OUR APPROACH
Securing a safer future for critical coastlines and the lives that depend on them.
The Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA) is a worldwide collaboration uniting NGOs, governments, scientists, industry, local communities and funders towards a common goal of conserving and restoring mangrove ecosystems. Guided by a shared vision of a world where mangroves thrive and communities prosper, we firmly believe that we can achieve meaningful progress through true collaboration and innovation.
There are many ways to bring mangrove conservation to scale. The Global Mangrove Alliance will use its collective strengths and partnerships to address the barriers to large-scale mangrove conservation and restoration through several streams of work, including:
Alternate Livelihoods Support small-scale supplementary livelihood options, develop a portfolio of responsibly scalable options and optimize aquaculture or related opportunities that minimize mangrove loss.
Financing Models Ensure that local groups understand the financing pathways open to them, including how to access them, the pros and the cons.
Improving Policy Work with governments to develop and implement integrated management plans that activate global policy commitments and consider the multi-jurisdictional nature of mangrove conservation and restoration.
Building Capacity Build awareness of best practices, benefits, development strategies and cost-effectiveness of mangroves among policymakers, financing institutions, NGOs and others through national chapters, local mangrove champions and experts. National chapters allow us to prioritize efforts and scale impact.
Knowledge Sharing Connect the knowledge and tools required to integrate mangroves and their ecosystem services into mitigation, adaptation, disaster risk reduction and land-use strategies with community and national leaders.
GOALS
We have an ambitious plan for turning the tables on the world’s mangroves. There are three critical pathways to be achieved: halt loss, restore half and double protection.
Halt loss.
Reduce net mangrove losses driven by direct human actions to zero, avoiding losses of approximately 154,500 ha of mangroves.
Human-driven loss represents 62% of total losses. Our target refers to that direct, and therefore directly manageable, human-driven loss. Halting this would avoid 0.026 gT CO2 emissions and secure the continued supply of 800 million commercially important fish/shellfish annually.
Restore half.
Conduct science-based restoration to bring back half of all restorable mangroves lost since 1996, approximately 397,000 ha.
Of the 1,170,000 ha of mangroves lost since 1996, approximately 818,300 ha are considered restorable. The goal is deeply ambitious and would lead to the securing of combined biomass and soil carbon of some 0.635 gT CO2 equivalent. It would also provide additional habitat which will generate over 25 billion commercially important fish and shellfish every year.
Double protection.
Increase areas under conservation measures from 40% to 80%, protecting approximately 9.7 million total hectares of mangroves.
As of 2024, 42% of mangroves are recognized as protected areas. This would increase the long-term security of 9.14gT of CO2 equivalent and commercial fish productivity equivalent to 291 billion commercially important fish/shellfish every year.
Achieving these goals will generate considerable benefits for people across the planet. New and ongoing studies by GMA partners and researchers are allowing us to constantly improve our ability to assess these.
MISSION & HISTORY
These are central resources to further your understanding of the mission and history of the Global Mangrove Alliance. Whether you are looking to participate in our community or deepen your understanding of our global strategy, these will help you navigate.
