Mangroven in La Paz, Mexiko | Foto: Martin Zimmer, ZMT

03/02/2021 | In the past half century more than 50% of the world’s mangroves were lost as a result of land use change, exploitation, coastal development and climate change. Even though recent trends give rise to careful optimism, the destruction of mangroves still continues.

Global Mangrove Alliance – an international network of research organisations, technical experts, civil society organisations, governments, local communities, businesses, funding agencies and foundations, is committed to protecting mangroves worldwide.

ZMT has now joined the Global Mangrove Alliance as an official member alongside organisations such as the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), The Nature Conservancy, Wetlands International, World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

The target of the Global Mangrove Alliance is to increase the global area of mangrove habitat by 20% over current extent by the year 2030. This target underpins and helps deliver objectives, including climate change mitigation and adaptation, sustaining biodiversity and improving human well-being.

Professor Martin Zimmer will represent ZMT within the network.

He says: “The aim of the Global Mangrove Alliance is highly ambitious, and not all members are convinced that we will reach this aim. However, our planet needs high ambitions, if we want it to remain a home for both humans and wildlife, a place worth living in. While "afforestation against climate change" has recently become fancy, many rehabilitation efforts still fail. It is pivotal to develop and implement successful approaches to ecosystem rehabilitation and design when needed, while at the same time investing in protecting and conserving ecosystems where still possible”

More information here: http://www.mangrovealliance.org