Mangroves

Around the world and in Indonesia

Mangroves are the only marginal ecosystem that shares resources with adjacent ecosystems, acting as a filter between the ocean and the land (Vannucci, 2001; Cyril Marchand, 2023). Mangroves are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, with their high productivity sustaining a rich food web, providing food, fiber, and fuel, as well as cultural services that contribute to human well-being (IUCN, 2024).

As illustrated in a recent report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Southeast Asia has nearly 50,000 km2 of mangrove cover, accounting for about one-third of all the world’s mangroves, and Indonesia alone hosts 21% of the global mangroves. Mangroves store an average of 394 tons of carbon per hectare annually, and Southeast Asian mangroves (e.g., in Sumatra and Borneo, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Myanmar) are those with the largest blue carbon reserves.

Threats to mangroves

The main threats to mangroves worldwide include intensive shrimp farming (Ilman et al., 2016), coastal development for both resource exploration and residential and tourist areas (Spalding et al., 2010), deforestation for agricultural purposes, pollution (Alongi, 2008), and natural damage (IUCN, 2024).

More specifically, between 1980 and 2005, Indonesia lost about 30% of its mangroves (FAO, 2007). The total loss during the period 2009 - 2019 covers an estimated area of 182,091 hectares (Arifanti et al., 2021).

Collaboration with our local partner

Since 2023, the SCS has been addressing this challenge by launching a mangrove conservation and restoration project in Bali through the expansion of its collaboration with a reliable and competent local NGO, the Jakarta Animal Aid Network - JAAN. JAAN provides seedlings, supervises activities, and shares its knowledge and scientific expertise with the local community.

This initiative builds on experience and emphasizes the involvement of local communities for long-term sustainability, a factor the SCS considers essential for the success for any project to ensure its sustainability and longevity. The benefits and outcomes of this project include biodiversity preservation, improved coastal resilience, and climate change mitigation.

Key results

In 2024, an SCS task force was formed to develop the project and ensure its impact. Additionally, a logistics consultant and a geographer joined the team leader, not to mention the valuable assistance provided by a graphic designer.

Thus, SCS and JAAN's goal of planting 10,000 mangroves has already been surpassed.

Femke den Haas, founder JAAN (center),

Max-Olivier Bourcoud et Florian Billarant of the SCS, 2023.

How to contribute to mangrove conservation with SCS

Founded in 1997, SCS is dedicated to creating a better and more sustainable future for marine life and associated ecosystems and is a reliable and active organization that provides financial and logistical support to marine conservation projects. With experience and expertise as an operational intermediary, SCS has many success stories to its credit, from the Marine Turtle Clinic in Bali to the Mediterranean Monk Seal conservation project and data collection at sea for the scientific community in the Mediterranean, just to name a few.

By participating in this SCS mangrove restoration project in Bali, Indonesia, you are:

Actively contributing to biodiversity conservation, ensuring the survival of many species;A
Support the traditional livelihoods of local communities by creating opportunities for sustainable economic development, providing a reliable source of income for future generations;
Strengthen coastal resilience, as mangroves mitigate coastal damage caused by extreme natural events. This means protecting critical infrastructure essential to the livelihoods of locals;
Contributing to the fight against climate change and its devastating effects, as mangroves can efficiently sequester significant amounts of carbon dioxide;

In March 2024, around 2,000 mangroves were planted with the support

of the SCS.

This number has already reached 10,000 trees this year.

Bibliography:

Chandra, G., Giri, C., Ochieng, E., Tieszen, L.L., Zhu, Z., Singh, A., Loveland, T.R., Masek, J.G.,& Duke, N.C. (2010). Status and distribution of mangrove forests of the world using Earth observation satellite data. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 20, 154-159.
Barbier, E.B., Hacker, S.D., Kennedy, C., Koch, E.W., Stier, A.C., & Silliman, B.R. (2011). The Value of Estuarine and Coastal Ecosystem Services. Ecological Monographs, 81(2), 169- 193.
Alongi, D.M. (2008). Mangrove Forests: Resilience, Protection from Tsunamis, and Responses to Global Climate Change. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 76(1), 1-13.
Donato, D.C., Kauffman, J.B., Murdiyarso, D., Kurnianto, S., Stidham, M., & Kanninen, M. (2011). Mangroves among the most carbon- rich forests in the tropics. Nature Geoscience, 4(5), 293-297.
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). (2007). The world’s mangroves 1980-2005. FAO Forestry Paper, 153.
Arifanti, V.B., Novita, N., Subarno, & Tosiani, A. (2021). Mangrove deforestation and CO2 emissions in Indonesia. IOP Conference Series: Earth Environmental Science, 874.
Ilman, M., Dargusch, P., Dart, P., & Onrizal. (2016). A historical analysis of the drivers of loss and degradation of Indonesia’s mangroves. Land Use Policy, 54, 448-459.
Spalding, M., Kainuma, M., & Collins, L. (2010). World Atlas of Mangroves. Earthscan.
Yamamoto, Y. (2023). Living under ecosystem degradation: Evidence from the mangrove– fishery linkage in Indonesia. Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 118.