Restoring coastlines by planting
Mangroves
Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees (halophytes) and can be found in the coastal intertidal zone (the area between high and low tide). Despite being trees, they're able to thrive in salty water, rooted in the low-oxygen environment of mud. Their twisted roots and branches resemble long, slender stilts and help secure them against ocean waves and changing tides — and their thick, waxy leaves filter and excrete salt from the water.
Between 1996-2020, 3.4% (5,245km2) of global mangrove cover was lost. In 2023, the UN Environment Programme reported that global mangrove loss had stabilized — and some areas have regained forest cover. This is great news, but mangroves are still threatened by persistent degradation, pollution, and biodiversity loss. Scientists estimate that approximately 1% of our mangroves are lost yearly, posing a major threat to coastal communities and ecosystems.
Mangroves Stats
1,500
Species sheltered
Mangrove forests shelter an estimated 1,500 species.
15%
Severely threatened
15% of species associated with Mangroves are threatened with extinction.
2/3
Reduction of wave energy
A wave passing within 100 meters of mangrove forest can lose around 2/3 of its energy.
10x
more Carbon stored
Mangroves cover just 0.1% of the earth’s surface, but store up to 10X more carbon than terrestrial forests.
80%
Of global fish catch
80% of global fish catch is directly or indirectly dependent on mangrove forests.
Project Highlights
Mangrove forests shield millions of people from climate change impacts, cyclones, tidal surges, and coastal erosion. Planting mangroves can help protect the natural embankments of river mouths, thus restoring the aquatic environment and ultimately restoring ecological balance. Learn about three recent reforestation projects that planted mangrove trees!
Sunderbans Mangrove Restoration, Bangladesh
Located in southwestern Bangladesh, the Sundarbans is the single largest mangrove forest in the world. This project worked to increase mangrove coverage in the Sundarbans region, planting trees to reduce riverbank erosion, protect livelihoods, educate local communities about the importance of mangrove conservation, and stabilize the overall mangrove ecosystem. The trees will also increase climate change adaptation and mitigation — and help shield nearby coastal communities from natural disasters.
Community Mangrove Restoration, Myanmar
Myanmar is highly vulnerable to climate change due to the acutely felt impacts of rising temperatures and sea levels, dramatic changes in rainfall patterns, and major storm occurrences. This project worked to combat climate change by conserving and restoring mangrove forest that had been heavily deforested, while avoiding additional damage to the environment and biodiversity. It also aimed to foster a wealth of ecological and economic safeguards for the local community.
Mangrove Reforestation, Philippines
The Philippines hold at least 50% of all mangrove species in the world — and the country's Sarangani Bay and Tambobo Bay mangrove forests historically provided protection for coral reefs and rich biodiversity. This project planted trees to reduce erosion and protect the country's shoreline, restore wildlife habitats, increase coral reef protection, restore fish populations, and foster the return of food resources for nearby communities.