Ambitious goals for global mangrove conservation and restoration

Spalding MD 1 , Canty SWJ 2 , Brown CJ 3 , Achete F 4 , Agblonon G 5 , Mohammed KHA 6 Show all authors , Mohamed SA 7 , Alzahlawi N 8 , Arifanti VB 9 , Ashtamoorthy SK 10 , Astra AS 11 , Austin WEN 12 , Bandeira SO 13 , Bayley DTI 14 , Beeston MA 15 , Beguin Billecocq I 16 , Benbow SLP 17 , Beneby JN 18 , Bera N 19 , Berzina-Rodrigo A 20 , Bhadury P 21 , Aleu RB 22 , Bood ND 23 , Avellaneda WJB 24 , Bunting P 25 , Cabanban AS 26 , Cañedo-Argüelles M 27 , Castellanos-Galindo GA 28 , Christ B 29 , Dabalà A 30 , Dahlgren C 31 , Dey A 32 , Diazgranados M 33 , Diazgranados MC 34 , Doughty CL 35 , Duncan C 36 , Ebua V 37 , Esch MM 38 , Fatoyinbo L 39 , Fraiz-Toma A 40 , Friess DA 41 , Gandhi SR 42 , Gevaña DT 43 , Ghosh A 44 , Govale AR 45 , Hapsari KA 46 , Harisam RT 47 , Herrera-Silveira JA 48 , Hersant A 49 , Hilarides L 50 , Howard JF 51 , Ilman M 52 , Ingraham RT 53 , Jones LA 54 , Kozhapalli V 55 , Landis EC 56 , Leal M 57 , Li M 58 , Longley-Wood KE 59 , Lovelock CE 60 , Maina GW 61 , McCarthy OS 62 , Michie LA 63 , Moity N 64 , de Oca JM 65 , Moreira-Ramírez JF 66 , Morrissette HK 67 , Oberle B 68 , Ofori SA 69 , Okalo FA 70 , Pangilinan MJM 71 , Parihar S 72 , Polania J 73 , Ramírez-Aguilera FT 74 , Robalino JJ 75 , Rodriguez KL 76 , Rog SM 77 , Rosli FN 78 , Roy C 79 , Rozaimi M 78 , Saini N 80 , Salmo SIG 81 , Samuelson JI 82 , Satyanarayana B 83 , Shah DG 84 , Shah N 85 , Shepard CC 86 , Sheridan C 87 , Sherman KD 88 , Sidik F 89 , Sievers M 90 , Simonjan J 91 , Simpson S 92 , Stewart HA 93 , Suárez L 94 , Tabola J 50 , Thomas N 95 , Thorn JPR 96 , Tol S 50 , Uddin MM 97 , Valla AAE 49 , van Eijk P 50 , Venkatraman A 98 , Villarreal-Rosas J 99 , Williams JL 100 , Wodehouse DCJ 63 , Wong L 101 , Zimmer M 102 , Worthington TA 103

Affiliations 

  • 1 The Nature Conservancy, Strada delle Tolfe, 14, 53100, Siena, Italy. mspalding@tnc.org
  • 2 Tennenbaum Marine Observatories Network and MarineGEO, Smithsonian Institution, 647 Contees Wharf Road, Edgewater, Maryland, 21037, USA
  • 3 Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, Castray Esplanade, Hobart Tasmania, 7001, Australia
  • 4 Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Av. Horácio Macedo, Rio de Janeiro, 2030, 21941-594, Brazil
  • 5 Wetlands International Africa - Western Coast and Gulf of Guinea, Dakar-Fann, P. Box: 25581, Dakar, Senegal
  • 6 Marine Biology and Fishery Department, Institute of Marine Research - Red Sea University, P. O. Box 24, Port Sudan, Sudan
  • 7 Department of Biotechnology, Mohamed Sathak College of Arts and Science (University of Madras), 13a, Semmozihi salai, Chennai, 600119, India
  • 8 Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, P.O.Box 28037, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
  • 9 National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Jl. Raya Jakarta Bogor km 46, Cibinong, 16911, Indonesia
  • 10 KSCSTE-Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, Thrissur, Kerala, 680653, India
  • 11 Acting Head of Programme, Wetlands International Indonesia, Jl. Bango No.11, Tanah Sareal, Bogor, 16161, Indonesia
  • 12 The University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9AL, Scotland, UK
  • 13 Department of Biological Sciences, Main University Campus, J. Nyerere Av 3453, Maputo, 1100, Mozambique
  • 14 Fauna & Flora, David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, UK
  • 15 Conservation International, 2011 Crystal Drive, Suite 600, Arlington, VA, 22202, USA
  • 16 Mangrove Breakthrough, Route d'Avignon, 30390, Aramon, France
  • 17 Fauna & Flora, The David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, UK
  • 18 The Nature Conservancy, P.O. Box CB-11398, Nassau, NP, Bahamas
  • 19 Mangrove Conservation, Nature Environment & Wildlife Society, 10, Chowringhee Terrace, Kolkata, 700020, India
  • 20 Global Ocean Team, Centre for Conservation Action, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), 28 Rue Mauverrney, 1196, Gland, Switzerland
  • 21 Centre for Climate and Environmental Studies, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Nadia District, Kolkata, Mohanpur, West Bengal, 741246, India
  • 22 Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, Weeks Building, South Kensington, London, SW7 1NE, UK
  • 23 Belize Field Program Office, World Wildlife Fund Mesoamerica, Belize City, Belize
  • 24 Universidad del Norte, Cra 42a1#84-200 apt 102, 080020, Barranquilla, Colombia
  • 25 Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DB, UK
  • 26 Wetlands International, Uni5 105 Norkis Building 11, Calbayog Street, Highway Hills, 1550, Mandaluyong City, Philippines
  • 27 Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDAEA-CSIC, C. Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034, Barcelona, Spain
  • 28 Leibniz-Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Fahrenheitstr. 8, 28359, Bremen, Germany
  • 29 Global Mangrove Alliance, 41 Watchung Plaza #322, Montclair, NJ, 07042, USA
  • 30 University of Queensland, Steele Building (Building 3), St Lucia Campus, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
  • 31 Perry Institute for Marine Science, 5356 Main Street, Suite 2, P.O. Box 435, Waitsfield, VT, 05673, USA
  • 32 Nature Environment & Wildlife Society, 10, Chowringhee Terrace, Kolkata, 700020, India
  • 33 New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, New York, NY, 10458, USA
  • 34 Blue Carbon Global Program, Conservation International, 2011 Crystal Drive Arlington Virginia & Carrera 13 # 71/41, 22202, Bogota, Colombia
  • 35 Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center, 8800 Greenbelt Road, Greenbelt, MD, 20771, USA
  • 36 Institute of Zoology, Nuffield Building, Outer Circle, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK
  • 37 Conservation International, Ndege Road Spring Court, 2nd Floor, P.O. Box 1963, Nairobi, 00502, Kenya
  • 38 World Wildlife Fund, Ocean Conservation, Washington, DC, USA
  • 39 MIT Media Lab, 77 Mass. Ave., E14/E15, Cambridge, MA, 02139-4307, USA
  • 40 MarAlliance, Omar Torrijos Herrera Avenue, Pancanal Plaza, Panama City, Panama
  • 41 Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Tulane University, 6823 St. Charles Ave, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70118, USA
  • 42 Blue Ventures, 167-169 Great Portland Street, 5th Floor, London, W1W 5PF, UK
  • 43 College of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Forest Information Building, 4031, Laguna, Philippines
  • 44 Center for Climate and Environmental Studies, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Nadia, Mohanpur, West Bengal, 7412446, India
  • 45 United Way Mumbai, 1201, Suvidha Square, Corner of S. V. Road & Ceaser Road, Andheri West, Mumbai, 400 058, India
  • 46 University of Goettingen, Untere Karspuele 2, 37073, Goettingen, Germany
  • 47 Jenderal Soedirman University, Purwokerto, Central Java, 53122, Indonesia
  • 48 Cinvestav, Carrtera Antigua a Progreso km.6, 97310, Merida, Yucatan, Mexico
  • 49 Planète Urgence, 15 rue de la Fontaine au Roi, 75011, Paris, France
  • 50 Wetlands International, Horapark 9, 6717 LZ, Ede, The Netherlands
  • 51 Natural Climate Solutions and Integrity, Conservation International, 2011 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA, 22202, USA
  • 52 Indonesia Oceans Program, Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN), Graha Iskandarsyah 3rd Fl., Jl. Iskandarsyah Raya no 66c., Jakarta, 12160, Indonesia
  • 53 Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas
  • 54 The Nature Conservancy, 9th Floor, 60 Knutsford Blvd, Kingston 5, Jamaica
  • 55 Vimala College (Autonomous), Santhi Nivas, Iyyanath Erakkam, Chembukkavu, Thrissur, Kerala, India
  • 56 The Nature Conservancy, 4245 North Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA, 22203, USA
  • 57 The Nature Conservancy, 800 North Douglas Rd., Suite 220, Miami, FL, 33134, USA
  • 58 University of Victoria, Station CSC, P.O. Box 1700, Victoria, BC, V8W Y2Y, Canada
  • 59 The Nature Conservancy, 20 Ashbuton Place, Suite 400, Boston, MA, 02108, USA
  • 60 School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
  • 61 The Nature Conservancy, Watermark Business Park 1st Floor, Nairobi, 19738-00100, Kenya
  • 62 Seatrees, 1304 Spruce Street, Apt 5, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA
  • 63 Mangrove Action Project, 1455 NW Leary Way, Suite 400, Seattle, WA, 98107, USA
  • 64 Charles Darwin Research Station, Av. Charles Darwin s/n, Puerto Ayora, Galápagos, Ecuador
  • 65 National Audubon Society, 225 Varick St, New York, NY, USA
  • 66 Wildlife Conservation Society, Casa No. 3, Avenida 15 de Marzo, Flores, Petén, Guatemala, 17001
  • 67 Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 2445 Holly Ave, Annapolis, MD, 21401, USA
  • 68 New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Boulevard, Bronx, NY, 10458-5126, USA
  • 69 One Tree Planted, 145 Pine Haven Shores Rd #1000D, Shelburne, VT, USA
  • 70 International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Kenya Country Office, P.O BOX 68200-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
  • 71 Wetlands International Philippines, Unit 105, 1st Floor Norkis Building, #11 Calbayog cor D.M. Guevara Sts., Brgy. Highway Hills, 1550, Mandaluyong City, Philippines
  • 72 Global Centre for Environment and Energy, Ahmedabad University, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 380009, India
  • 73 National University of Colombia, Medellín Campus, Carrera 65 Nro. 59A - 110, Medellín, Colombia
  • 74 WWF Mexico, Avenida Insurgentes Sur 4031. Edificio Montreal #304, Colonia Santa Úrsula Xitla, Tlalpan, CDMX, Ciudad de México, Mexico
  • 75 Landesa, 645 Wharton Way, Missouri City, Houston, TX, 77459, USA
  • 76 UNFCCC Climate Champion's Ocean Team, UNFCCC Secretariat, P.O. Box 260124, 53153, Bonn, Germany
  • 77 Royal Commission for Alula - Saudi Arabia, King Abdulaziz Road, 38555, Alula, Saudi Arabia
  • 78 Department of Earth Sciences and Environment, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, UKM, 43600, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
  • 79 International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), 1630 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20009, USA
  • 80 Integrative Taxonomy and Microbial Ecology Research Group, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Nadia, Mohanpur, West Bengal, 741246, India
  • 81 Institute of Biology. Institute of Biology, University of the Philippines Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
  • 82 Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN), Nigeria, 13A, Location Road, Orazi, GRA Phase 3, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
  • 83 Mangrove Research Unit (MARU), Institute of Oceanography and Environment (INOS), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu - UMT, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
  • 84 Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Sayajigunj, Vadodara, Gujarat, 390002, India
  • 85 Nature Seychelles, Roche Caiman, Mahe, Seychelles
  • 86 The Nature Conservancy, 8 Beach Drive, Key West, FL, 33040, USA
  • 87 Wetlands International, 27b Chemin à Baraques, 7000, Mons, Belgium
  • 88 Perry Institute for Marine Science, 5356 Main Street, Route 100, Suite 2, P. O. Box 435, Waitsfield, VT, 05673, USA
  • 89 National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Kawasan Sains dan Teknologi Dr. (H.C) Ir. H. Soekarno - BRIN, Jl. Raya Jakarta-Bogor Km.46, Cibinong, Bogor, Jawa Barat, 16911, Indonesia
  • 90 Griffith University, Building G24, 1 Parklands Drive, Southport, Queensland, 4215, Australia
  • 91 Technology Innovation Institute, P.O.Box: 9639, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
  • 92 The Nature Conservancy, 4245 N Fairfax Drive, Suite 100, Arlington, VA, 22203, USA
  • 93 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 28950 Watson Blvd, Big Pine Key, Florida, 33043, USA
  • 94 Conservation International Ecuador (retired, private consultant), Quito, Ecuador
  • 95 GeoSciences, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, UK
  • 96 Centre for Environmental Policy, Weeks Building. 16-18 Prince's Gardens, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 1NA, UK
  • 97 School of the Environment, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
  • 98 PG & Research Department of Biotechnology, Mohamed Sathak College of Arts and Science, Sholinganallur, Chennai, India
  • 99 Centre for Environment and Society, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, 4000, Australia
  • 100 Akashinga Mozambique, Coutada 5, Machanga District, Sofala Province, Mozambique
  • 101 China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation, No. 69 Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China
  • 102 Leibniz-Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT), Fahrenheitstraße 6, 28359, Bremen, Germany
  • 103 Department of Plant Sciences & Conservation Research Institute, The David Attenborough Building, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, UK
Ambio, 2026 Oct 27.
PMID: 42944985 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-026-02481-0

Abstract

Generic global conservation targets lack the ambition required for certain habitats of critical value for biodiversity and human well-being. Developing more challenging targets for such habitats may offer a solution. Mangrove forests provide an example: any and all future loss will have negative repercussions, while many impacts could be reversed through extensive restoration. The Global Mangrove Alliance, an international grouping of 100 civil society and academic partners, has set goals to halt anthropogenic losses, accelerate restoration and greatly enhance protection by 2030. Using global-scale data, we estimate that achieving these goals will avoid losses of some 1500 km2; restore some 4000 km2; and secure an additional 36 000 km2 of mangroves under effective and equitable protection. Multiple benefits will follow, and we present values for carbon storage gains and avoided losses. Global datasets can guide broad approaches, while quantifying the challenges and benefits provides inspiration and impetus for change.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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