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Let's celebrate our mangroves on this 26th of July!

Posted on 24 July 2020

On this 26th of July, International Mangrove Day, the preservation of nature is an even more serious subject because we are going through a health crisis whose origin comes from the destruction of nature and the direct or indirect contact with wild animals. Despite this pandemic, this day is celebrated to encourage the sustainable efforts we make for our mangroves.

Today, some 236,400 hectares cover the coasts of Madagascar, which represents 2% of the world's mangroves. Our mangroves are home to many species of fauna and flora unique to Madagascar. They produce between 2.5 and 3.9 tons of crabs per square kilometer per year, support many compatriots and make our landscapes unique. According to Dannick Randriamanantena of WWF, "it is ecosystems such as mangroves and coral reefs that make the west coast of Madagascar very productive. For our economy and the well-being of the Malagasy people, we have an interest in preserving these sources of life," he adds.

Since 2007, WWF has partnered with local communities, civil society organizations and authorities to conserve 50,000 hectares of mangroves in the Menabe, Melaky and Diana regions through community-based management initiatives. Together, they planted more than 19 million mangrove mangroves between 2009 and 2020. Beyond monitoring, these local communities are involved in the sustainable management and conservation of mangroves in many parts of Madagascar. They manage them so that the mangroves and the resources that depend on them create sustainable value. This is important because mangrove forests are a natural solution against climate change and its effects. They store more carbon than terrestrial forests, filter water and protect the coasts from erosion and cyclone damage.

A study analysing the legal and policy frameworks for mangroves in seven countries including Madagascar was developed under the "Save our mangroves now! "initiative, in partnership with Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and WWF. This initiative aims to strengthen governance over the mangrove ecosystem to reduce and stop its destruction.

This year, the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem is marked by awareness-raising activities on radio stations and social networks throughout Madagascar. These initiatives are led by the regional directorates of the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fishing with local, regional or national associations. These initiatives are supported by the actors of mangrove conservation in Madagascar, including WWF.