Deepening Partnerships Critical to Saving Mangroves in Africa and Beyond
By Alice Ruhweza
I recently participated in a Side Event on ‘Save Our Mangroves Now’ during the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference in Nairobi where I emphasized the critical need to widen and deepen partnerships to better protect and restore Mangroves across Africa and around the world.
The event was organized by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), WWF, Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA) and others.
As mangroves in Africa and beyond face heightening threats of loss or degradation, meaningful partnerships between governments, civil society, private sector and communities are needed more than ever before to effectively address the situation that has potentially far-reaching impacts on the livelihoods of millions of people and the overall health of our planet.
Through the partnerships, we are able to leverage on the synergies that are critically needed to protect and to restore mangroves on the scale that can have a tangible and lasting impact on the ground.
As many may already be aware, mangroves contribute significantly to the nature-based solutions to climate change that Conservation International (CI) and other partners are working to promote. They are estimated to store up to 10 times more carbon that terrestrial forests. They also play other key roles including coastal protection, and providing habitats for marine biodiversity that millions of humans rely on for food and income.
It’s reassuring to note that notable partnerships are already in place to address threats facing mangroves across the globe and the key ones include the Global Mangrove Alliance, the Blue Carbon Initiative and the International Partnership for Blue Carbon. Optimizing the impacts of such partnerships will be crucial.
The Global Mangrove Alliance brings together technical experts, civil society organizations, governments, local communities, businesses, funding agencies and foundation to accelerate a comprehensive, coordinated global approach to mangrove conservation and restoration at scale that matters.
Members include Conservation International, the Nature Conservancy, WWF, Wetlands International and International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) among others.
The International Partnership on Blue Carbon also brings together governments, research institutions and civil society to enhance understanding of coastal blue carbon ecosystems, increase the capacity of governments and their partners to develop and implement policies and projects. Partners include Conservation International, Australian government, IUCN and many others.
The Blue Carbon Initiative unites governments, research institutions, non-governmental organizations and communities from around the world to mitigate climate change through the restoration and sustainable use of coastal and marine ecosystems including mangroves, tidal marshes and seagrasses. Partners include UNESCO, Intergovernmental Oceanic Commission, Conservation International, IUCN and others.
Such valuable partnerships need to be continuously enhanced to realize their potential and to make a real difference on the ground. Through the partnerships, CI is contributing its comparative strengths including innovations in science and finance to realize the goals of mangrove protection.
Partnerships with private sector also offer a significant promise in the mangrove space. For instance, Conservation International and technology multinational Apple Corporation have partnered to protect over 11,000 hectares of mangroves in Colombia by delivering long-term sustainable financing and capacity building for local communities, ecotourism, aquaculture and improved fishing practices. This is being implemented through the Apple Give Back program.
In conclusion, if mangroves are to continue delivering the numerous life-giving benefits to our people and economies around the world, we all have to work together meaningfully to protect and restore them.
Alice Ruhweza is the Vice President for Partnerships and Programs at Conservation International (CI)-Africa Field Division based in Nairobi.
Email: aruhweza@conservation.org Twitter: @aruhweza
