The Importance of Mangroves to People: a Call to Action
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THE IMPORTANCE OF MANGROVES TO PEOPLE: A CALL TO ACTION Lead Editors: Jan-Willem van Bochove*, Emma Sullivan* and Takehiro Nakamura** * UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) ** UNEP Division of Environmental Policy Implementation (UNEP/DEPI) Lead authors: Norman Duke (James Cook University), Ivan Nagelkerken (University of Adelaide), Tundi Agardy, (MARES/Forest Trends), Sue Wells, Hanneke van Lavieren (UN University) Advisory Body: Gabriel Grimsditch (UNEP/DEPI), Mark Spalding (The Nature Conservancy), Damon Stanwell-Smith, Claire Brown and Neil Burgess (UNEP-WCMC) Acknowledgements 2 The authors wish to thank the following key contributing authors for their time and expertise to support this report through the provision of text, case studies and guidance: Joanna Ellison (University of Tasmania), Dan Friess and Edward Webb (National University of Singapore), Chandra Giri (USGS-EROS), Farid Dahdouh-Guebas and Nibedita Mukherjee (Université Libre de Bruxelles), Syed Ainul Hussain and Ruchi Badola (Wildlife Institute of India), James Hutchinson (University of Cambridge), Mark Huxham (Edinburgh Napier University), Megan Jungwiwattanaporn (Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, Duke University), Boone Kauffman (Oregon State University), Nico Koedam (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), Anna McIvor (The Nature Conservancy), Richard Lucas and Nathan Marc Thomas (Global Mangrove Watch/Aberystwyth University), David Obura (CORDIO), Octavio Aburto-Oropeza (Scripps Institution of Oceanography), Behara Satyanarayana (Universiti Malaysia Terengganu), Marc Simard (NASA-Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Martin Skov (University of Bangor), Femke Tonneijck (Wetlands International), Chris McOwen (UNEP-WCMC/NEREUS), Simon Blyth, Brian O’Connor and Christoph Zockler (UNEP-WCMC). The authors would also like to express their gratitude to the following experts for providing their valuable time to carrying out the external peer review of the report, and to those who provided further information, images and guidance: Evangelia Drakou (JRC), Donald Macintosh (MFF), Nicolas Bertrand (TEEB), Linwood Pendleton (Nicholas Institute, Duke University), Takuya Itoh, (RESTEC), Masanobu Shimada (JAXA/EORC), John Fonweban (FAO), Nick Davidson (RAMSAR), Mette Loyche Wilkie (FAO), Jared Bosire (WWF Kenya), Patrik Rönnbäck (Upssula University), Ivan Valiela (Marine Biological Laboratory), Ariel Lugo (USDA Forest Service), Dan Alongi (AIMS), Jurgenne Primavera (ZSL), Nguyen-Thanh Son (National Central University, Taiwan), Cheng- Ru Chen (National Central University, Taiwan), Miguel Cifuentes (CATIE), Thorsten Balke (Deltares), Milika Sobey (IUCN), Sander van der Ploeg (WUR), Fanny Douvere (UNESCO), Hilary Kennedy (Bangor University), Marion Glaser (Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology), Barry Clough (Cantho University, Vietnam), Shing Yip Lee (Griffith University), Jon Hutton, Matt Walpole, Corinne Martin, Hannah Thomas, Eugenie Regan, Ruth Fletcher, Lizzie McAllen (UNEP-WCMC). This report was funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) Citation: UNEP (2014). The Importance of Mangroves to People: A Call to Action. van Bochove, J., Sullivan, E., Nakamura, T. (Eds). United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge. 128 pp. Copyright 2014 United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) ISBN: 978-92-807-3397-6 Job Number: DEP/1813/CA The United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) is the specialist biodiversity assessment centre of UNEP, the world’s foremost intergovernmental environmental organisation. The Centre has been in operation for over 30 years, combining scientific research with practical policy advice. Distribution: This publication may be reproduced for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission, provided acknowledgement to the source is made. Reuse of any figures is subject to permission from the original rights holders. No use of this publication may be made for resale or any other commercial purpose without permission in writing from UNEP. Applications for permission, with a statement of purpose and extent of reproduction, should be sent to the Director, DCPI, UNEP, P.O. Box 30552, Nairobi, Kenya. Disclaimer: The contents of this report do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNEP, contributory organisations or editors. The designations employed and the presentations of material in this report do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP or contributory organisations, editors or publishers concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city area or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries or the designation of its name, frontiers or boundaries. The mention of a commercial entity or product in this publication does not imply endorsement by UNEP. Designed by: Ralph Design Ltd www.ralphdesign.co.uk UNEP promotes Printed by: Reprohouse Printing www.reprohouse.co.uk environmentally sound practices globally and in its own activities. Photo Credits: Front Cover: Christoph Zockler; Back Cover: Hanneke van Lavieren This publication is printed on paper from sustainable forests including recycled bre. The paper is chlorine free, and the inks vegetable-based. Our distribution policy aims to reduce UNEP’s carbon footprint. Contents Foreword ...........................................................4 Chapter 4. Reversing the Trends - Conservation and Management Executive Summary ...................................... …6 of Mangroves .................................................. 89 Key Messages ....................................................8 Integrated watershed and coastal zone management .......................................................90 Options and Actions .........................................9 Protected areas ...................................................90 3 Abbreviations ................................................. 30 Sustainable mangrove use ..................................92 Chapter 1 –Tropical Mangrove Ecosystems ......33 Adaptation to climate change ............................94 Global distribution and diversity ...................... 33 Restoration options ............................................94 Mangroves and associated ecosystems..............36 Involvement of mangrove beneficiaries ............97 Life in the mangroves .........................................38 National policies and Multilateral Chapter 2: Mangrove Ecosystem Services ....... 43 Environmental Agreements relating to mangroves......................................................100 What are ecosystem services? ............................ 43 Economic incentives .........................................103 Why are ecosystem services important? ........... 45 Timber and forest products ...............................46 Chapter 5 – Addressing Knowledge and Data Gaps ................................................109 Fisheries ..............................................................49 Taking stock of mangrove resources ............... 109 Coastal protection .............................................. 52 Valuing mangrove ecosystem services ............. 110 Shoreline stabilisation ........................................ 55 Assessing management effectiveness ................ 111 Climate regulation ..............................................56 Understanding the link with human Water quality maintenance ................................58 well-being ........................................................... 111 Recreational, spiritual and cultural values .......59 Mangrove adaptation to changing climate .......112 Quantifying mangrove values ............................60 Remote sensing of mangroves ...........................113 Chapter 3: Threats and Drivers of Change ......69 Glossary ..........................................................115 Key global drivers of mangrove loss ..................69 References .......................................................117 Global mangrove loss maps ............................... 75 Loss of ecosystem services .................................84 Foreword – Achim Steiner Tropical mangroves around the world connect our land and its people with the sea, providing millions with food, clean water, raw materials and resilience against future climate change impacts including increasing storm intensity and sea level rise. Together with coral reefs, seagrass meadows and intertidal mudflats and marshes, these complex interconnected ecosystems are home to a spectacular range of visiting and resident species of birds, 4 mammals, invertebrates and fish, all of which helps to maintain the ecological functioning of mangroves. In turn, this rich mosaic of biodiversity supports people through fisheries, tourism and cultural heritage. This publication provides a timely synthesis of the importance of mangroves to people. It highlights that in spite of the mounting evidence in support of the multitude of benefits derived from mangroves, they remain one of the most threatened ecosystems on the planet, being lost at a rate greater than coral reefs and tropical rainforests. This has potentially devastating effects to mangrove biodiversity and in turn, the food security, protection and livelihoods of some of the most marginalised coastal communities in developing countries, where more than 90 percent of the world’s mangroves are found. Research