Mangrove forests bounce back after decades of decline

Nation.Cymru staff

The amount of mangrove forest around the world has increased over the past 40 years, according to new research involving Welsh scientists.

Researchers at Aberystwyth University, working as part of the Global Mangrove Watch, found a net increase of 47,720 hectares of mangrove cover worldwide between 1985 and 2025.

The findings have been cautiously welcomed by scientists, although the global figure masks substantial losses in countries containing some of the world’s largest mangrove areas.

Mangroves are important coastal ecosystems which provide habitats for wildlife, help protect communities from storms and rising sea levels and store significant quantities of carbon.

The latest Global Mangrove Watch maps use satellite data to track changes in mangrove cover over four decades, identifying areas where the vegetation has been lost, recovered or remained stable.

Researchers said the new version uses improved satellite imagery and machine-learning techniques to provide a more detailed picture of changes around the world.

While there has been an overall net gain, Indonesia, which has the world’s largest area of mangroves, lost 2,044 sq km between 1985 and 2025.

Significant declines were also recorded in Myanmar, Malaysia and Nigeria.

Dr Pete Bunting, Reader in Remote Sensing in Aberystwyth University’s Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, contributed to the development of the Global Mangrove Watch.

He said: “The latest Global Mangrove Watch update gives us a much clearer picture of how mangrove ecosystems are changing around the world.

“The overall increase in mangrove cover is encouraging, but it also shows that progress is uneven, with some regions continuing to experience significant losses.

“The findings also highlight the complexity of mangrove change, with gains in some areas linked to both restoration efforts and natural processes.”

The Global Mangrove Watch is an international collaboration involving universities, environmental organisations and research bodies.

Its latest mapping is intended to provide researchers, conservation groups and policymakers with better information about where mangroves are disappearing and where they are recovering.

The data can also help identify areas where conservation and restoration work could have the greatest effect.

Conservation efforts

Dr Bunting added: “Reliable information about mangroves is essential for understanding what is driving these changes and for supporting effective conservation.

“The improved mapping capabilities of the Global Mangrove Watch help identify where conservation efforts can have the greatest impact.”

The project includes organisations such as Wetlands International, The Nature Conservancy, Aberystwyth University, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, NASA, WWF and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

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