Turning the Tide on Mangrove Loss

Mangrove forests are one of the most severely threatened and undervalued ecosystems on earth and are being lost at an alarming rate. Threats to mangrove forests include: land development, pollution, deforestation for fuel and climate change. A number of initiatives have been established to address the research and conservation needs of mangroves but these are currently disjointed and less effective as a result. This symposium will bring together a range of stakeholders from the mangrove community, including academic experts, conservation NGO representatives and policy makers, to focus their attention on improving conservation success and influencing policy. The first day of the symposium will define the current status of mangroves and associated fauna and explore their importance to the people who depend on them. The second day will focus on the future of mangroves. We will showcase initiatives that are being developed around the world to conserve mangrove forests, including the use of mangroves for blue carbon and climate change mitigation. The symposium will also provide the context for a call to arms for researchers and conservationists to align research objectives and discuss future initiatives.