In observance of the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28 and President of the IUCN, has released a video highlighting the importance of mangrove ecosystems. The video emphasizes the alarming findings of a recent IUCN study, which predicts that over half of all mangrove ecosystems may collapse by 2050 if current trends continue.
In her address, Ms. Al Mubarak outlines the critical environmental and socioeconomic roles mangroves play. These ecosystems are not only significant carbon sinks but also protect coastlines and support the livelihoods of coastal communities. The Mangrove Alliance for Climate, launched at COP28, has brought together forty-nine governments and numerous non-state actors committed to reversing the decline of these ecosystems by 2030.
The video message calls for continued global effort and higher ambitions to protect mangroves, emphasizing the necessity of meeting both biodiversity and climate targets. This concerted action is vital as we approach global gatherings like CBD COP16 and UNFCCC COP29, which will further define our path forward.Watch Razan Al Mubarak’s full address on the importance of mangrove ecosystems here.