World Mangrove Day is one of our favorite holidays here at Seacology! July 26 is the day when environmental advocates around the globe spread the word about the importance of mangroves. There’s a lot to love about these trees and the critical role they play, especially in island ecosystems. Many Seacology projects protect and promote mangrove forests.

Mangroves, the only trees that thrive in shallow brackish water in warm climates, are critically important to island ecosystems. Their stilt-like roots provide shelter for young fish, clams, and other marine life. As climate change makes storms more severe and raises sea levels, mangroves save lives by shielding coastal communities from waves, wind, erosion, and flooding. They’re also among the most important “blue carbon” ecosystems, which capture carbon from the air and trap it in underwater soil, slowing the rise of global temperatures. 

Unfortunately, mangroves face threats nearly everywhere they are found. They are often cleared to make room for coastal development, or cut for lumber or firewood. Experts estimate that global mangrove cover has decreased globally in recent decades, with more than half of mangroves destroyed in some countries. Fortunately, the rate of loss appears to be slowing as advocates and governments prioritize protecting and restoring mangrove forests. Seacology has been an important part of this story.

UNESCO recognized World Mangrove Day in 2015, the same year our ambitious nationwide mangrove conservation program in Sri Lanka began. We have wrapped up that initiative, but we continue to support Sri Lanka’s mangroves, especially through our ongoing partnership with the Lanka Mangrove Museum. 

We also announced our nationwide mangrove program in the Dominican Republic on World Mangrove Day in 2021. This initiative is going strong, with many projects across the country helping to protect mangrove forests and change public attitudes toward them. The program’s ongoing success owes much to the hard work and deep knowledge of our national partner, Grupo Jaragua, as well as other communities and local conservation groups.

You can explore the beauty of mangrove ecosystems first-hand at many of Seacology’s mangrove conservation projects. You could kayak with our partner Coopesan San Lorenzo through Los Haitises National Park in the Dominican Republic to support sustainable fisheries and the conservation of nearly 3,000 acres of mangroves. You could rent a floating cottage in Barangay Bulanon in the Philippines to protect 900 acres of mangrove ecosystems and support the local community association. Or you could visit the newly renovated visitor center at Rio Dulce National Park in Guatemala to help support local education initiatives, and maybe even see some manatees. These partnerships benefit both the mangroves and the communities taking care of them by creating sustainable ecotourism jobs. 

Each year, we  grow our commitment to helping mangrove ecosystems flourish. We now have more than 100 projects that specifically focus on mangroves, and many others benefit them indirectly. 

You can support this critical conservation work by making a World Mangrove Day gift.  See you in the mangroves!