Investing in Mangroves 2025

The far-reaching benefits of mangroves for climate, nature, people and business FIGURE 2 Nature & biodiversityClimate mitigationClimate adaptation Carbon Sequester carbon annually at a rate up to 10x greater than mature tropical forests and store 3x to 5x more carbon per equivalent area than tropical forests.18 Hold ~12 billion tonnes of carbon globally,19 out of ~450 billion tonnes of carbon held by the world’s vegetation.20 Release more CO2/ha than any other type of forest when destroyed .21 Biodiversity Act as biodiversity hotspots that support 341 threatened or endangered animal species.26 >5,700 plant and animal species across 21 phyla identified in Indian mangroves alone.27,28 48 birds, 14 reptiles, 1 amphibian and 6 mammals endemic to mangroves globally, with 40% of these facing extinction.29 Provide nursery habitats and protection from predation for juvenile fish, important for supporting both biodiversity and fisheries.30 An estimated 80% of global fish populations are dependent on healthy mangrove ecosystems.31Adaptation & resilience Reduce intensity of tidal wave energy by ~70%.22 Reduce flood depths by 15-20% (over 70% in some areas) during 1-in-100 year storms.23 5x more cost-effective as coastal defences against flooding and erosion than artificial defences.24 Flood damage would increase by an estimated 16% and $82 billion annually if remaining mangroves are destroyed.25 Protect people and infrastructure by strengthening soil conditions against erosion. Livelihoods & communities Tourism The Everglades National Park in Florida generates $135 million/year in tourism revenues, supporting nearly 2,000 local jobs.46Aquaculture Aquaculture is the world’s fastest growing food production sector globally, with crustaceans comprising 21.5% of coastal and marine aquaculture;42 but shrimp aquaculture is a leading driver of mangrove deforestation.43 Restoration and management of mangroves increases catch for higher-value shrimps.44 Integrating mangroves with shrimp aquaculture can boost yields and garner premium prices.45Fishing Support an estimated 2 million fishers in Indonesia alone.37,38 1% increase in mangrove loss results in decline in fishers’ income of up to 10%.39 Support the annual production of around 1.4 trillion commercially important fish, prawns, bivalves and crabs.40 Around one-third of all wild fish landings in South-East Asia are mangrove-dependent species.41 Gender equality Typically fished more by women than by men but often not reflected in official fisheries data collected by governments.47 Gleaning activities (collecting aquatic animals and plants) by women provide important additional nutrition for families.48Food & water systems Water treatment Act as natural water filters for fertilizers, toxins and pollutants, lowering potential remediation costs.33Salinity regulation Depletion of mangroves leads to increasing salinity of groundwater after seawater encroaches inland due to coastal erosion.34 Reduce potential infrastructure repair costs.35 Reduce negative effects of salinity on agricultural yields.36Food security Support the four dimensions of food security – food availability, economic and physical access to food, food utilization and stability over time.32 Investing in Mangroves: The Corporate Playbook 10