Conservation and restoration of mangroves: Global status, perspectives, and prognosis

• Published in: Ocean & coastal management Vol. 154; pp. 72 - 82
• Main Authors: Romañach, Stephanie S., DeAngelis, Donald L., Koh, Hock Lye, Li, Yuhong, Teh, Su Yean, Raja Barizan, Raja Sulaiman, Zhai, Lu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 15-03-2018
• ISSN: 0964-5691; 1873-524X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2018.01.009

Mangrove forests provide critical services around the globe to both human populations and the ecosystems they occupy. However, losses of mangrove habitat of more than 50% have been recorded in some parts of the world, and these losses are largely attributable to human activities. The importance of mangroves and the threats to their persistence have long been recognized, leading to actions taken locally, by national governments, and through international agreements for their protection. In this review, we explore the status of mangrove forests as well as efforts to protect them. We examine threats to the persistence of mangroves, consequences, and potential solutions for effective conservation. We present case studies from disparate regions of the world, showing that the integration of human livelihood needs in a manner that balances conservation goals can present solutions that could lead to long-term sustainability of mangrove forests throughout the world.
•Coastal mangrove forests provide irreplaceable services to people and nature, making their protection critical.•The most serious threats to mangroves are directly and indirectly a result of increasing human population density.•Mangroves are affected by sea level rise, but impacts could be mediated by landward migration in some regions.•Differing scales of mangrove ecosystem services provision and policy have posed challenges for their conservation.•Mangrove conservation would benefit from understanding the complex interrelationships between social and natural systems.