Capturing the full value of mangroves as a climate resilience tool

Mangroves sequester carbon, provide nursery habitat, and protect coastal ecosystems – but they are under serious threat. In Indonesia, which is home to over a fifth of the world’s mangroves, 52,000 hectares are deforested each year. Because financial calculations often undervalue mangrove ecosystem services, short-term economic gains from coastal development often prevail at the expense of mangrove deforestation. This project will design a policy tool that captures the value of mangrove ecosystem services and integrates this valuation directly into local coastal planning. Through field research in three priority mangrove habitats, the researchers will identify local drivers of mangrove loss and develop a standardized Mangrove Value Metric. They will also map governance and enforcement gaps to design incentive-based interventions that promote conservation. The findings will be synthesized into a toolkit for broader use across the region.

Above: Mangrove forest in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Image credit: Velvetfish / iStock