Mangroves at Baie D'Ambodi-Vahibe, Madagascar. © CI/ photo by Sterling Zumbrunn
Mangroves are, as pointed by the Mangrove Alliance, trees or shrubs present in the areas between coastal environments and terrestrial environments, with great tolerance to salinity. The most notable characteristic from this vegetation is the roots, that are visible from above the waterline. This vegetation is estimated to yield around US$1.6 billion yearly in ecosystem services, e.g. fisheries, fuelwood, and tourism.
According to a study from Polidoro et al (2010), at least 16% of mangrove species are considered critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable, entering the IUCN Red List Criteria which considers extinction risk - it is important to point out, though, that the decline of populations can is also a great consequence of habitat degradation, and can cause species extinction.
Around 1% of mangrove areas are being degraded every year, from a more positive perspective and several threats are currently pressuring this environment.
Cleaning mangroves for shrimp culture contributes 38% of mangrove loss, while aquaculture can be blamed for another 14%. The shrimp production leaves a huge carbon footprint, which means the emission of carbon and other greenhouse gases.
A study from 1988 by Bailey already states that despite the strong international demand for this crustacean (shrimp) this resource was accounted as fully exploited and incapable to reach the demand, however, a recent report from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) attests that farmed shrimp reached almost 4 million tonnes in 2018, with an increased production from the year before.
Despite the serious scenario, actions are currently taking place to protect the Mangrove environment. For example, the initiative "Save Our Mangroves Now!" aims to intensify conservation and support the target of the Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA) to increase mangrove habitat by 20% by 2030. This initiative is part of the joint effort from The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
According to a study from Polidoro et al (2010), at least 16% of mangrove species are considered critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable, entering the IUCN Red List Criteria which considers extinction risk - it is important to point out, though, that the decline of populations can is also a great consequence of habitat degradation, and can cause species extinction.
Around 1% of mangrove areas are being degraded every year, from a more positive perspective and several threats are currently pressuring this environment.
Drivers of mangrove loss, from the "Legal frameworks for mangrove governance, conservation and use", published by "Save Our Mangroves Now!".
Cleaning mangroves for shrimp culture contributes 38% of mangrove loss, while aquaculture can be blamed for another 14%. The shrimp production leaves a huge carbon footprint, which means the emission of carbon and other greenhouse gases.
 |
| Shrimp belong to the Crustacean group and several species are of economic importance. Photo created by topntp26 - Freepik |
Despite the serious scenario, actions are currently taking place to protect the Mangrove environment. For example, the initiative "Save Our Mangroves Now!" aims to intensify conservation and support the target of the Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA) to increase mangrove habitat by 20% by 2030. This initiative is part of the joint effort from The German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Would you like to read more?
Lydia Slobodian, Mariamalia Rodriguez Chaves, Loan TP.P. Ngunyen, L. N. R. (2018). Legal Frameworks for mangrove governance, conservation and use (I. WWF, ed.).
Polidoro, B. A., Carpenter, K. E., Collins, L., Duke, N. C., Ellison, A. M., Ellison, J. C., … Yong, J. W. H. (2010). The loss of species: Mangrove extinction risk and geographic areas of global concern. PLoS ONE, 5(4). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0010095
Spalding, M. D., Blasco, F and Field, C. D. (2007). edited by Etta Kavanagh A World Without Mangroves? Science, 317(July), 41–43. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.317.5834.41b
Polidoro, B. A., Carpenter, K. E., Collins, L., Duke, N. C., Ellison, A. M., Ellison, J. C., … Yong, J. W. H. (2010). The loss of species: Mangrove extinction risk and geographic areas of global concern. PLoS ONE, 5(4). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0010095
Spalding, M. D., Blasco, F and Field, C. D. (2007). edited by Etta Kavanagh A World Without Mangroves? Science, 317(July), 41–43. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.317.5834.41b
No comments:
Post a Comment