The Mangrove Forum

Mangrove ecosystems have to be conserved and restored. UNESCO has supported the conservation, restoration and scientific research of mangrove ecosystems through the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, major international conferences, scientific interventions and publications, including the World Atlas of Mangroves, for many decades.

We know very well that these ecosystems are of the utmost importance for people, because of their high marine productivity and immense carbon sequestration capacity, as well as their important ecosystem functions and economic services.

The forum will focus on bringing stakeholders together, and to have practical interventions to redress the adverse anthropogenic impact on mangrove ecosystems.

3rd MEKONG MANGROVE FORUM, 1st OF OCTOBER 2020

Detailed event information

2020thu01oct13:45thu15:153rd Mekong Mangrove ForumBlue Carbon Ecosystem Conservation, Restoration and Sustainable Utilization in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region and beyond

Information

About

Importance of Mangrove Ecosystems

The General Conference of UNESCO proclaimed an International Day specifically for Mangrove Ecosystems in 2015. UNESCO has supported the conservation, restoration and scientific research of mangrove ecosystems through the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, major international conferences, scientific interventions and publications, including the World Atlas of Mangroves, for many decades.

 

We know very well that these ecosystems are of the utmost importance for people, because of their high marine productivity and immense carbon sequestration capacity, as well as their important ecosystem functions and economic services.

 

Mangroves are immensely important for our own wellbeing, yet we are eradicating them fast. This compromises our goals to keep ecosystems intact, causes serious ecological and socio-economic impacts, and contradicts our respect for nature itself. Government authorities, academic institutions, nature conservation bodies, schools and communities, and specialized UN agencies have to come together with the private sector, and work together to keep what we have and to repair what we have lost. ‘Open Science’ is a global movement aiming to make science more accessible, democratic, transparent and beneficial for all. Driven by unprecedented advances in our digital world, the transition to ‘Open Science’ allows scientific information, data and outputs to be more widely accessible and more readily shared with the active engagement of all relevant stakeholders. ‘Open Science’ should allow to accelerate necessary action, including for biodiversity conservation. In the mangrove Forum we should try and embark on a process of ‘Open Science’, involve people more, possibly via the engagement of universities and schools.

 

Natural mangrove forests need to be conserved and restored, based on sound science and supported by united responsibility, environmental education and community involvement. From 2021, we will develop dynamic concerted actions to generate holistic cooperation for large-scale positive change. Let us jointly contribute to this goal and conserve and restore mangroves, supported by a process of socio-ecological monitoring. We have to do much more to address the ongoing environmental crises that have worsened over the years and decades. It would also be a major mistake to leave youth behind, as has been done before. These environmental crises will not go away by themselves – action is needed and we need to work together. The general public and especially young people have to be involved, in a process of ‘Open Science’, rather than restricting meaningful interventions to academia and environmental agencies.

 

Mangroves are incredibly productive plants, able to provide numerous goods and ecosystem services that are beneficial to both people and marine environments. These include fast growing timber and plant products, maintaining water quality, coastal protection, environmental tourism, and sustenance for fisheries in coastal communities. Additionally, mangrove ecosystems accommodate an exceedingly high level of biodiversity and play a major role as a carbon sink. The ability to grow in hypersaline environments also distinguishes mangroves as an extremely valuable source of freshwater independent biofuel.

 

UNESCO has supported the conservation, development, and scientific research of mangroves for many years, particularly through the establishment and science-based management of coastal UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. UNESCO Bangkok, in its strategic plan for 2020 and beyond, considers mangrove management in the Mekong Sub-Region as a priority. UNESCO is now in the process of setting up a ‘Mekong Mangrove Forum’, with mangrove and nature conservation specialists from Cambodia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, supported international mangrove stakeholders.

The forum will focus on bringing stakeholders together, and to have practical interventions to redress the adverse anthropogenic impact on mangrove ecosystems. Initially, strengthening the World Network of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves will be at the centre of the intervention, including offsetting mangrove habitat loss based on illegal logging for charcoal production. Establishing new UNESCO Biosphere Reserves and testing various conservation and restoration options will be potential activities, as well other ideas as suggested and practiced by UNESCO’s partners.

Blog

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Media Library

Videos

Videos

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Chaos in the climate of the Sundarbans

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3rd Mekong Mangrove Forum Opening Remarks by Miguel Clüsener-Godt

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Mangrove Photography Awards 2020

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UNESCO Note on the occasion of the 3rd Mekong Mangrove Forum [full playlist]

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The 3rd Mekong Mangrove Forum Teaser

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Dirty Science Part 1: Excavating the truth about mangroves and carbon

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Keep what we have and restore what we have lost

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Mangroves in Myanmar by Manfred Hermsen Stiftung and Fauna Flora International

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Mangrove: Nature’s carbon storehouse

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Excursion into the Samut Songkhram Mangrove Forest

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SMILO // Principe Island – Preserving Mangroves Together

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Voices from the Climate Frontline

Presentations

Yokohama’s Blue Carbon Forum, January 2023

Floating Mangroves | Benno Böer
Community-based mangrove restoration in Príncipe Island Biosphere Reserve | António Abreu
Blue Carbon Ecosystems in Coastal Amazonia | Luis E. Aragón
A Desirable Framework for Creating a Carbon-Neutral Society | Dai-Yeun Jeong
Promoting tri-party collaboration through the conservation of mangrove ecosystems of Fonseca Bay in Central America | M. Hasegawa
Blue Carbon Systems and Mangroves in Japan | Kiyoshi Fujimoto
Blue Carbon Systems and Mangroves in Malaysia | Waseem Razzaq Khan
Future perspectives of the UNESCO MaB Programme in view of blue carbon ecosystems | Benno Böer
Role of High Salinity in Blue Carbon Ecosystems | Bilquees Gul
Sabhka Ecosystems of the World | Abdul Hameed
Quantifying the potential of carbon sequestration in Blue Carbon ecosystems| Martin Zimmer
The 30 by 30 Challenge and the MAB Programme of UNESCO | Miguel Clüsener-Godt
Saudi Aramco Mangrove Blue Carbon Program | Dr. Ronald Loughland

3rd Mekong Mangrove Forum, October 2020

Mangroves in Myamar | Nyi Nyi Kyaw
Living wetlands sustainable future | Wansu Xu
Book series "Blue Carbon Ecosystems for Sustainable Development" | Bilquees Gul
Saudi Aramco Mangrove Restoration Program | Ron Loughland
Publications
Floating Mangrove Plantations in the Maldives | Shreya Kiran
A rapid assessment of waterbirds and the mangrove status in the Menabe Antimena Protected Area, Madagascar
The importance of mangroves in Myanmar
The importance of the Myeik mangroves and mudflats, Tanintharyi, Myanmar for migratory waders and other waterbirds
A visual assessment scale for rapid evaluation of mangrove degradation, using examples from Myanmar and Madagascar
The State of the World’s Mangroves 2022 | Maricé Leal and Mark D Spalding
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