Wonder Trees: The Quest to Reforest a Million Mangroves

In celebration of UNESCO’s International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, 26 July, Christiaan Vrolijk, sourcing lead at Climate Impact Partners, has written an article for Earth.Org about some inspiring work in Mexico and Kenya. 

In the article, Christiaan shares how Climate Impact Partners’ Million Mangroves initiative is bringing private and non-profit partners together to restore and protect one of the most effective carbon storage solutions that exist in nature, while also supporting ecosystems and enabling sustainable development for local communities. 

Companies including Sky, Workday, VMware, and Monterey Bay Aquarium in California, have all signed on to support the Million Mangrove program and to date, there are commitments to plant more than 750,000 trees, with a goal to plant one million mangroves worldwide.  

“Mangroves are biologically rich ecosystems. They are rare, representing less than 1% of tropical forests, but they are also powerful. In some locations, one hectare of mangroves can store more than 3,700 tonnes of carbon, an amount equivalent to taking more than 2,650 cars off the road for a year.  

Yet, mangroves are more than just carbon sinks. They ensure food security and protect communities against erosion, sea level rise, storm surges, and other coastal threats. A 500-metre mangrove area can reduce wave height by 50% or even 99%, effectively protecting communities. Their nickname, the ‘wonder tree’, is well earned, but despite all they offer, they continue to disappear.”

Earth.Org is a not-for-profit environmental organization based in Hong Kong. Their aim is to bring attention to what is happening to natural ecosystems worldwide. Earth.Org advocates for sustainable economic policies, the protection of the natural environment and an extension of governance or oversight to cover the global commons.