a unique, special and vulnerable ecosystem” and promote solutions for their sustainable management.
Here in Seychelles, our population of mangroves began facing their demise upon the arrival of the first French settlers. With the increase in the development of coastal land areas, the situation only got progressively worse from then.
It may not be known, but mangroves have many helpful benefits that are mostly discovered only after they have been destroyed. An astounding proof of this was back in 2004, when a small town in India was protected from a devastating tsunami wave and it was all thanks to its natural coastal defence consisting of mangroves.
Currently the world’s largest mangrove forest is The Sundarbans Reserve Forest, located in Bangladesh. In 2010, it was declared that one fifth of mangrove forests around the world had been lost since 1980 according to a research conducted by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). Just imagine how much more has been lost between then and now!
Although saving the mangroves seems bleak, there is hope. Mangrove rehabilitation programmes have been set up in many countries, including here in Seychelles. NGOs such as Green Islands Foundations (GIF) and Nature Seychelles have organised many mangrove planting activities and restoration projects to help raise the population of mangroves on the island.
It is important to remember that “prevention is better than cure”. All it takes is you being your best possible self. Littering and pollution contribute to the loss of mangrove life, small actions that can be easily avoided.
Compiled by Sylia Ah-Time
