Celebrate 10 years of World Mangrove Day by growing your conservation roots!
Mangrove trees, with their striking stilt-like roots and glossy leaves, are beautiful—but they are more than eye candy on a vacation; they are critical foundations of coastal ecosystems. Mangrove roots shield coastlines from eroding waves and wind, provide habitats for a wide range of important fish and wildlife, and act as carbon sinks that mitigate the effects of climate change globally. These benefits are particularly important on islands, where resources are often scarce and storms can be devastating.
World Mangrove Day (officially the International Day for the Conservation of Mangrove Ecosystems) celebrates these amazing trees. It was established by UNESCO in 2015, and has been celebrated annually on July 26 since 2016. And mangroves need the attention—because mangroves are disappearing at an alarming rate.
Seacology has been at the forefront of mangrove conservation for nearly three decades. Working with indigenous communities, we’ve helped improve mangrove conservation, awareness, education, and restoration in dozens of countries and set a global precedent for their protection.
National initiatives
The Sri Lanka Mangrove Conservation Project was the largest and most far-reaching initiative in Seacology’s history. The project’s cornerstone was an agreement with Sri Lanka’s government to protect all 21,782 acres of the country’s mangrove forests. In exchange, Seacology funded sustainable job training and financial support to impoverished women in 1,500 coastal communities. The project restored 9,600 acres of mangrove forest in degraded areas, planting trees raised in three Seacology-funded mangrove nurseries. A first-of-its kind museum and educational center opened on the first World Mangrove Day in 2016. Today it is one of the world’s top destinations to share knowledge about mangroves.
Building on the success and lessons learned from Sri Lanka, Seacology repeated our goal of preserving mangroves across an entire country in the Dominican Republic. There, we focused on a nationwide awareness campaign; investing in mangrove-related ecotourism and other sustainable small businesses; and supporting mangrove education for kids and teenagers through the Play for the Mangroves program.
Community members plant mangroves near Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka.
Kayaking and other ecotourism incentivizes protecting mangroves in the Dominican Republic.
Play for the Mangroves
Play for the Mangroves tapped into Dominicans’ love of sports by offering boys and girls baseball and volleyball equipment and uniforms, organizing games, and providing hands-on education and mangrove preservation. This project was so successful that we’ve expanded it to the Philippines and Jamaica, tailoring it to the most popular games in those countries.
The program leaves lasting imprints on the participants, fostering environmental stewardship for the future.
Thousands of kids across the Dominican Republic have received sports equipment through Play for the Mangroves so far.
Play for the Mangroves participants in Lobo Municipality, Philippines, prepare to plant seedlings.
Local conservation, worldwide windfall
Seacology has led more than 100 mangrove-conservation projects making a world of difference for the people who depend on local mangrove ecosystems for storm protection, food, and ecotourism livelihoods. This year, we’ve already launched eight more, including on El Jiote island in Guatemala. There, we’re working with the community to protect both mangroves and nesting grounds for sea turtles.
This World Mangrove Day, consider becoming a recurring supporter
Conserving mangroves and other important ecosystems is more urgently needed than ever, as climate change continues to raise pressure on island ecosystems and communities around the world. To honor the roots we’ve planted and the seedlings yet to come, Seacology invites you to become a monthly donor on this World Mangrove Day.
When you make your gift recurring, its power extends well beyond its amount.
Monthly giving allows Seacology to better plan and estimate budgets for projects like Play For the Mangroves, maximizing the impact of your support. That means more youth education, conservation, and real on-the-ground results.
So whether you’re a first-time donor or long-time supporter, consider giving monthly to Seacology to help us continue protecting the mangroves and other critical ecosystems of islands worldwide.