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Celebrating International Mangrove Day

Stories from our international waters community

By IW:LEARN

July 25^th, 2025

How Mangroves Are Protecting Coastlines and Empowering Communities

Mangroves are very special trees. You can find them in tropical and subtropical coastal areas, rooted in saltwater. They are lifelines: they protect coastlines, preserve biodiversity, store carbon, and secure livelihoods for millions of people.

Across the Global Environment Facility’s International Waters (GEF IW) portfolio, many projects are restoring, protecting, and learning from mangroves. By integrating nature-based solutions into coastal planning and promoting sustainable, community-driven livelihoods, these initiatives are strengthening resilience and advancing environmental and social goals.

In celebration of International Mangrove Day, we want to highlight the efforts of the International Waters projects to safeguard these vital ecosystems.

From community planting initiatives in Mozambique to sustainable enterprises in Indonesia, and from watershed-scale planning in the Philippines to regional and local conservation efforts across Southeast Asia, these stories demonstrate the impact and importance of collective action.

Climate Buffer and Community Shield: Mangroves in Mozambique

In the Mahielene–Xai Xai district of Mozambique, a group of women stands ankle-deep in the mud, replanting mangrove saplings while singing traditional songs.

This grassroots effort, supported by the GEF-UNEP/Nairobi Convention WIO-SAP Project, seeks to restore mangrove forests lost to cyclones and deforestation.

As storms grow more intense in the Indian Ocean, these mangroves act as a natural barrier, protecting lives and infrastructure. The project is a powerful example of how local knowledge, women’s leadership, and nature-based solutions converge to confront the climate crisis.

Read full story here: https://iwlearn.exposure.co/how-a-saltloving-tree-is-helping-to-protect-mozambique-from-climate-change

From Ridge to Reef: Source-to-Sea in the Philippines

In the Pasac–Guagua Watershed in the Philippines, mangroves are at the heart of an integrated river basin management approach linking upland forests to the South China Sea.

The GEF-UNDP/ASEAN IRBM Project is working with local governments to restore mangroves, bamboo forests, and wetland areas.

These ecosystems now protect communities from lahar flows, saltwater intrusion, and floods, while serving as critical stopovers for migratory birds. The initiative shows how mangroves, along with community-driven governance, can support biodiversity, fisheries, and water quality across a whole watershed.

Read full story here: https://iwlearn.exposure.co/pasacguagua-watershed

Mangroves as Economy and Ecosystem: A Story from Indonesia

In Indonesia’s Arafura and Timor Seas region, the ATSEA-2 Project is redefining mangrove conservation by linking it to local enterprise.

In Daiama Village, Rote Ndao, community leader Mama Novi has launched the “Mangrove Coffee Project”, turning conservation into livelihood.

Alongside her, Om Steven has planted over 13,000 mangrove seedlings and led local patrols to protect marine biodiversity.

On Enu and Karang Islands, mangrove forests not only prevent erosion and shelter mud crabs but also provide materials for traditional crafts, food, and medicine.

Supported by research expeditions and national authorities, this project demonstrates how coastal communities can lead in safeguarding nature when empowered with the right tools and training.

Read full story here: https://iwlearn.exposure.co/mangrove-protection-and-community-empowerment-in-indonesia

A Regional Chorus for Conservation: Fisheries Refugia Across Southeast Asia

The Fisheries Refugia Project brought together six countries in the South China Sea and Gulf of Thailand to create marine sanctuaries for threatened fish species.

Spanning 13 sites and over a million hectares, the initiative connects critical habitats (e.g. coral reefs, seagrasses, and mangroves) to support ecosystem recovery.

In total, over 31,000 hectares of mangroves are now protected across these sites. As traditional fishing practices adapt to new sustainability standards, coastal communities are experiencing renewed fish stocks and ecosystem health.

The refugia model is a powerful example of how mangroves play a key role in regional fisheries management and marine biodiversity.

Read full article here: https://iwlearn.exposure.co/harmony-beneath-the-waves

Listening to Local Voices: Livelihoods and Mangrove Restoration in Cambodia

In Prey Nob District, Cambodia, the resilience of mangrove ecosystems is closely tied to the resilience of people.

A recent consultation and survey revealed how local communities rely on mangroves not only for fisheries and flood protection but also for alternative income.

In Bek Krong, a fishery community of over 1,000 people, livelihoods such as aquaculture, honey harvesting, and farming are helping reduce pressure on mangrove ecosystems. Leaders like Mr. Phoeurn Song point to how diversified incomes can support both social and environmental sustainability.

Read full article here: https://iwlearn.net/news/voices-of-coastal-communities-insights-on-communication-livelihoods-and-resilience

Community-Led Mangrove Restoration in Cambodia: A Nature-Based Solution for Coastal Resilience

In Chumpu Khmao Village, Prey Nob District, Cambodia, over 100 people gathered to plant 25,000 mangrove saplings. Participants included national and local officials, teachers, women’s groups, youth, and community members, all working together to protect their coastline and support marine ecosystems.

The initiative under the NI Cambodia project aligns with Cambodia’s Circular Strategy on Environment (2023–2028), which commits to planting one million trees annually and restoring degraded habitats. By revitalising mangrove forests, the project enhances vital breeding grounds for fisheries, reduces coastal erosion, and contributes to carbon storage.

Read full article here: https://iwlearn.net/news/exploring-the-site-ideal-conditions-for-thriving-mangrove-plantation

Cambodia: Community-Led Mangrove Restoration for Coastal Resilience

In Prey Nop District, Cambodia, over 25,000 mangrove saplings were planted as part of a large-scale, community-led restoration effort supported by UNEP and the Ministry of Environment. This inclusive initiative, engaging local authorities, women, youth, and educators, directly contributes to Cambodia’s Circular Strategy on Environment and its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

Mangrove restoration here not only strengthens coastal defenses and biodiversity, but also aligns with global marine protection goals, showcasing how local action drives climate resilience and sustainable development.

Read full story here: https://iwlearn.exposure.co/building-resilience-of-cambodian-communities-using-natural-infrastructure-and-promoting-diversified-livelihoods

Together, these stories illustrate the many ways mangroves are saving coastlines, supporting economies, and strengthening ecosystems. From participatory planting to policy-backed conservation zones, GEF IW projects show that mangrove protection is not only an ecological imperative but a shared responsibility that bridges science, community, and hope.