Mangrove News Digest # 643 – Feb 07, 2026
The people who live with wetlands know how to protect them
KENYA – The 2026 theme for World Wetlands Day—wetlands and traditional knowledge—draws attention to a reality that has shaped wetland stewardship for centuries. Indigenous Peoples and local communities both in Africa and around the globe have long managed wetlands in ways that sustain water, food, biodiversity and resilience. Their knowledge is practical. It is refined by experience and applied through daily decisions about timing, harvesting and protection.
What is lost when mangroves are replaced with road
INDIA – In December, the Bombay High Court cleared the Versova-Bhayandar DP road, a project that will affect more than 45,000 mangrove trees along Mumbai’s western coast.
Postcard-pretty … and filled with pollution: how Brazil’s fishers are reviving Rio de Janeiro’s famous bay
BRAZIL – A mangrove conservation project in Guanabara Bay has shown how a dying ecosystem can be transformed into a thriving sanctuary
Restoring mangroves with social impact in Ecuador
ECUADOR – Puerto Hondo’s community mangrove nursery was developed to restore one of Ecuador’s most threatened ecosystems, the mangrove, while strengthening the livelihoods of local families.
How We Blend Science, Tradition to Restore Ogoni Mangroves
NIGERIA – As the world marked World Wetlands Day on February 2, the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has highlighted significant progress in the restoration of degraded wetlands in Ogoniland, Rivers State, revealing that a blend of modern science and traditional ecological knowledge is driving both environmental recovery and cultural revival in affected communities.
Crab export boom: Is it really gold or ecological loss?
BANGLADESH – Bangladesh’s soft-shell crab exports are booming, but the Sundarbans’ fragile ecosystem is paying the price as juvenile crabs are harvested and mangrove soil destabilised
Quiet currents of change in the Sundarbans
INDIA – In the unique coastal wetlands of India’s Sundarbans, an electric ferry glides through the waterways without sound or pollution. With WWF’s support, a boat operator sees how cleaner transport can protect mangroves, people and the wider planet.
Board Opportunity: Be Part of MAP’s Leadership
Are you passionate about global conservation and ready to help shape the future of mangrove restoration? Mangrove Action Project– a global leader in mangrove restoration training– is seeking volunteers to serve on its governance board. If you’re interested in helping to advance the strategic direction of a global conservation group with an exciting future and 34-year history, please check out MAP’s board role description and election process. We are particularly interested in candidates with a background in nonprofit accounting or service as a board treasurer. Thank you!
ACTION ALERTS
Mexico: Stop the destruction of Chiapas’ forests!
Stop Blue Origin from Dumping Wastewater Into Indian River Lagoon
Rights for Stingless Bees – sign now
Save the Sanctuary: Keep Gulper Shark Fisheries Closed
Protect the mangroves and tropical forests of Brazil’s Tauá-Mirim! Sign Now
NO TO PUERTO BARU – Panama’s Mangroves Under Threat! sign the petition.
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. 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.
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