According to a recent global assessment by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), more than 50 per cent of world mangrove ecosystems are on the verge of collapse due to a combination of human activities and climate change.
Key points/findings
- This is the first time an ecosystem group has been assessed entirely across the planet using the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems – a global standard for measuring the health of ecosystems.
- The mangrove ecosystems of south India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and North West Atlantic were identified as critically endangered.
- According to the assessment, without significant changes by 2050, climate change and sea level rise will result in the loss of: 1.8 billion tonnes of carbon stored (17% of the total current carbon stored in mangroves),
- It will lead to loss of protection for 2.1 million lives exposed to coastal flooding (14.5% of current lives exposed) and $36 billion worth in protection to properties (35.7% of current property values protected) 17 million days of fishing effort per year (14% of current fishing effort is supported by mangroves).
- The assessment finds that maintaining mangrove ecosystems across the globe will be key for mitigating the impacts of climate change, with healthy mangroves able to better cope with sea level rise and offering inland protection from the impacts of hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones.
- According to the assessment, nearly 20% (19.6%) of the assessed mangroves are at high risk, classed as either Endangered or Critically Endangered, reflecting these areas are at severe risk of collapse.
About mangrove
- There are about 80 different species of mangrove trees. All of these trees grow in areas with low-oxygen soil, where slow-moving waters allow fine sediments to accumulate.
- Mangrove forests only grow at tropical and subtropical latitudes near the equator because they cannot withstand freezing temperatures.
- The world’s mangrove ecosystems cover about 150 thousand km2 along mainly tropical, sub-tropical and some warm temperate coasts of the world. About 15% of the world’s coastlines are covered by mangroves.
- Mangrove ecosystems are important for biodiversity conservation, provision of essential goods and services to local communities, and reducing the impact of climate change. For this reason, understanding risk of ecosystem collapse has serious socioeconomic implications.
