2021: Manual for the ecological restoration of mangroves in the Mesoamerican Reef System and the Wider Caribbean. The objective of the manual is to guide and strengthen local and regional capacities of all those (individuals, groups, organizations) interested in recovering mangrove ecosystems in the Mesoamerican Reef Region (MAR) and the Wider Caribbean. It also seeks to increase the success of the restoration projects based on the principles of ecological restoration, favoring natural regeneration and succession processes.
2022: Mapping mangroves in the Mesoamerican Reef ecoregion (MAR), at 10-meter spatial resolution using Google Earth Engine. The study provides: 1) a very detailed and precise description of the mangrove ecosystems in the MAR for 2020 and 2) a consistent baseline to monitor future changes in the mangrove ecosystems of the region
Result / achievement of the actions taken:
2022: Meso and South America, North America and the Carribean, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico: Contribute to the implementation of the “Regional Strategy for Mangrove Management, Conservation, Restoration and Monitoring in the Mesoamerican Reef 2020-2025”, as well as the “Regional Strategy and Action Plan for the Valuation, Protection and/or Restoration of Key Marine Habitats in the Wider Caribbean 2021-2030” of the Cartagena Convention.
2022: Meso and South America, North America and the Carribean, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico: This map is the highest resolution map of MAR mangrove ecosystems currently available, and it is the first time that all of the MAR’s mangroves have been mapped at this high resolution at the same time using one standardized methodology.
2022, Meso and South America, Guatemala: Capacity building workshops with community members on the importance of mangrove conservation, wood-saving stoves, reforestation, as well as the establishment of forest nurseries to provide energy alternatives and reduce the consumption of mangrove firewood. Implementation of 6 ha of agroforestry systems with the Inga Edulis species, fruit trees and native vegetables (Yucca, sweet potato, chipilín and malanga) to reduce traditional slash-and-burn agriculture. Installation of 36 wood-saving stoves to reduce mangrove felling. Reforest 5 ha of tropical forest in the community of San Juan for sustainable management and use of timber species.
Highlights for updates from the Secretariat and partners working on joint mangrove projects and initiatives include, amongst many more:
In 2021, within the framework of the Save our Mangroves Now initiative of WWF, IUCN, BMZ and Wetlands International and partners launched the Guiding principles on sustainable mangrove ecosystem management, presenting a comprehensive and strategic approach to effective mangrove conservation. Rooted in conservation efforts by the mangrove community around the world, the Principles provide guidance for national policy decision makers responsible for Conservation, restoration, protection and sustainable management of mangrove ecosystems. They have been endorsed by the Save Our Mangroves Now!, the Global Mangrove Alliance, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), IUCN, WWF, Wetlands International and Madagascar. More information: Mangroves (mangrovealliance.org)
The Global Mangrove Alliance – that includes over 30 organisations, including IUCN, IUCN Mangrove Specialist Group and many of IUCN Members – produced and published a comprehensive annual State of the World’s Mangroves Report in 2021 and 2022 with detailed overview of the various activities carried out by various organisations around the world that are pertinent to the implementation of this resolution:
Mangroves for Climate Action: Global Mangrove Alliance launches new State of World Mangrove Report, announces Climate Champion Partnership - Story | IUCN
Global Mangrove Alliance launches the first State of the World’s Mangroves Report | IUCN
In 2022, the Global Mangrove Alliance and the High- Level Champions for UNFCCC COP26 and COP27 launched the Mangrove Breakthrough initiative that represents a science-based, achievable and measurable goal for non-state actors and governments to collectively restore and protect mangroves at the scale needed, while also aiming to catalyse financial investment.
Mangroves for Climate Action: Global Mangrove Alliance launches new State of World Mangrove Report, announces Climate Champion Partnership - Story | IUCN
A science-based Guidance on mangroves in the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework developed by Save our Mangroves Now, Global Mangrove Alliance, Global Mangrove Watch, the IUCN Mangrove Specialist Group and partners across mangrove scientific and policy communities that provides tools for target setting, reporting and monitoring;
Roots of hope: how mangroves contribute to living in harmony with nature by 2050 | IUCN
Detailed assessments of the socio-economic value of mangroves, mapping of the state of the mangroves in the Western Indian Ocean and work to advance political ambition on advanced mangrove action both internationally and regionally carried out within the framework of the Save our Mangroves Now initiative of WWF, IUCN, BMZ and Wetlands International and its many partner organisations. The latest summary report released in October 2022 is here (with signposts to access more information, knowledge products, detailed assessments etc):
SOMN-Saving-our-Mangroves_Ken-Tanz-Moz-Mada-Report-1.pdf (mangrovealliance.org)
Recent guidance from the Green-Gray Community of Practice, led by Conservation International and of which IUCN sits on the steering committee, has focused on engineering & construction guidelines for integrated seawall-mangrove ecosystem green-grey solutions (available at https://cicloud.s3.amazonaws.com/docs/default-source/s3-library/publication-pdfs/guyana-green-gray-infrastructure-engineering-guidelines-inclexecsumm-final-updatedfront.pdf?sfvrsn=fa704d98_2). This work will also be integrated into upcoming Global Mangrove Alliance mangrove restoration guidance in Q2 2023
