MAP News Issue #590 - JAN 27, 2024

MAP News Issue #590 - Jan. 27, 2024 Pollution effects measure on mangrove habitats in Senegal SENEGAL - Heavy metal pollution and traditional shellfish harvesting methods have unintended effects on coastal ecosystems in Senegal, a study suggests. The study led by a doctoral researcher at Åbo Akademi University in Finland showed for the first time, the impact of humans and environmental variables on Senegalese mangroves, underlining the importance of local conservation and management. Samples of sediments were collected at several sites.Credit: François Le Loc’h. The study was part of the project, Femmes et Coquillages, (Women and Shellfish), seeking to understand traditional knowledge and practices in order to contribute to sustainably harvesting shellfish resources. The team investigated the main mangrove areas in Senegal: the Sine Saloum and the Petite Cote, to evaluate the influence of environment and human activities (i.e. shellfish harvesting and heavy metal pollution) on key coastal animals. Based on collected data of invertebrates living in the sediments of the seabed from 2007 to 2008, the researchers established a conditions report for the mangrove areas to understand the factors influencing aquatic animals that live in the substrate of a body of water and which are especially common in soft sediments, known as infaunal. The results are important because "there have not been any published data on these infaunal communities since 1985. So our study serves as an important reference point for future research," says Maïté Jacquot, the lead author. READ MORE Make a New Year's resolution you won't break. Donate to MAP today and watch your efforts work all year long! Proposed bill would restore mangroves to help fight coastal erosion USA - As climatologists predict more frequent and stronger storms, Florida coastlines face the risk of erosion. But now, there is a bill in the state legislature that aims to help our shores by expanding protections against mangroves. Mangroves are so important to coastline protection that there are laws protecting them. SB 32 calls for the expansion of state statute by encouraging local governments to replant and restore mangroves. It would also implement permitting incentives for local governments to install what are known as “living shorelines,” which are the use of natural elements that protect as they grow. “Any kind of measures we can do to promote mangrove growth along our shoreline areas really go a long way to help those communities that are built behind the mangroves,” said Peter Clark, president of Tampa Bay Watch. Clark formed Tampa Bay Watch 30 years ago, and for the past decade, staff and volunteers with the organization have been installing living shorelines in the Tampa Bay region. One of the most recent installments at Lassing Park in St. Petersburg includes oyster reef balls, oyster shell bags, marsh grass and mangroves. READ MORE Mangrove forests flourish in Xiamen's coastal area CHINA - In recent years, the Xiatanwei Mangrove Coastal Wetland Ecological Park in Xiamen, East China's Fujian province, has been transformed into a verdant barrier against typhoons and storm surges, owing to a series of mangrove restoration initiatives. It has also become a popular leisure and recreational spot, drawing the attention of the United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean Peter Thomson, who has visited twice and lauded it as a model for mangrove restoration in addresses to global audiences.Xiamen is rich in aquatic resources and there are almost 2,000 known marine species, of which 157 are common fish with economic value, 89 are mollusks, 127 are crustaceans and 139 are algae. Both the amphioxus and the Chinese White Dolphin are known as first-class national protected animals in China, and the horseshoe crab is the key protected rare animal in Fujian. It has been found that there are 14 hot springs spots or thermal abnormal points, and the water temperature is usually from 50 degrees Celsius to 60 degrees Celsius, with a maximum of 90 degrees Celsius.  READ MORE Restoring Mangrove forests in the Langalanga lagoon SOLOMON ISLANDS - Rehabilitating and restoring Mangrove forests is a major task for communities in Langalanga Lagoon, Malaita Province. As a population known for living on artificial islands and dependent on marine resources, the community has gradually witnessed the loss of mangroves over the past decades. A locally led non-governmental organization (NGO), Batairalo Conservation and Natural Solutions Trust, is dedicated to working with tribal landowners to sustain mangrove ecosystems. Co-founder of the organization, Stephen Suti Agalo said around 50 percent of mangroves located around his childhood home are now gone. “Due to population explosion, more people are using mangroves for firewood, building materials for ships and houses, and these are also sold on the market in Honiara,” he explained. Growing demands for commercial supply of materials to Honiara, coupled with the needs of rural-based communities has placed huge pressure on available natural forests, and hampered the natural regrowth of mangroves. Meanwhile, Walebarasialia Tobata, also a co-founder of the NGO, said locals living on the lagoon’s outer islands have attempted to replant mangroves.  READ MORE Fiji launches innovative mangrove restoration project FIJI - The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection is collaborating with other government agencies under the International Tropical Timber Organization.This is to launch a project focused on the community-based restoration of cyclone-affected vulnerable mangrove forests.The project, funded by the Japanese Government, will be implemented in six coastal communities in the Rewa Delta. Women’s groups in these communities will play a lead role in activities such as cultivating quality seedlings of indigenous mangroves, establishing energy forests, and providing fuel-saving cook stoves to reduce dependence on mangrove resources.The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) is an intergovernmental organization promoting the sustainable management and conservation of tropical forests and the expansion and diversification of international trade in tropical timber from sustainably managed and legally harvested forests.It has funded and assisted in the implementation of more than 1200 projects and other activities addressing the many aspects of SFM, such as forest restoration; wood-use efficiency; the competitiveness of wood products; market intelligence and transparency in the tropical timber trade and tropical timber supply chains; forest law enforcement and governance; illegal logging; biodiversity conservation; climate-change mitigation and adaptation. READ MORE Stronger increases but greater variability in global mangrove productivity compared to that of adjacent terrestrial forests GLOBAL - Mangrove forests are a highly productive ecosystem with important potential to offset anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Mangroves are expected to respond differently to climate change compared to terrestrial forests owing to their location in the tidal environment and unique ecophysiological characteristics, but the magnitude of difference remains uncertain at the global scale. Here we use satellite observations to examine mean trends and interannual variability in the productivity of global mangrove forests and nearby terrestrial evergreen broadleaf forests from 2001 to 2020. Although both types of ecosystem experienced significant recent increases in productivity, mangroves exhibited a stronger increasing trend and greater interannual variability in productivity than evergreen broadleaf forests on three-quarters of their co-occurring coasts. The difference in productivity trends is attributed to the stronger CO2 fertilization effect on mangrove photosynthesis, while the discrepancy in interannual variability is attributed to the higher sensitivities to variations in precipitation and sea level. Our results indicate that mangroves will have a faster increase in productivity than terrestrial forests in a CO2-rich future but may suffer more from deficits in water availability, highlighting a key difference between terrestrial and tidal ecosystems in their responses to climate change. READ MORE Subsidence reveals potential impacts of future sea level rise on inhabited mangrove coasts GLOBAL - Human-induced land subsidence causes many coastal areas to sink centimetres per year, exacerbating relative sea level rise (RSLR). While cities combat this problem through investment in coastal infrastructure, rural areas are highly dependent on the persistence of protective coastal ecosystems, such as mangroves and marshes. To shed light on the future of low-lying rural areas in the face of RSLR, we here studied a 20-km-long rural coastline neighbouring a sinking city in Indonesia, reportedly sinking with 8–20 cm per year. By measuring water levels in mangroves and quantifying floor raisings of village houses, we show that, while villages experienced rapidly rising water levels, their protective mangroves experience less rapid changes in RSLR. Individual trees were able to cope with RSLR rates of 4.3 (95% confidence interval 2.3–6.3) cm per year through various root adaptations when sediment was available locally. However, lateral retreat of the forest proved inevitable, with RSLR rates up to four times higher than foreshore accretion, forcing people from coastal communities to migrate as the shoreline retreated. Whereas local RSLR may be effectively reduced by better management of groundwater resources, the effects of RSLR described here predict a gloomy prospect for rural communities that are facing globally induced sea level rise beyond the control of local or regional government. READ MORE Mangrove Action Project Annual Report MAP is proud to release a report of our annual accomplishments and financial health for the past year. Check out a global map of the places we're working, and highlights from all of our programs. Thank you to our many supporters who made this work possible, and to all of our friends and partners working to protect mangrove forests, worldwide. READ MORE Not a subscriber? Click to subscribe ORDER YOUR 2024 CALENDAR NOW! Get your free calendar with every donation of $100 or more Please mention "calendar" in the comments field of our donation page If you would like to separately order calendars, please contact monica@mangroveactionproject.org     Want to learn more about mangroves? VISIT MANGROVEACTIONPROJECT.ORG ACTION ALERTS   Help Save the Mangroves Mangrove Action Project relies on the generosity of donors to do our urgent work. Whether it’s a one-time or monthly commitment, your contributions make a real difference in safeguarding these critical ecosystems.   FIght the Marine Bitumen Spill   Tanzania corals and mangroves threatened   Please sign: Save Murchison Falls!   Ecuador: Stop land grabbing and racial discrimination for palm oil!

MAP News Issue #589 - Jan 13, 2024

MAP News Issue #589 - Jan. 13, 2024 A 22-million-year-old petrified mangrove forest found in the Panama Canal PANAMA - A team of environmental and natural scientists from Universidad EAFIT in Colombia, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama, and Boise State University in the U.S. has found evidence of an ancient petrified mangrove forest on an island in the Panama Canal. For their study, reported in the journal Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, the group collected fossils and sediment samples from the island. Prior research has shown that approximately 23 million years ago, the South American and Caribbean plates collided, pushing up parts of what is now Central America. One region became a large hill, forming what is now known as Barro Colorado Island—it is situated in Gatun Lake, which is part of the Panama Canal. In this new effort, the research team studied 121 pieces of preserved wood found on the island over the past several years. They also studied sediment samples collected from the sites where the fossils were found. They determined that many of the fossils had come from a type of mangrove tree that no longer exists. Dating of the fossils showed them to be approximately 22 million years old. Also, the sediment was from a lahar—a type of mud-and-rock river, similar in many ways to concrete, which forms as water flows down a mountain after a volcanic eruption. READ MORE Make a New Year's resolution you won't break. Donate to MAP today and watch your efforts work all year long! Mangrove forests are ‘food baskets’ for coastal communities INDONESIA - When the tide is in, the salty understorey of a mangrove forest glitters with life. Fish dart through the labyrinthine root systems and find safe spots to mate and spawn; crabs and snails search amongst the fallen leaves; shellfish attach themselves to the trees’ aerial roots. Mangroves are finally making it onto policymakers’ radars as critical to climate mitigation and coastal protection, but their importance in local diets – particularly by serving as breeding grounds for fish and other aquatic animals – remains underexplored. Into that gap, a new study by scientists at the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), the University of Kent (UK), and Charles Darwin University (Australia) has found that mangroves “contribute substantially to the food security and nutrition of coastal communities in Indonesia.” When shaping the study, lead author Amy Ickowitz, senior scientist at CIFOR-ICRAF, realised why this particular topic has been explored so little to date. “It seems that it is very difficult to just see which fish use mangroves and count them up – fish are highly mobile, some use mangroves at different stages of their life cycles, and some fish may not use mangroves directly, but might consume those fish that do,” she said. READ MORE 'SK-backed' green company to cover the Mekong River with mangroves VIETNAM -  Starting with the planting of mangroves in the southern province of Trà Vinh in 2018, SK Innovation has restored 226 hectares of mangrove forests in Southeast Asia. In particular, the area of mangrove forests restored in the southern Vietnamese provinces of Trà Vinh, Sóc Trăng, and Vĩnh Long along with MangLub alone amounts to 213 hectares. Thy Phạm, chief operating officer (COO) of MangLub Vietnam, an eco-friendly business founded under the auspices of SK Innovation, shared her ambitious vision during an interview with a Yonhap correspondent in Trà Vinh Province on December 19 (local time). Phạm has been engaged in a mangrove restoration initiative along with MangLub founder Kim Hang-seok in the southern province of Trà Vinh since 2019.  "In fact, SK's support enabled us to not only lay a foundation for mangrove expansion, but also raise awareness of the need for restoration through active educational efforts," said Phạm. "Currently, more than 100 Vietnamese are involved in planting and nursery management." Mangroves, which live in tidal mudflats and seashores in subtropical regions, are considered to be effective in countering climate change due to their superb carbon dioxide absorption capabilities. READ MORE Fabrication and Partial Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles From Mangrove (Avicennia marina) Leaves USA - Scientists are currently investigating ecologically sound and enduring techniques for nanoparticle production. Utilizing natural sources such as plant extracts provides an environmentally friendly and economically efficient method. Avicennia marina, also referred to as the gray mangrove, is predominantly located in coastal regions. The leaves of this plant may contain bioactive metabolites that can be used to synthesize nanoparticles. This study aimed to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using A. marina leaf extract and subsequently assess their antibacterial properties against oral pathogens. The research involved the successful synthesis of AgNPs using an environmentally sustainable method employing the leaf extract of A. marina. AgNPs showed significant antibacterial efficacy against both gram-positive bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus mutans, and gram-negative bacteria, such as Klebsiella sp. In general, the use of A. marina leaf extract for the green synthesis of AgNPs is a viable and environmentally friendly approach for producing nanoparticles that exhibit favorable biological properties.    READ MORE FOA Course certification offered in measurement, reporting and verification for environmental integrity GLOBAL - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations has announced a new forestry certification program. The 'Forest monitoring for climate action' curriculum aims to strengthen institutional and technical capacities, to meet the measurement, reporting and verification requirements, as well as the enhanced transparency framework requisites. It consists of a series of e-learning courses. This course highlights the importance of forests in climate change mitigation and how quality measurement, verification and reporting (MRV) is needed to ensure environmental integrity. It outlines the MRV requirements for jurisdictional REDD+ of different standards/programmes, in case countries are seeking to obtain results-based payments or climate finance. This course offers certification. You will get your digital badge upon passing a final exam after completing the course and achieving a grade of at least 75%. The FAO elearning Academy provides learning opportunities and multilingual elearning courses for professionals working in food and nutrition security, social and economic development, and sustainable management of natural resources, with the overall goal of strengthening the capacity of member countries to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. READ MORE Indonesia: Fight the marine bitumen spill off Nias Island! INDONESIA - An environmental disaster is unfolding off the coast of Sumatra: “The coral reefs and mangrove forests all the way to the coast of the island of Nias have already suffered terribly,” explains Rianda Purba, director of the environmental NGO WALHI North Sumatra. "The authorities urgently need to take action. We need the whole world to see what is happening here to ensure that effective measures are taken against the spill.” In February, the tanker MT AASHI ran aground in the waters between Sumatra and the island of Nias to the west. The ship, flying the flag of Gabon, was carrying 3,600 tons of bitumen from the United Arab Emirates to Sumatra. According to the Ministry of the Environment, the ship was already corroded and was damaged by powerful waves in the Indian Ocean. Bitumen has been leaking and polluting the sea and nearby coastlines since then. The oil slick has now reached a radius of 70 km. The MT AASHI is designed to carry bitumen. The vessel had a crew of 20 – a captain and sailors from India. The crew was rescued and accommodated by local people. The shipowners have not taken action, however: After ten months, the ship has still not been salvaged and no measures have been taken to clean up the spill. READ MORE Mangroves Planted in Florida State Park for Post-Hurricane Restoration Project USA - Duke Energy, Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Florida, and Lee County Electric Cooperative recently partnered to lead a restoration project at Delnor-Wiggins State Park in Naples, planting 500 mangrove trees to support coastal ecosystems. During the project, more than 25 volunteers planted red and black mangrove trees, grown and donated by Duke Energy Crystal River Mariculture Center and CCA, across a 4,400 square-foot span of the park. The project was conducted to restore the mangrove ecosystem in the area, which is known to help reduce coastal erosion, improve water quality, sequester carbon, and provide crucial habitats for fish and wildlife. The restoration was organized in response to damages caused by Hurricane Ian in September 2022. Aside from these restoration efforts, the Crystal River Mariculture Center has also been working to rebuild and maintain Florida’s fish populations for over 30 years.  READ MORE Mangrove Action Project Annual Report MAP is proud to release a report of our annual accomplishments and financial health for the past year. Check out a global map of the places we're working, and highlights from all of our programs. Thank you to our many supporters who made this work possible, and to all of our friends and partners working to protect mangrove forests, worldwide. READ MORE Not a subscriber? Click to subscribe ORDER YOUR 2024 CALENDAR NOW! Get your free calendar with every donation of $100 or more Please mention "calendar" in the comments field of our donation page If you would like to separately order calendars, please contact monica@mangroveactionproject.org     Want to learn more about mangroves? VISIT MANGROVEACTIONPROJECT.ORG ACTION ALERTS   Help Save the Mangroves Mangrove Action Project relies on the generosity of donors to do our urgent work. Whether it’s a one-time or monthly commitment, your contributions make a real difference in safeguarding these critical ecosystems.   FIght the Marine Bitumen Spill   Tanzania corals and mangroves threatened   Please sign: Save Murchison Falls!   Ecuador: Stop land grabbing and racial discrimination for palm oil!   Save Endangered Species From SpaceX   Do not sacrifice Congo's rainforests to the oil industry!