The locals call them manglare—mangrove forests. I first saw them in Miches, Dominican Republic while conducting research with scientists from Columbia University and local field assistants as a part of a millennial ecosystem assessment project. This article by Helen Scales on Madagascar mangroves reminded me of my experience with Miches mangroves.
The mangrove forests mentioned in the article are one of many examples of degradation of our ecosystems worldwide. According to the article “in the past 35 years at least a quarter of mangrove forests around the world has been destroyed, a rate of loss three to five times higher than deforestation on land”. This is alarming since mangroves are critical for biodiversity and climate change adaptation and mitigation plans specifically as carbon sink and coastal erosion prevention. Mangroves are also a source of fuel, timber and commercial aqua farming. The question we must answer is how or what we must do to balance the livelihood needs of people with conservation and management of these mangroves simultaneously. Mangrove Action Project (MAP) is one such organization that gives me hope that with collaborative and participatory support of local people, we can conserve Mangroves and still be sensitive to livelihood needs of local people.