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. 2022 Oct 17;20(10):e3001836.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001836. eCollection 2022 Oct.

Tackling the mangrove restoration challenge

Catherine E Lovelock  1 , Edward Barbier  2 , Carlos M Duarte  3
Affiliations

Tackling the mangrove restoration challenge

Catherine E Lovelock et al. PLoS Biol. .

Abstract

Mangroves have been converted and degraded for decades. Rates of loss have declined over the past decades, but achieving resilient coastlines requires both conservation and restoration. Here, we outline the challenges for the global restoration of mangroves and what actions could enhance restoration. Ambitious global targets for mangrove restoration, if successful, could deliver global benefits of carbon sequestration, fisheries production, biodiversity, and coastal protection. However, large-scale mangrove planting efforts have often failed, and smaller projects may not deliver landscape-scale benefits, even though they are more suited to community management. Solutions to achieving global targets include reducing risks of large projects and increasing the uptake and effectiveness of smaller projects. Sustainable mangrove restoration requires investment in capacity building in communities and institutions, and mechanisms to match restoration opportunities with prospective supporters and investors. Global reporting standards will support adaptive management and help fully understand and monitor the benefits of mangrove restoration.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Global trajectories of mangrove cover show a slowdown in the rate of decline.
On the right are targets and limits to recovery of mangrove cover. Restoration of approximately 1% year−1 will lead to the recovery of high-value sites, achieve Aichi Target 15 by 2040, and return mangrove coverage to 1980s area by 2050 (dashed line). Sea level rise could increase the potential area for restoration with landward migration onto floodplains (blue arrow), while conversion to settlements and erosion will limit restoration potential (red box). Recovery to estimated historical baselines would require approximately 90,000 km2 of coastal land.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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