Mangrove Conservation and Global Initiatives

26 Jul 2025 GS 3 Environment

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GLOMIS – Global Mangrove Database and Information System

Full Form: GLObal Mangrove database and Information System.
Established by: International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems (ISME).
Financial Support:
- International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)
- Prefectural Government of Okinawa, Japan.
Headquarters: Okinawa, Japan.
Function:
- A centralised information system on global mangrove ecosystems.
- Documents mangrove species, genetic resources, research data, experts, and best practices.
Regional Centres: Located in Brazil, Fiji, Ghana, and Malaysia to ensure global coordination and local data integration.
Purpose:

To facilitate research, policy-making, and restoration efforts.
Strengthens mangrove conservation through global collaboration and knowledge-sharing.

Tropical Coastal Ecosystems Portal (TroCEP)

Developed by:
- International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems (ISME)
- National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), Japan
Purpose:
- To compile and disseminate scientific information on coastal ecosystems in tropical and subtropical regions.
Current Focus:
- The portal presently provides data and research related only to mangroves.
Future Expansion:
- TroCEP aims to extend coverage to include:
  - Coral reefs
  - Seagrasses
Significance:

Enhances knowledge-sharing and collaborative research on vulnerable coastal ecosystems.
Supports ecosystem-based management, climate adaptation, and conservation planning at regional and global levels.

International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems (ISME)

Established: August 1990
Type: International, non-profit, non-governmental scientific society
Headquarters: Okinawa, Japan

Foundational Background

Formed to build on the foundation laid by UNDP/UNESCO Regional Mangrove Projects.
Governed by statutes that emphasize:
- Information collection, evaluation, and dissemination on mangrove ecosystems.
- Promotion of international cooperation in mangrove conservation.

Mission

“To collect, evaluate, and disseminate information on mangrove ecosystems through international cooperation for their conservation, rational management, and sustainable utilization.”

Core Areas of Work

ISME operates through three primary pathways:

Application of Knowledge:
- Translating research into localised conservation practices and management strategies.
Training and Education:
- Capacity building for scientists, forest officials, community leaders, and NGOs.
Exchange of Information:
- Facilitates global knowledge-sharing, workshops, manuals, and atlases.

Key Activities and Contributions

Supported by collaborations with:
- Universities, research institutes, local communities, and global organizations.
Helped establish:

GLOMIS (Global Mangrove Database and Information System)
TroCEP (Tropical Coastal Ecosystems Portal)
World Mangrove Atlas
Charter for Mangroves (part of the UN's World Charter for Nature, 1992)

World Atlas of Mangroves

Overview

The World Atlas of Mangroves is a comprehensive global reference on mangrove ecosystems, their distribution, ecological importance, and threats.
The current version is a revised edition of the 1997 atlas, implemented through a collaborative project launched in 2005.

Project Partners

This atlas was a joint initiative involving several key international agencies:

International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) – Major funder through a Japanese government grant
International Society for Mangrove Ecosystems (ISME) – Project implementation lead
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)
UNESCO - Man and the Biosphere Programme (UNESCO-MAB)
United Nations University - Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH)
The Nature Conservancy (TNC)

Objectives

To revise and update the previous edition published in 1997 by ITTO, ISME, and WCMC.
Provide scientific, policy, and conservation communities with:
- Accurate, high-resolution maps
- Regional and national data on mangrove coverage
- Information on biodiversity, carbon storage, ecosystem services, and conservation priorities

Significance

Serves as a global baseline for:
- Mangrove conservation policies
- Coastal ecosystem management
- Blue carbon accounting and climate change mitigation
Supports SDG 14 (Life Below Water), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration

Key Features

Maps and geospatial data based on satellite imagery and field surveys
Includes country-wise mangrove distribution and status
Highlights threats like aquaculture, urbanisation, and rising sea levels
Promotes the sustainable use and restoration of mangroves

Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC)

Launched at:

COP27 (2022) by United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Indonesia

Founding Members:

UAE, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Japan, Spain

Nature:

Voluntary, global initiative focused on nature-based climate solutions.

Key Objectives:

Raising Awareness:
- Educate the public, governments, and stakeholders on the carbon sequestration, biodiversity, and coastal protection roles of mangroves.
Promoting Conservation and Restoration:
- Encourage policies and actions to protect existing mangroves and restore degraded mangrove areas.
Scaling Up Efforts:
- Accelerate plantation, afforestation, and restoration globally to benefit climate resilience and coastal communities.

Relevance to India:

India, with one of the largest areas of mangroves in South Asia, plays a key role in the MAC for blue carbon, biodiversity, and climate adaptation strategies.

Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA)