Europe Asia News

As part of the World Mangrove Day, proclaimed by UNESCO in 2015 and observed on July 26, awareness-raising activities aimed at protecting mangrove ecosystems continue.

Mangrove ecosystems, located between land and sea, are recognized for contributing to biodiversity conservation, protecting coastal communities from storms and coastal erosion, supporting food security, and playing a role in combating climate change through their carbon storage capacity.

According to UNESCO data, mangrove ecosystems are disappearing three to five times faster than global forest loss overall. It is estimated that approximately half of the world's mangrove areas have been lost over the past 40 years.

Through its Biosphere Reserves, World Heritage sites, and UNESCO Global Geoparks, UNESCO carries out activities to protect, manage, and ensure the sustainable use of mangrove ecosystems. The organization also supports scientific and policy-oriented initiatives aimed at conserving and restoring "blue carbon" ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrass meadows, and tidal salt marshes.

Within the framework of the MangRes Project, implemented by UNESCO during the 2022–2025 period, efforts are being carried out in cooperation with local communities to protect and restore mangrove ecosystems in biosphere reserves across Latin America and the Caribbean. The scientific data generated through the project are intended to contribute to international efforts to conserve mangrove ecosystems.