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Mangroves: A Bond of Life Between Land and Sea

GEF/UNDP Coastal Fisheries Initiative

By IW:LEARN

August 30^th, 2019

Some of the ecosystems around the world stand out for their extraordinary biodiversity. This is due to their high capacity in providing sustenance and shelter to many species, both flora and fauna.

Mangroves are one of these ecosystems. They call them the nurseries of the ocean due to the high number of species using the grounds to feed, grow and for refuge during their larval and early stages.

A key characteristic of mangroves are their exposed roots, which form a peculiar network of shapes and structures that rise over large muddy areas in the intertidal zone. Within the structure of these intertwining roots, mud and the coastal water, animals and other organisms grow.

But what makes the mangrove so special? And why does it attract so many species?

Mangroves from Peru. Credit: Giulianna Camarena, PNUD Peru

The bridge between the ocean and the earth

Some mangroves grow in areas where saltwater connects with fresh water. They are an excellent transition ecosystem, which is precisely what makes them one of the most productive and complex ecosystems on the planet. Organisms found in mangroves include: algae, marine sponges, crabs, shrimp and shells among others. Mangroves are also home to several coastal birds that use the branches to build nests.

Red crab in mangroves of Peru. Credit: Giulianna Camarena, PNUD Peru

Mangrove trees. Credit: Giulianna Camarena, PNUD Peru

Long mangrove roots. Credit: Sebastián Espín Meneses, CFI/PNUD Ecuador

Ecosystem-based management

It is the balance between biotic and abiotic factors that define and determine the ecosystem. Biotic factors include the mangrove trees, their roots, the species present and other living organisms. Abiotic factors include water, soil, air and sunlight. Each element is essential to the equilibrium of the ecosystem. The survival of one species also determines the survival of others. All the elements are important parts in the ecosystem as a whole.

The Coastal Fisheries Initiative (CFI) project promotes sustainable ecosystem-based management, considering the impact of human activities. This includes the participation of stakeholders in the territory, especially communities that depend directly on natural resources for their livelihoods.

The Governments of Peru and Ecuador are working together, through the CFI, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDS) of Agenda 2030 in the mangrove communities.

This project supports global actions to mitigate the effects of climate change, pollution, marine contamination and uncontrolled development. It is estimated that around 40% of the oceans have been affected by the above-mentioned problems, in addition to the depletion of fisheries resources, loss of habitats, and the negative consequences of other human activities.

In response, the CFI in Latin America aims to improve the management of coastal fisheries in the Southeast Pacific through the implementation of three components:

promote effective fisheries governance, mainly in artisanal and small-scale fisheries;
support authorities in marine and coastal spatial planning;
exchange experiences and knowledge, through spaces for dialogue among key binational actors, as well as documentation and dissemination of lessons learned, and good practices generated during project implementation.

CFI Latin America in Peru is executed by the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Production and the Regional Governments of Tumbes and Piura. In Ecuador it is executed by the Ministry of Foreign Trade, Investment and Fisheries, and the Under-secretariat of Coastal Marine Management, of the Ministry of the Environment, through its implementing partners WWF and Conservation International Ecuador. The project has the technical cooperation of the United Nations Development Programme - UNDP as implementing agency of the Global Environment Facility (GEF).