Mangroves have great ecological importance: they are biodiversity hotspots, protect coastlines from erosion, storms and tsunamis, and play a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
This last ‘quality’ is why mangrove ecosystems are so valuable in the fight against climate change; in fact, they can store significantly more carbon than trees on land. Mangroves act as carbon sinks, sequestering vast amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, thereby helping to regulate the planet's climate.
Despite covering a relatively small percentage of the Earth's surface, their ability to store carbon makes them essential in the fight against climate change. Many of the world’s mangroves are located in Latin America and the Caribbean, where they are not only valued for their ecological role, but also considered essential to the livelihoods of millions of people.
Sadly, as with so many ecosystems today, mangroves around the world are being destroyed by development in coastal areas, pollution and other human activities. But Latin America boasts several internationally funded and locally run projects that are successfully protecting these precious ecosystems.
Vida Manglar, Colombia
The Vida Manglar Project (Spanish for ‘mangrove life’) aims to conserve and restore 7,500 hectares of mangrove ecosystems, which over 30 years will sequester close to 1 million metric tons of carbon.
The restoration efforts have already begun in Cispatá Bay, in Colombia’s Sinú River basin. Vida Manglar is a market-driven conservation solution – meaning they sell high-quality carbon credits generated from the project on the Voluntary Carbon Market. Of these credits, 92% of the revenue goes back to the community of over 12,000 people who depend indirectly on the ecosystem services provided by mangroves.
Jardim Gramacho, Brazil
Jardim Gramacho, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, went from being Latin America’s largest landfill to becoming a thriving mangrove forest in just over a decade. An example of how marvelously nature can recover itself with a little help, today Jardim Gramacho is home to hundreds of crabs, snails, fish, and birds.
To recover the polluted area, the landfill was gradually covered with clay, garbage was removed, and a rainwater drainage system was installed. Crucially, more than 120 acres of mangroves were planted over the years, which allowed wildlife to return and the area to truly thrive, making it an important player in Brazil's carbon sequestration efforts.
Laguna San Ignacio, Mexico
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Laguna San Ignacio is located within El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve, a 6.2-million-acre natural protected area in Mexico. Here, mangroves play a significant role in the local economy and offer protection from rising sea levels and storm surges.
With the support of SeaTrees, an organization that provides financial support to projects that protect and restore blue carbon ecosystems, 100,000 mangrove trees are being planted across 25 acres of mangrove habitat.
Significantly, the project is being developed in collaboration with a group of local women -Mujeres de El Dátil- who have been trained on mangroves’ environmental services, seedlings collection and planting techniques, as well as monitoring and maintenance of restored sites. Involving local communities in restoration efforts has proven to make these projects more viable, impactful, and sustainable through time.
These are only a few of the several ongoing projects in the region that are looking to restore these important ecosystems. Their development will place Latin America in a better position to adapt to and face the inevitable consequences of climate change, as well as offer the promise of a better future for both people and nature.