The world has taken another step forward!, Rescue the Disappearing Surroundings | Mangrove Forests | Global

A unique ecosystem is nurtured at the junction of land and ocean: mangroves. It grows along the winding coastline, like a "Green Great Wall", guarding the ecological balance of the coastal zone.

However, in the past 40 years, the situation of mangroves has not been optimistic, with over 20% of the world's mangroves disappearing.

In recent years, many countries and regions around the world have begun to attach importance to and take measures to curb the disappearance of mangrove forests in order to rescue the endangered mangrove wetlands. According to the latest data released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the rate of mangrove disappearance has slowed down by nearly a quarter in the second decade of this century, indicating a step forward in global efforts to promote mangrove conservation.

Why do mangroves need protection? What information is worth paying attention to behind the positive progress made in global mangrove conservation? Wu Zhimin, Director of the Forestry Department of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, recently gave an interview on the China News Agency's direct train to further introduce the global situation of mangrove protection.

Important "Coast Guard"

Mangrove forests, although named with "red" in their names, often appear green. The reason why it is called "mangrove forest" is because the bark and wood of most mangrove plants are rich in tannic acid, which is oxidized and turns red, hence the name mangrove forest.

The figure of mangroves is found on the coastlines of 123 countries and regions, mostly in South Asia and Southeast Asia, while the rest are more common in South America, West Africa and Central Africa, North America and Central America, and Oceania. In terms of area, mangroves cover 14.8 million hectares of the Earth's surface.

As one of the important ecosystems on Earth, mangroves have many important values for the ecological environment and human life.

Wu Zhimin pointed out that some mangroves can reach a height of over 40 meters and extend inland for several kilometers, like a tall natural barrier, which can better protect the coastline and coastal areas from wind and wave erosion.

Moreover, mangroves provide important habitats for various organisms such as fish, mollusks, and crustaceans, and play an important role in maintaining marine ecosystems, protecting biodiversity, and increasing carbon sinks. For people living around mangroves, mangroves also create an important source of livelihood for them.

Rescue the "disappearing mangrove forest"

The latest report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on the state of mangroves in the world from 2000 to 2020 shows that over 20% of the world's mangroves have disappeared in the past 40 years, and action to protect mangroves is urgent.

According to the organization's calculations, global efforts to curb the disappearance of mangroves have achieved certain results since the beginning of this century: although 677000 hectares of mangroves disappeared between 2000 and 2020, the rate of mangrove disappearance slowed down by nearly a quarter in the second decade of this century.

The positive signs of mangrove protection can be seen from the growth and recovery of mangroves in different regions.

Data shows that Asia has almost half of the world's mangrove forests. In the past two decades, the net loss area of mangrove forests in Asia has decreased by 54%. China has become one of the few countries in the world to achieve a net increase in mangrove forests in the past 20 years, and the net loss area of mangrove forests in Africa has also decreased. North and Central America have completely reversed the trend of loss, achieving a net increase in mangrove forest area from 2010 to 2020.

"These research data indicate that countries are taking active measures to curb the disappearance of mangroves, while also reminding us to continue to prioritize the restoration, sustainable use, and protection of mangroves to ensure their important ecological role for humanity and the earth." Wu Zhimin said.

Protecting mangroves, global action in action

Behind the disappearance of mangrove wetland area, human activities and natural shrinkage are the two main reasons.

Wu Zhimin pointed out that raising shrimp in ponds is one of the main reasons for the disappearance of mangroves. Between 2000 and 2010, 31% of the area of mangrove forests lost was attributed to this factor, while this proportion decreased to 21% between 2010 and 2020.

Natural shrinkage is the second leading cause of the disappearance of mangroves. Over the past 20 years, 26% of the disappearance of mangrove forests has been attributed to this factor, such as rising sea levels and rising temperatures.

However, due to the developed and diverse root systems, mangroves have strong survival and restoration capabilities. As long as suitable conditions are in place, they can grow rapidly and expand their scale.

Wu Zhimin stated that approximately 393000 hectares of newly formed mangrove forests grew in areas where there were no mangroves in 2000, which is equivalent to the area of 550000 football fields, enough to offset more than half of the global mangrove forest disappearance in the past 20 years. Among the reasons for the increase in mangrove forest area, natural growth accounted for 82% of the newly added mangrove forest area in the past 20 years, while the rest was restored through artificial afforestation.

Mangroves are one of the most carbon rich ecosystems on Earth, with biomass and soil storing approximately 6.23 billion tons of carbon. Against the backdrop of increasingly severe global climate change, the international community is increasingly aware of the importance of mangroves as a global "forest asset".

To further protect mangroves, Wu Zhimin emphasized the need to work hard to address the land use related reasons that cause the disappearance of mangroves, guide agricultural development, protect the remaining mangroves, promote sustainable use of mangroves, and support the livelihoods of coastal communities. At the same time, restoration measures should focus on mangroves and create favorable conditions to allow them to naturally settle in suitable habitats.